With over 42 years in the construction industry, Dave Lugo senses that change is on the horizon. As a Superintendent for Ameris Construction since 2019, Dave is on the forefront of bringing that change to the job sites. 

“With the lumber and labor shortages in the industry we are currently facing, companies have to either change or go under,” Lugo said. “Ameris does things differently. They aren’t the typical board-member type of company that is regimented in management. The leadership is more relaxed. They don’t pressure you. They stand behind you. That’s hard to find.”

Dave started as a laborer, specializing in carpentry. He has worked all over the U.S. and has held many different titles – from CAD designer, field manager, VP of operations, and now superintendent. This experience in all aspects of the industry is what gives him the confidence in dealing with subcontractors and managing his schedule efficiently to provide the best speed to market in every project. 

“I am from the east coast, which is a lot faster paced than anywhere else. This works in my favor here – I push the guys to get it done faster,” Dave said. “I’m also bi-lingual, and most of the workers in this area speak Spanish. Because I have worn so many different hats, I’m able to relate to the guys more easily – and they’ll do more for me. In the market right now, laborers can go anywhere and get a paycheck, so taking care of your people is central to any project being completed on time more than ever before.” 

Strong communication and people management skills are part of what makes Dave such an effective superintendent. One of his most recently completed projects is Gen-Tech – a multi-purpose office space that is a true net-zero build. Complete with an array of solar panels and carefully designed energy-efficient building systems, the structure is only utilizing 45% of the energy that it generates. 

For a full tour of the Gen-Tech project, see video: Gen-Tech Tour

Having worked in both the residential and commercial construction arenas, Dave has experienced firsthand many of the challenges that wood as the primary building material brings. 

“The contractors who are more ‘old-mindset’ will stick with wood, but in multi-family, hotels, and other commercial ventures, steel is the way of the future,” Dave said. “I foresee almost everything being put together in a single distribution center – where weather, location, and labor don’t affect your ability to complete a project. In this model, you, as the general contractor, control everything. You eliminate all of the factors that traditionally slow us down, and you operate a very efficient machine.” 

Ameris is on the frontline of paving the way for pre-fabricated cold formed steel (CFS) to become the primary building material in the commercial and multi-family construction space. Together with BIM technology, the use of CFS is fundamentally changing the face of construction and ushering in a new era of industrial technology.