The Construction Management Building Blocks program, now in its 20th year, is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of small businesses within the construction sector.

David Delancey’s father worked in construction, but Delancey never envisioned it as a career for himself, describing it as “rough, outside work.” Initially, he attended the University of South Florida on a basketball scholarship before shifting focus to a career in city management, handling the administrative side of construction. It wasn’t until his brother began studying construction management at Florida A&M University that Delancey reconsidered his path.

“We started talking more about it and he was just like, ‘Look, man, it’s a part of us, you know? You grew up in it as well, so why don’t you look back into it?’” Delancey explained.

Delancey took his brother’s advice to heart and founded his own company, One Day Came, in 2004. Nearly 20 years later, he returned to USF, looking for ways to grow his Tampa-based company, which specializes in educational and park construction. He enrolled in Skanska’s Construction Management Building Blocks Program, seeking to improve his firm’s capabilities.

Skanska USA established the Building Blocks program in 2007 to help smaller, diverse companies grow by equipping them with skills to tackle business challenges and find opportunities to work with larger firms. According to Tracy Hunt, general manager for Skanska’s Florida operations, the company’s partnership with the University of South Florida began in 2021 to further enhance these efforts.

The program offers a free, multi-week course that spans several critical areas, including contracting methods, insurance bonds, safety regulations, and sustainability. Skanska employees teach practical courses in subjects like human resources, site logistics, and project management, Hunt said.

The overarching goal is to create a mutually beneficial partnership between Skanska and smaller companies.

“Ultimately the goal is we want to get them in, and we certainly want them to start working for us, but if they can go out and have a job going with us and the job going with five of our competitors, then the whole community’s growing, right?” Hunt explained.

Since its inception, the Building Blocks program has trained approximately 800 companies, generating around $740 million in contracts with Skanska, according to Hunt.

New Opportunities in Education Construction

One Day Came, the firm founded by David Delancey, has become one of the many small companies to benefit from Skanska’s program. Delancey’s company is currently in the pre-construction phase for a major project in Hillsborough County, Florida, involving the rebuilding of Just Elementary School and Stewart Middle School. This project, valued at $70 million, is a significant development in the area as an existing campus is demolished and transformed into a state-of-the-art educational facility.

Delancey shared his enthusiasm for the opportunity: “I got in this program and I knew right away that I was going to learn quite a bit. Small companies, we’re in our space, we’re in our lane, but we do know that there are other things that we can learn to get better, to work a little faster, to work a little more efficient, to become better for our clients.”

Delancey sees the elementary school project as the largest opportunity for his company in two decades. His firm has an ongoing contract with Hillsborough County for educational projects, and the Just Elementary School rebuild is expected to be a milestone in their partnership.

“This is by far the biggest opportunity for us, and it’s been amazing,” he said.

His confidence in his company’s future has skyrocketed, especially with the mentorship and resources provided by Skanska.

“My confidence with this business has gone through the roof because of the resources that Skanska has in place for me as a mentor,” Delancey said. “It has changed everything for me when it comes to this business.”

Skanska's Commitment to Empowering Small Firms

Skanska’s Building Blocks program is one example of the construction giant’s commitment to empowering small businesses, especially those led by minorities and women. The program is designed to level the playing field, helping these smaller firms compete with larger contractors for lucrative projects.

Tracy Hunt emphasized the importance of such initiatives, noting that it not only benefits the businesses involved but also the entire industry. By strengthening smaller firms, Skanska fosters an ecosystem where all players, big and small, can thrive.

“When we bring in a small business, it's not just about us benefiting. It’s about creating a ripple effect that impacts the entire community,” Hunt said. “We want to build the industry up, not just Skanska.”

The Building Blocks program has continued to thrive, creating long-term partnerships between Skanska and small businesses that might otherwise struggle to access the opportunities necessary for growth.

By helping small businesses overcome industry hurdles and build expertise, Skanska is paving the way for a more diverse, inclusive, and collaborative construction landscape.

Originally reported by Zachary Phillips in Construction dive.