Master-Planned Momentum: Regent’s Build Powers the Centerville Strategic Growth Area

By Eric S. Cavallo, Editor-in-Chief
Hampton Roads Construction News Network

VIRGINIA BEACH — Regent University has broken ground on a new Athletic & Fitness Center, marking a defining moment in both campus expansion and the broader evolution of Virginia Beach’s Centerville Strategic Growth Area. The October 10 ceremony, attended by city and university leaders, underscored more than institutional pride—it reflected a deliberate convergence between private investment and public planning, between a university’s mission and a city’s long-term vision.

For Regent, the project is the fruit of what officials call “years of prayer, vision, and dedication.” It symbolizes the university’s effort to link physical well-being and spiritual development within a single architectural statement. The facility will house multi-sport courts, strength and conditioning spaces, and training areas adaptable for intramurals—an environment designed to serve both competitive athletics and the broader student body. Its value, administrators say, lies as much in what it represents as in what it contains.

The City of Virginia Beach’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan envisions Centerville as an education-oriented growth district anchored by Regent University and the Christian Broadcasting Network. Within that framework, the new complex advances a clear civic goal: channeling development into designated nodes where infrastructure, employment, and academic life can reinforce one another. By building inward—within an existing Strategic Growth Area—rather than outward into rural tracts, Regent is giving physical shape to the city’s principle of planned, compact growth.

City planners have long described Centerville as a corridor where faith-based education, technology, and community services could coexist in a master-planned setting. Regent’s 31-acre athletics expansion, part of its larger “Royals Rise” initiative, turns that concept into practice. The investment creates an activity hub that will generate daily foot traffic, support nearby businesses, and encourage complementary public improvements along Centerville Turnpike—precisely the self-sustaining ecosystem the plan seeks to cultivate.

Beyond its planning alignment, the project carries economic weight. Each construction phase adds local jobs and contracts in a sector now defined by cautious optimism and supply-chain volatility. For Virginia Beach, the expansion reaffirms confidence in the inland portion of the city as a growth engine, balancing the resort area’s tourism economy with year-round institutional stability. The synergy of education and enterprise offers a counterweight to cyclical industries and helps retain graduates who might otherwise leave Hampton Roads.

The university has pledged careful stewardship during construction—attention to stormwater management, pedestrian safety, and environmental design. Those commitments mirror the city’s emphasis on sustainability within SGAs, where new development must protect surrounding neighborhoods and watershed systems. Each permit, grading plan, and inspection sequence will test how effectively private builders can align with public performance standards while maintaining schedule and scope.

What distinguishes this project is not its scale but its symbolism. In an era when higher-education institutions face enrollment pressures and fiscal strain, Regent’s investment signals confidence—in its mission, its students, and its city. The Athletic & Fitness Center stands as both a tangible asset and a civic statement: that disciplined planning and shared vision still have a place in how Virginia builds.

With site work underway and completion targeted within two years, the structure will soon rise as a visible marker of Centerville’s transformation from concept to community. When the doors open, Virginia Beach will not simply gain a new facility; it will gain a proof point that its comprehensive plan can, in fact, guide real projects from blueprint to reality.

About HRCNN

The Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN) delivers fact-checked, professionally edited coverage of construction, infrastructure, zoning, and development across the Commonwealth. Founded under Earthly Infrastructure®, HRCNN serves as Virginia’s independent source for insight into how policy, planning, and private enterprise shape the built environment—keeping the region informed, prepared, and committed to building safe, building strong, and building smart.

Blueprint for Change: How Three Code Reforms Will Reshape the Way Virginia Builds

By Staff Writer
Hampton Roads Construction News Network

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s construction and regulatory landscape is entering a defining era. With the 2021 Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) now the single enforceable standard for all new permits, the Commonwealth’s builders, architects, and inspectors have crossed a clear threshold. Gone are the days of mixing provisions from older editions; in their place stands a uniform framework demanding both technical precision and code literacy—the ability to interpret and apply the evolving rules that shape the built environment.

This shift is more than procedural. It marks a cultural moment for Virginia’s building community—one that calls for fluency, coordination, and an understanding of why regulation matters as much as how it’s written. Three major reform efforts now underway will test those very skills, redefining how projects are designed, approved, and delivered statewide.

