By Eric S. Cavallo, President, Earthly Infrastructure® Building and Infrastructure Development Inc. | Virginia Licensed Contractor (Commercial Building) | ICC Member | Alternate Member, Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals | DHCD Stakeholder Advisor (SB195)
In an industry defined by deadlines, margins, and rapid growth, the most important question in construction remains unchanged: Is it built safe?
Across Virginia, the “Built Safe, Built VA” campaign is more than a slogan—it is a commitment to elevating construction practices through a lens of safety, code compliance, and public accountability. Developed as a localized extension of the International Code Council’s (ICC) Building Safety Month and Building Safety 365 initiatives, this campaign reflects a desire to bring national safety principles home to the Commonwealth.
As a long-standing member of the International Code Council and an annual participant in Building Safety Month, I recognized the need for a campaign that spoke directly to the values, challenges, and culture of Virginia’s building and inspection community. “Built Safe, Built VA” was created to honor the people and practices that shaped me—contractors, plan reviewers, inspectors, and code officials who uphold the very standards that protect life and property across this state.
This initiative is deeply personal. It represents both a professional standard and a public service philosophy. “Built Safe, Built VA” was never about branding—it was about giving back. As someone who continues to grow in this industry, I wanted to create something that resonated with the very people I represent: Virginians working every day to ensure that what we build is legal, ethical, and safe.
In practical terms, the campaign reinforces the foundational role of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) in governing all aspects of construction—from structural systems to fire protection. It highlights the importance of third-party verification, code official training, zoning integrity, and strong permit oversight. It also aligns with forward-looking reforms like SB195, where my role as a stakeholder advisor to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) centers on life-safety policy in multifamily construction.
As a contractor and a zoning board member, I have reviewed plans and variance requests that test the balance between innovation and safety. “Built Safe, Built VA” exists to center that balance—to remind us that while flexibility in development has its place, safety is non-negotiable. Every time a permit is pulled, an inspection passed, or a decision rendered under the USBC, we are reaffirming our collective responsibility to protect people first.
The future of construction in Virginia must reflect both technical precision and civic purpose. “Built Safe, Built VA” is our way of ensuring it does.
Built Safe. Built in compliance. Built for Virginia.