Adam Jelen, Gilbane Building Company’s chief operating officer, will be the firm’s next CEO when he succeeds Thomas Laird, Jr. at that post on January 1, 2024.
The 47-year-old Jelen is an 18-year veteran of Gilbane, where he started as Senior Vice President of the firm’s Midwest Division. He has been COO since June 2022. Prior to joining Gilbane Building Company, Jelen worked for two other construction firms as a superintendent, crew leader, engineer, and laborer, according to his LinkedIn page.
As COO at Gilbane Building Company, Jelen’s responsibilities included driving the firm’s regional growth. He is a recognized expert in Design-Build, Integrated Project Delivery, and Lean Construction, according to the company’s prepared statement announcing his promotion. As CEO, he will remain committed to enhancing safety, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and supporting sustainability.
Gilbane, which was founded in 1870 and is based in Providence, R.I., is a family owned enterprise that currently has 45 office locations worldwide and more than 3,000 employees. Laird, Jelen’s predecessor, will become chairman of Gilbane Building Company. In that capacity, Laird will focus on supporting the company’s executive leaders and devising growth strategies.
“Gilbane is breaking new ground in project delivery and is poised for continued growth and success,” said Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Gilbane, Inc., the parent entity of Gilbane Building Company and Gilbane Development Company, in a prepared statement. “Adam is a visionary leader who is focused on elevating our clients’ experience and making an impact in the communities in which we build. We look forward to him taking on this leadership role, building on the foundation of Tom Laird’s leadership and continuing to raise the bar on how we build.”
Jelen holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction and a Minor in Business Administration from Bradley University, and an Associate of Science from Harper College. He currently serves as an executive committee member for National Construction Safety Week and was a founding board member of the ACE Mentor Program in Milwaukee, in addition to other positions.
Related Stories
M/E/P Systems | Oct 30, 2024
After residential success, DOE will test heat pumps for cold climates in commercial sector
All eight manufacturers in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge completed rigorous product field testing to demonstrate energy efficiency and improved performance in cold weather.
MFPRO+ New Projects | Oct 30, 2024
Luxury waterfront tower in Brooklyn features East River and Manhattan skyline views
Leasing recently began for The Dupont, a 41-story luxury rental property along the Brooklyn, N.Y., waterfront. Located within the 22-acre Greenpoint Landing, where it overlooks the newly constructed Newtown Barge Park, the high-rise features East River and Manhattan skyline views along with 20,000 sf of indoor and outdoor communal space.
Resiliency | Oct 29, 2024
Climate change degrades buildings slowly but steadily
While natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires can destroy buildings in minutes, other factors exacerbated by climate change degrade buildings more slowly but still cause costly damage.
Hotel Facilities | Oct 29, 2024
Hotel construction pipeline surpasses 6,200 projects at Q3 2024
According to the U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics, the total hotel pipeline stands at 6,211 projects/722,821 rooms, a new all-time high for projects in the U.S.
Office Buildings | Oct 29, 2024
Editorial call for Office Building project case studies
BD+C editors are looking to feature a roundup of office building projects for 2024, including office-to-residential conversions. Deadline for submission: December 6, 2024.
Healthcare Facilities | Oct 28, 2024
New surgical tower is largest addition to UNC Health campus in Chapel Hill
Construction on UNC Health’s North Carolina Surgical Hospital, the largest addition to the Chapel Hill campus since it was built in 1952, was recently completed. The seven-story, 375,000-sf structure houses 26 operating rooms, four of which are hybrid size to accommodate additional equipment and technology for newly developed procedures.
Contractors | Oct 25, 2024
Construction industry CEOs kick off effort to prevent suicide among workers
A new construction industry CEO Advisory Council dedicated to addressing the issue of suicide in the construction industry recently took shape. The council will guide an industry-wide effort to develop solutions targeting the high rate of suicide among construction workers.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Oct 24, 2024
Stadium renovation plans unveiled for Boston’s National Women’s Soccer League
A city-owned 75-year-old stadium in Boston’s historic Franklin Park will be renovated for a new National Women’s Soccer League team. The park, designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted in the 1880s, is the home of White Stadium, which was built in 1949 and has since fallen into disrepair.
Laboratories | Oct 23, 2024
From sterile to stimulating: The rise of community-centric life sciences campuses
To distinguish their life sciences campuses, developers are partnering with architectural and design firms to reimagine life sciences facilities as vibrant, welcoming destinations. By emphasizing four key elements—wellness, collaboration, biophilic design, and community integration—they are setting their properties apart.
Adaptive Reuse | Oct 22, 2024
Adaptive reuse project transforms 1840s-era mill building into rental housing
A recently opened multifamily property in Lawrence, Mass., is an adaptive reuse of an 1840s-era mill building. Stone Mill Lofts is one of the first all-electric mixed-income multifamily properties in Massachusetts. The all-electric building meets ambitious modern energy codes and stringent National Park Service historic preservation guidelines.