The first centers on Virginia’s single-stair debate, a discussion reshaping how cities balance safety and housing density. Under current code, multifamily buildings in the R-2 occupancy classification may use a single internal stairway only up to three stories. Legislation passed in 2024—Senate Bill 195 and House Bill 368—has directed the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to study whether that height limit could safely expand to as many as six stories under enhanced safety measures.

The advisory group assigned to the study includes building officials, fire marshals, architects, and code professionals. Among them is Eric S. Cavallo, founder and chief executive officer of Earthly Infrastructure®, and parent company of HRCNN. As a licensed commercial building contractor and ICC member, Cavallo offers practical perspective on how such a change could influence design logistics, construction sequencing, and emergency response.

Supporters argue that allowing taller single-stair buildings could unlock new housing types, reduce costs, and promote walkable, space-efficient infill—particularly in urban areas constrained by lot size. Opponents caution that any increase must come with expanded fire protection, smoke-control systems, and stricter material requirements to preserve life safety. The deliberations now unfolding will determine whether Virginia joins other jurisdictions experimenting with this model, or holds firm to its existing limit.

While that debate continues, the 2021 USBC is already reshaping the technical backbone of every project. The updated code raises the bar on performance: attic insulation requirements have climbed from R-49 to R-60, most interior lighting must now include dimmers or occupancy sensors, and exterior fixtures require automatic shut-off and moisture protection. For mechanical systems, the rules are just as demanding—all ductwork must undergo verified leakage testing, and ventilation systems must pass performance evaluation before occupancy is granted.

These aren’t optional upgrades; they are built-in expectations. The result is a construction environment that rewards early planning, documentation, and cross-disciplinary coordination. Compliance can no longer wait for the final inspection—it must be embedded from the first drawing to the last punch-list item.

Meanwhile, DHCD is also looking inward—examining how the building process itself can be made more efficient. A second reform initiative is focused on streamlining permits and inspections. Proposals under discussion include concurrent plan reviews, standardized inspection sequences, and clearer documentation requirements for Certificates of Occupancy.

The aim is to reduce administrative lag and bring consistency across Virginia’s jurisdictions without diluting oversight. For contractors and developers alike, those improvements could prove as impactful as any technical code amendment, cutting delays that often stall projects for weeks or months.

Together, these three efforts—egress reform, performance enhancement, and process modernization—form a convergence of change that demands close attention from every corner of the industry. The grace period for the 2018 USBC has expired, and the 2021 edition now governs every permit, review, and inspection. In this environment, code literacy is more than a professional credential; it is a business necessity. Those who understand the intent and application of each provision will be the ones who keep schedules intact, control costs, and ensure public safety in the process.

The message is clear: the rules are evolving, and Virginia’s builders must evolve with them. The industry’s future belongs to those who adapt early, advocate responsibly, and build with both precision and purpose.

About HRCNN

The Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN) is Virginia’s independent source for news and analysis on construction, zoning, infrastructure, and regulatory development. Founded under Earthly Infrastructure®, HRCNN provides clear, fact-based coverage for contractors, developers, inspectors, and policymakers across the Commonwealth. By tracking DHCD advisory activity, code-cycle reforms, and enforcement trends, HRCNN helps ensure that the region’s building community stays informed, prepared, and committed to a safer, smarter built environment—one that keeps Virginia built safe and built strong.

Rivers Casino’s Big Night: Country Music, Construction, and the Coming Landing Hotel

By Eric S. Cavallo, Editor-in-Chief, Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN)

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — On November 29, 2025, Rivers Casino Portsmouth will host two storylines in one evening. Country artist Chase Matthew performs at 8 p.m. in the Event Center, while Earthly Infrastructure® and HRCNN document the site where the property’s first on-site hotel—The Landing Hotel Portsmouth—is planned.

The hotel advanced publicly on May 2, 2025, when Rivers Casino Portsmouth and parent company Rush Street Gaming announced plans to break ground in the summer. The project is framed as the next phase of the city’s entertainment district anchored along Victory Boulevard.

Plans call for an eight-story, privately funded build with a projected budget of about $65 million. The program includes 106 guest rooms—32 of them suites—with two larger “super suites,” and suites generally ranging from roughly 400 to 800+ square feet.

