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Each year, Buffalo Business First celebrates multiple companies of the year for their work in the preceding months — whether it's goals achieved, challenges overcome or even recognition on a national scale. LaBella Associates is one of the 2023 honorees.
LaBella Associates just expanded its Buffalo offices at 300 Pearl St. to make room for its growing headcount, but the new space is already starting to feel a little crowded.
"I think we're outgrowing it already, we're going to need to do something different there," President Jeff Roloson said.
The firm, headquartered in Rochester, acquired Stieglitz Snyder Architecture in 2021. Due to a lack of space, the Stieglitz Snyder team worked in a separate location from most of the LaBella team, but that changed this spring with the newly expanded space in Olympic Towers.
"It's really created a much better synergy and camaraderie with everyone," Roloson said.
Meanwhile, the firm is helping spearhead some of the most high-profile projects in Western New York.
It's the lead civil engineer on the Buffalo Bill's new stadium. Other major projects include the new Roswell Park Scott Bieler Cancer Center in Amherst, the upcoming $200 million redevelopment of Commodore Perry homes, the planned Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute and the redevelopment of the Kensington Expressway.
And while high interest rates and low lending are slowing the pace of development, Roloson said he expects the firm to have a full plate for years to come. There's still many projects in the pipeline in many stages of development.
"I think they're going to slow but not stall," he said.
The company positions itself to weather a potential slowdown by diversifying its services, and those efforts will continue. When private projects slow, public spending often ramps up.
"Our key and strategy is diversification of services and geographies," Roloson said.
Roloson said the State University Construction Fund and Dormitory Authority of the State of New York have both been stepping up their projects.
LaBella is in the process of expanding its environmental remediation group, which removes contaminated soils, gas tanks, pipes and other environmental hazards from sites. Bringing these services to Western New York will require additional space, sooner rather than later.
"We're going to need shop space for actual construction equipment and yard and maintenance," Roloson said. "That's what's coming next year, is expanding the construction arm of our business into Buffalo and Western New York."
Other priorities including positioning the company to compete in a challenging labor market and exploring the possibilities that artificial intelligence presents for the industry.
The basics, however, remain the same as always, Roloson said.
"We're going to continue to foster and build relationships with Buffalo and Western New York organizations and business to make sure we're their trusted advisor and consultant," he said.
LaBella Associates
President: Jeff Roloson
WNY office: 300 Pearl St., Buffalo
WNY employees: 100; 1,672 nationwide
What they do: Architecture, engineering and design services
What’s new: LaBella Associates expanded its Buffalo offices in June, and is involved in several high-profile Western New York projects, including the Buffalo Bills' new stadium