Home | Higher Education & Complex Labs | UGA Driftmier Engineering Center Phases 1-4

UGA Driftmier Engineering Center Phases 1-4

Originally built in 1966, the Driftmier Engineering Center at the University of Georgia underwent a major renovation to support education and research in eight engineering disciplines. Leapley revitalized 42,500-sf in Phases 1-2 to create two new auditoriums, student gathering spaces, restrooms, wet and dry laboratories, and tech-forward instructional spaces. While building upgrades to the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protections systems and improving accessibility to the new spaces, Leapley delivered a unique fume hood room that is shared by the wet labs to provide storage and setup space for programmatic flexibility of some of the dry labs. Currently delivering Phases 3-4 of the renovation, Leapley continues to partner with UGA to enhance this dynamic learning environment where future engineers lead the nation in devising innovative solutions to global challenges.

Project Details:

Location:

Athens, GA

Size:

Phases 1-2: 42,500
Phases 3-4: 21,000

Client/Owner:

University of Georgia

Design Team:

Cooper Carry

Awards:

Merit Award, Build Georgia Awards, AGC of Georgia (Phases 1 and 2)

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HEATHER RICH

Vice President

Heather Rich is an accomplished leader with 23 years of experience in design and construction operations. A former President of CREW Atlanta, Heather Rich is well-known in the Atlanta commercial real estate community for her expertise in delivering complex projects. For 16 years, Heather has strengthened Leapley’s reputation as an expert contractor by building exceptional spaces for global brands like NCR, Equifax, Siemens, and Visa. She is a quick-paced and results-oriented leader who is as meticulous in her efforts to solve client challenges as she is in developing operational talent in the Leapley organization and mentoring the next generation of project leaders. With industry insight and strong relationships in the Atlanta commercial real estate community, Heather delivers competitive pricing while leading operational teams to deliver superior results for Leapley’s clients and trade partners.

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BRIDGET MASSENGILL

Vice President

With 15 years spent working in the commercial interiors industry in Atlanta, Bridget supports Leapley’s growth in the company’s key market segments by strengthening partnerships in the industry, establishing new business relationships to increase project opportunities and leading work-winning efforts. She works closely with Leapley’s operations leaders to implement and execute Leapley’ s business development strategy and achieve the company’s strategic revenue and profitability goals. ​​​​​​​

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HEATHER LOVERN

Director of People

Heather Lovern entered the industry in 2003 as a designer focused on asset strategy and tenant improvement and quickly realized her true passion was the people driving the business. She quickly transitioned to leading Human Resources functions, training, and Learning and Development for organizations engaged in Atlanta commercial real estate. Heather’s diverse operational experience in the field gives her a unique perspective that allows her to help employees in the industry find success, both professionally and personally. Heather’s expertise lies in thoughtfully approaching the complex, human side of business every day to increase employee satisfaction and achieve company goals. In her role as Director of People, Heather drives human capital strategy and initiatives for Leapley Construction, working closely with leaders to design and implement programs that enhance the organization’s culture and employee value proposition.

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JOSEPH LAU

Director of Finance and Accounting

An accomplished professional with 17 years of corporate finance experience in multiple commercial and service industries, Joe Lau leads the Project Accounting and Coordination functions at Leapley Construction. He began his career in the Atlanta commercial real estate market in 2007 with roles in property and facilities management, while building his financial expertise in multiple commercial and service sectors. Joe holds an MBA with a specialization in Finance and Accounting from Georgia State University. He is adept at P&L analysis and management, financial modeling and reporting, and streamlining efficiencies in finance processes and procedures. With deep expertise in operations, leadership, and business development, Joe is a strong leader who connects diverse teams in pursuit of shared operational and financial goals.

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DAVID GOODSON

Vice President

David Goodson is an accomplished operational leader with 13 years of experience delivering complex construction and capital improvement projects. Leveraging his background in facility management for Norfolk Southern and The Coca-Cola Company, David joined Leapley Construction in 2019 to lead commercial construction projects for global brands in the metropolitan area. Under his leadership, Leapley Construction successfully built the 523,000 SF Microsoft Atlanta corporate campus – the largest project in Leapley Construction’s history – while achieving 52% diverse supplier inclusion and earning significant industry recognition. As Vice President, David leads project teams to deliver complex commercial construction projects for high-profile clients while improving operational efficiencies and implementing strategic initiatives  to support the company’s continued growth and sustainability.  

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MARK CLEVERLY

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With 30 years of construction experience, Mark is an accomplished leader with in-depth expertise in Leapley Construction’s core Healthcare and Higher Education markets. Originally from the suburbs of London, UK, Mark earned a degree in Quantity Surveying from Anglia Polytechnic University. He held multiple roles in the construction industry with various UK general contractors before moving to the United States in 2012. Mark deepened his estimating, preconstruction, and project management expertise in the local Atlanta market through multiple projects for large healthcare organizations like Piedmont, Northside, and Emory. Passionate about community building, Mark has been extensively involved in the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Georgia, serving on multiple committees and the Board of Directors, eventually assuming the role of Chairman for a term in 2022. Mark co-hosts the Building Leaders Radio Hour Podcast, sharing industry insights from construction leaders.

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FRANK FOTIA, PE

Vice President

As Vice President of Operations for Leapley Construction, Frank oversees teams delivering work in multiple strategic verticals while expanding developing markets. An accomplished construction executive with 17 years of construction experience centralized primarily in Atlanta, Frank is a licensed Professional Engineer with deep expertise in base building, interior construction, and major renovation. He’s a self-described lifelong learner who is passionate about delivering results through servant leadership, a relationship driven approach, team building, operational excellence, and client advocacy.

Frank holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University.  

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ALAN SCOGGINS

President

Alan discovered his passion for construction as a student at Auburn University – through civil engineering coursework and field experience with the cooperative education program. In the 17 years that followed, he managed many healthcare construction projects for a national general contractor before joining Leapley Construction in 2011 to manage operations of the growing business. Alan is a hands-on leader, a focused and decisive builder, and an advocate for sustainability. Since 2012, he has served on the board of directors for the Lifecycle Building Center to promote the reuse of construction materials and reduce construction waste in landfills. Under his leadership, Leapley safely delivers award-winning projects on-time and within budget in three focused commercial interior markets.

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MEREDITH LEAPLEY

CEO & Founder

Recognized as a Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, an Outstanding Woman in Construction by Construction Business Owner Magazine and one of Atlanta’s “Top 500” leaders by Atlanta Magazine, Meredith Leapley leads with integrity and compassion. Raised in Maryland, Meredith moved to Atlanta in 1999 and founded Leapley Construction to prioritize people throughout construction. Since then, through her involvement with CREW Atlanta, WBENC, CoreNet, Big Brothers Big Sisters, GSU WomenLead, Atlanta Women’s Foundation and Crafting Futures Together, she has maintained that focus and nurtured the business to deliver meaningful impacts to the community while earning annual revenues in excess of $120 Million.