Concept materials emphasize a lobby-level reception area and bar, executive boardrooms, and direct connectivity to the casino’s existing restaurants, gaming floor, and event center, positioning the hotel to capture meeting and entertainment demand already on site.

Developers are targeting an opening in early 2027, consistent with a two-year delivery window for a mid-rise hotel adjacent to an active venue. The companies have cited construction mobilization beginning in summer 2025 and a privately financed approach to ownership and operations.

In July 2025, Rush Street Gaming selected Norfolk-based S.B. Ballard Construction Company as general contractor, moving the hotel from announcement toward execution with a Hampton Roads builder attached to the job.

The hotel follows years of groundwork: General Assembly authorization and local referendums in 2020 enabling casinos in five Virginia cities, voter approval in Portsmouth that November, and the January 23, 2023 opening of Rivers Casino Portsmouth as the Commonwealth’s first permanent casino facility.

Regional dynamics add urgency. With a competing project advancing in Norfolk—including interim facilities before a permanent casino—Rivers executives have positioned The Landing Hotel as a competitive necessity to grow overnight visitation and defend market share.

About HRCNN
The Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN) is a regional news platform dedicated to delivering accurate, builder-informed reporting on construction, zoning, and infrastructure across Coastal Virginia. Founded under Earthly Infrastructure®, HRCNN provides timely coverage that supports transparent decision-making, resilient infrastructure, and responsible growth in Hampton Roads and beyond.

Leading with Purpose: Kyle Larkin’s Vision for Granite Construction’s Next 100 Years

By Staff Writer, Hampton Roads Construction News Network

Granite Construction Incorporated, founded in 1922, has spent more than a century building America’s infrastructure—from highways and rail systems to dams and environmental restoration. Today, the company stands as one of the nation’s largest diversified heavy-civil contractors and vertically integrated materials producers, publicly traded and employing thousands across the country. Its projects reflect a legacy of craftsmanship, resilience, and innovation. As Granite moves into its second century, the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Kyle Larkin will define how that legacy evolves for the next hundred years.

Larkin joined Granite in 1996 as an estimator in the Reno, Nevada office after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Construction Management. Over the years, he advanced through the company’s operational and executive ranks, serving as project engineer, chief estimator, manager of construction, regional manager, and president of subsidiary Intermountain Slurry Seal. In September 2020, he was named president, and in June 2021, chief executive officer. Along the way, he earned an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, pairing real-world construction experience with strategic business insight.

Under Larkin’s leadership, Granite has sharpened its competitive edge through vertical integration—owning both the construction and materials sides of the business—and embracing “best value” procurement models like progressive design-build. These approaches allow the company to control cost, ensure consistent quality, and deliver on complex, high-value projects that demand innovation and collaboration.

Growth through mergers and acquisitions has been another cornerstone of Larkin’s strategy. In 2024, Granite acquired Dickerson & Bowen, expanding its Southeast operations. In 2025, the company made two major acquisitions—Warren Paving and Papich Construction—for a combined $710 million. These strategic moves are expected to generate hundreds of millions in additional annual revenue, expand aggregate reserves, and strengthen Granite’s vertically integrated model.

The results have been tangible. In the second quarter of 2025, Granite achieved a record-high project backlog of $6.1 billion. The materials segment saw double-digit revenue growth, gross profit rose significantly, and annual revenue guidance for the year was increased. Larkin attributes these gains to disciplined operations, strong market positioning, and the early contributions from recent acquisitions.

Still, Larkin’s vision is about more than financial performance. He has consistently emphasized the importance of safety, workforce development, and building high-performance teams. In his view, sustaining Granite’s success into the next century depends on cultivating talent, fostering relationships, and empowering teams to perform at their best.

For Virginia’s builders and infrastructure leaders, Granite’s trajectory under Larkin offers an instructive example of how legacy, innovation, and people-first leadership can work together to meet the demands of a changing industry. As the Commonwealth undertakes major investments in transportation, flood protection, and renewable energy infrastructure, Larkin’s approach offers a model for growth that is both ambitious and sustainable.

