Building & Earth Sciences, Inc.,
Celebrates 25th Anniversary Milestone
Grit, Agility, and Adaptability: Our Recipe for Success
What do you get when you combine decades of engineering and materials testing expertise with grit, resilience, and a vision for creating a top-performing company where employees enjoy coming to work every day?
For Building & Earth, that combination has produced a professional service firm with staying power— one that clients have come to regard as a trusted partner, leading to solid relationships and exponential growth with completed projects in 49 states and four countries.
With foundations in geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, and special inspections, the company also performs drilling and coring, environmental consulting, and for diverse markets, including commercial, industrial, military, transportation, renewable energy, and more.
The firm, which opened for business in January 1999, reached its 25th anniversary milestone with 260 employees and 16 branch locations throughout the country. The entire team, along with clients and partners who traveled across state lines, celebrated with a gala event at The Club in Birmingham on January 17, 2024. The evening was filled with heartwarming speeches, acknowledging the support of long-standing clients and loyal employees along the journey.
Becoming the Benchmark: The Early Days
Building & Earth is a quintessential American success story, borne out of sweat equity, ingenuity, and the solid friendship of three business partners dedicated to a singular vision. Principal founder Deepa Bhate, and founding partners Jeff Cowen, P.G., P.E., and Robert Adams, P.E., had shared a professional history, and the core belief that if you focus on treating employees exceptionally well, they will treat the clients in the same way.
Like the Golden Rule states, the founders knew that treating employees how they wanted to be treated will lead to a workforce that is empowered to work together as a team to realize their potential and deliver excellent outcomes for clients. And it is working: Building & Earth’s focus on fundamentals fosters the kind of positive work environment where employees can amplify their efforts as a cohesive team, much like great sports teams do. It’s the same reason legendary UCLA Basketball Coach John Wooden would often start new players on his Bruins team by teaching them how to tie their shoes properly; getting the fundamentals right has been Building & Earth’s pathway to success.
“Relationships first, excellence always, that’s our creed,” Bhate says. The company takes pride in its commitment to its employees, creating a supportive and rewarding atmosphere where individuals can thrive.
At the 25th Anniversary event, Deepa Bhate, CEO and founder of Building & Earth, shared her inspiring story of coming to America in 1985 and then rigorously building her career one step at a time. “This country was built on hard work, integrity, and freedom,” she remarked, “and I would submit to you it is the best country to live in where hard work can make your dreams a reality.”
This kind of tenacity and perseverance has intentionally been infused in the Building & Earth culture, and it’s a point of pride that permeates employee work and standards. This strength of character is one of the chief differences that clients notice when first interacting with the team.
Another noticeable difference? The depth of expertise. In addition to Bhate’s 39 years of professional business experience specifically related to consulting engineering, Cowen boasts 41 years of engineering expertise and has worked in every facet of the geotechnical/testing industry, and Adams brings 40 years of construction materials consulting experience to the table as a voting member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI).
However, the road to success has required more than technical prowess.
Staying Nimble
Even with all the key elements in place, the AEC industry is notoriously unpredictable. At the 25th Anniversary gathering, Bhate emphasized how being able to pivot on a dime has played a role in Building & Earth’s staying power, stating, “The answer has always been let’s figure it out, let’s find a way, and execute.” Under her leadership, management coaches their teams to constantly assess situations to make swift course corrections as required. This approach of relentless problem-solving and responsiveness has helped bolster trust in the company.
This emphasis on agility means that Building & Earth can assemble a full-service testing lab and boots on the ground to expediently handle large remote projects with the right team and resources.
With trust came growth, and with growth, came another important milestone for the company in 2021: a spot on the esteemed ENR Top 500 List, a goal that co-founder Jeff Cowen set out to achieve after 10 years in business.
Looking Toward the Future
Not one to rest on laurels, Cowen leads project teams with an eye to what lies ahead. “We’re still growing—and not just for growth’s sake, but to provide meaningful opportunity for our employees to meet their career goals,” he said.
As the company grows, several key employees play a strategic role in charting the course. During the 25th-Annivesary event, Bhate thanked the team for their unwavering support. “Our associates go the extra mile, giving 110 percent, when sometimes 100 would have been enough,” she said.
Mark Nolen, Executive Vice President, was singled out as a force for progress who leads by example. “The company would not be where we are without him being there to support every promise we make,” Bhate explained. Branch managers were recognized for their leadership and ability to consistently inspire the best from their teams.
Overall, the individual stories painted a vivid picture of the talented and committed team that drives Building & Earth’s success and shares gratitude for the company—and one another. “We’ve grown many times the size that I imagined and achieved what we intended,” Adams remarked.
Looking toward the future, the company leaders expressed their excitement about continued growth and innovation. Building & Earth’s commitment to its core values – finding solutions, taking action, and prioritizing its people – will undoubtedly propel them forward in the years to come. The 25th-anniversary celebration wasn’t just a look back, but a springboard for a future filled with promise.