About the Hampton Roads Construction News Network
The Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN) is dedicated to delivering accurate, timely, and in-depth coverage of construction, infrastructure, zoning, and development in Virginia and beyond. By spotlighting industry leaders like Kyle Larkin, HRCNN connects regional professionals with national perspectives, fostering informed dialogue and sharing strategies that strengthen the built environment for generations to come.

Norfolk Bets Big on the Waterfront: $750 Million Casino Project Breaks Ground Next to Harbor Park

By HRCNN Staff Writer
July 26, 2025 – Norfolk, VA

In a long-anticipated step toward revitalizing its urban waterfront, the City of Norfolk has broken ground on a $750 million casino and resort development that will transform a surface parking lot near Harbor Park into a year-round entertainment anchor. Developed through a partnership between the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Boyd Gaming Corporation, the project is expected to deliver significant economic returns, enhanced transit connectivity, and a new identity for the city’s east downtown corridor.

“This isn’t just a gaming destination,” said City Manager Patrick Roberts. “It’s a regional anchor—connecting transit, tourism, and long-term development strategy.”

The six-acre site, previously known as Harbor Park Lot D, is being reimagined as a full-service resort complex. Plans call for a 200-room hotel, more than 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, eight restaurants and bars, and a 45,000-square-foot amenities deck. A 1,300-space structured parking garage will support both on-site patrons and broader downtown event traffic. The developers anticipate opening a temporary casino facility by the end of 2025, a requirement tied to the voter-approved 2020 casino referendum. The full build-out of the permanent resort is expected to be completed by late 2027, with construction currently managed by S.B. Ballard Construction and Yates Construction—the same team behind Rivers Casino Portsmouth.

On July 25, 2025, a team from the Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN) visited the active construction site. At present, contractors remain in the early stages of infrastructure development, with work focused on horizontal utilities, underground connections, and initial site grading. Trenches have been opened for electrical, sanitary, storm, and water service lines, and equipment is staged along the site perimeter for ongoing material deliveries and subgrade preparation.

Norfolk’s entry into Virginia’s gaming sector follows closely on the heels of Portsmouth’s 2023 debut of Rivers Casino, which generated more than $15 million in gambling tax revenue in its first year. The proximity of the two properties—just across the Elizabeth River—has prompted questions about regional market saturation. Yet Boyd Gaming executives remain confident in the project’s positioning.

“We see Norfolk not only as viable but as visionary,” said Boyd Senior Vice President Marianne Johnson. “This project balances premium gaming with waterfront recreation and connectivity to rail, ferry, and regional highways.”

Indeed, the site’s adjacency to the Tide light rail system, Norfolk’s ferry terminal, Amtrak station, and the I-264 corridor gives the resort a multimodal advantage unique among East Coast gaming properties. The project is also envisioned as a key economic driver for the broader St. Paul’s redevelopment district.

The casino’s journey to groundbreaking was far from straightforward. Initial concepts unveiled in 2021 proposed a sprawling 13-acre footprint. However, shoreline regulations, FEMA floodplain designations, and coordination with multiple regulatory agencies—including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Norfolk Wetlands Board, and Department of Environmental Quality—led to a significant reduction in the developable area. Ultimately, the buildable site was scaled down to six acres, with adjustments made to align with Norfolk’s $2.6 billion federal floodwall project.

Planning staff and design consultants from VHB and HKS worked extensively to ensure the project met city goals for resiliency and public access. The Elizabeth River Trail will be extended along the waterfront, buffered by lighting, landscaping, and visual corridors to preserve the riverfront experience. Despite a 6–1 vote of support from Norfolk’s Architectural Review Board, some design elements—including building height, wayfinding signage, and indoor smoking areas—remain under scrutiny.

Opposition to the project has not been limited to regulatory boards. Norfolk Councilmember Courtney Doyle cast the sole vote against the revised site plan, citing concerns over public health impacts, design scale, and the project’s symbolic weight on the city’s shoreline.

“There were real questions about what kind of development belongs on our waterfront,” Doyle said during the September 2024 hearing. “This is not just a building. It’s a message.”

Still, city officials point to substantial fiscal and employment gains as justification for the project’s aggressive timetable. According to economic impact projections, the resort could generate upwards of $30 million in annual revenue for Norfolk through a combination of gaming taxes, lease payments, and indirect activity. During construction, the project is expected to support more than 2,800 jobs, with roughly 850 permanent positions once fully operational. Annual wages across all sectors tied to the resort are projected to exceed $58 million.

Jared Chalk, Norfolk’s Director of Economic Development, noted that the casino is not being positioned as a standalone amenity, but as a keystone in a broader strategy to modernize the city’s hospitality and tourism infrastructure. “The fiscal impact is meaningful, yes,” Chalk said, “but just as important is the catalytic effect this project has on surrounding redevelopment and employment mobility.”

Still, for many Norfolk residents, questions remain. Some community leaders have expressed concern about the risk of over-commercialization, traffic spillover into adjacent neighborhoods, and the equity implications of locating a high-end casino near communities still recovering from generational disinvestment. Others are cautiously optimistic, hopeful that new job opportunities and public-private reinvestment will reach those most in need.

“The resort could become a symbol of either vision or division,” said civic activist Andrea Lemieux. “The outcome will depend on who it serves—and who gets left behind.”

For now, cranes continue to rise above the Elizabeth River, reshaping a familiar skyline with steel, concrete, and high expectations. Whether Norfolk’s bet on the waterfront pays off—or busts—remains one of the region’s most closely watched civic stories.

About HRCNN
The Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN) is an independent editorial platform tracking the intersection of zoning, infrastructure, environmental development, and regional planning across coastal Virginia. We welcome contributions from professionals, civic leaders, and community members who share a passion for responsible growth and resilient design.

To submit a story idea, case study, or opinion piece, visit:
https://earthlyinfrastructure.com/hrcnn-submit-article

Let us help you bring your voice to the conversation shaping Hampton Roads.

Built Safe, Built VA: Building a Stronger Commonwealth from the Ground Up

By Eric S. Cavallo – Licensed Commercial Building Contractor | Member, International Code Council (ICC) | Board Member, Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals | Advisory Committee Member, Virginia DHCD – SB195 Reform | Founder & CEO, Earthly Infrastructure®

Safety has long been one of the defining values of the construction industry. But as our cities grow more complex, our climate more unpredictable, and our housing needs more urgent, the meaning of “building safely” must evolve. Today, it’s no longer enough to focus exclusively on jobsite hazards or regulatory compliance within the fence line. The safety of Virginia’s built environment starts upstream—with land use, planning decisions, infrastructure investment, and the policies that govern them all.

Built Safe, Built VA began as a call to strengthen safety culture across Virginia’s construction sites. From OSHA alignment and VOSH enforcement to job hazard analyses and public interface protocols, the original message was clear: protecting lives and reputations on the job is foundational to ethical construction. But the time has come to expand the campaign’s reach. Safety must also guide how we zone our communities, manage our stormwater, approve our housing stock, and license those who shape our physical environment.

One of the earliest and most overlooked points of impact is zoning. Setbacks, overlays, height restrictions, and access requirements may seem bureaucratic—but they often determine whether emergency vehicles can reach a structure, whether pedestrians and cyclists are safely accommodated, and whether public infrastructure can support private development. As a member of the Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals, I’ve seen firsthand how zoning decisions—good and bad—leave lasting safety consequences. Built Safe means starting at the planning table.

Stormwater management is another critical piece of the safety puzzle. In a coastal region like Hampton Roads, a poorly planned or under-enforced BMP isn’t just an engineering flaw—it’s a public hazard. In next month’s HRCNN feature, Councilman Michael Berlucchi (District 3) offers a civic perspective on how local government can lead in protecting our watersheds and preparing for climate impacts. Erosion, flooding, and sediment runoff don’t stop at property lines. Neither should our commitment to prevention.

Likewise, structural safety must be defended through policy—particularly as we seek to modernize housing. In my role with the Virginia DHCD advisory committee on SB195, I’ve been part of the conversation around single-stair reform in R-2 occupancy structures. This is a question of both affordability and egress. Of innovation and life safety. As we welcome more density in our cities, we must be honest about what safe vertical development looks like—and who bears responsibility when it falls short.

That responsibility should extend to all players in the development chain. In Virginia, contractors must be licensed, tested, insured, and held accountable. But developers—who often initiate, coordinate, and finance the projects that shape our communities—are not subject to the same baseline requirements. This is a regulatory gap that I believe must close. Built Safe, Built VA calls for equal standards across the building lifecycle. If you have the authority to shape a neighborhood, you should carry the license to match.

Public safety also hinges on how construction engages the community during the build. Traffic control plans, signage, fencing, and hazard communication are not superficial details—they are the public’s experience of the construction profession. Whether we're working in a dense urban district or a coastal village, we must treat every project as a public-facing commitment to professionalism. Safety doesn’t end with a passed inspection. It extends to every resident who walks, drives, or lives near our work.

In the months ahead, Built Safe, Built VA will continue spotlighting the people and policies that make Virginia stronger—from jobsite practices and planning board decisions to stormwater initiatives and housing reforms. Through Earthly Infrastructure® and the Hampton Roads Construction News Network, we’re proud to carry this conversation forward—not as critics, but as partners in building a better Commonwealth.

Let’s keep pushing the standard. Because when we build safe, we build trust. We build value. And most importantly, we build Virginia.

Redesigning the Footprint: How Environmental Site Design Is Shaping Smarter, Safer Development Across Virginia

By Eric S. Cavallo
Founder, Earthly Infrastructure® | Advisor, Virginia DHCD | Board Member, VB BZA

Chesapeake, VA – July 2025
As the Commonwealth faces rising development pressure alongside increasing environmental risk, Virginia builders and planners are being asked to do more than just meet minimum code. They’re being called to design with nature, not against it.

Enter Environmental Site Design (ESD)—an integrated planning strategy that places stormwater site design and open space development at the center of project success. As Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations tighten and public expectations rise, ESD is no longer a niche innovation—it’s the foundation of responsible land use.

“In the Chesapeake Bay watershed, how we plan a site is just as important as what we build on it,” said Eric S. Cavallo, founder of Earthly Infrastructure® and advisor to Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development. “Stormwater can’t be treated as an afterthought. It’s the design driver.”

What Is Environmental Site Design?

Environmental Site Design (ESD), also referred to as low-impact development (LID), emphasizes natural systems and minimal disturbance from the outset of a project. The goal is to manage stormwater at the source, reduce runoff volume, and maintain pre-development hydrology.

Core ESD principles include:

• Stormwater Site Design:
  Techniques such as bioswales, rain gardens, infiltration basins, and permeable pavements slow, filter, and absorb runoff close to where it falls. This helps meet VSMP and SWPPP requirements under Virginia’s Stormwater Management Regulations.

• Open Space Development:
  By clustering buildings, reducing roadway footprints, and preserving vegetated buffers, developers can maintain large portions of undisturbed open space. This not only reduces impervious surface coverage, but provides community access to trails, parks, and natural viewsheds.

• Minimizing Land Disturbance:
  Grading only where necessary and preserving native soil and tree cover helps prevent erosion and sedimentation downstream—benefiting both project budgets and the Bay.

“These are not add-ons. They are fundamental planning decisions that influence everything from stormwater credits to market appeal,” Cavallo said.

Why ESD Matters in Virginia

Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and Stormwater Management Program make clear that controlling pollution at the lot level is non-negotiable. Any land-disturbing activity over one acre—or within a Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area (RPA)—must include a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that demonstrates runoff reduction and sediment control.

ESD practices are often the most cost-effective path to compliance. For example:

• Reducing impervious surfaces can lower the cost of underground detention systems.

• Maintaining open space may help meet local overlay or zoning bonus requirements.

• On-site stormwater features can reduce the burden on municipal infrastructure and avoid offsite nutrient credits.

More Than Compliance—A Competitive Edge

Developers and builders who adopt ESD are increasingly gaining faster approvals, community goodwill, and long-term operational savings. In places like Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk, where drainage and flooding are constant concerns, projects that incorporate ESD principles are viewed as forward-thinking—not risky.

“Good stormwater design is good business,” Cavallo emphasized. “It reduces liability, enhances site resilience, and aligns with what local governments are actively prioritizing.”

From the Bay to the Boardroom: Leading by Example

At Earthly Infrastructure®, every project begins with three questions:

1. How will this site absorb or deflect stormwater?

2. How much open space can be preserved without compromising density?

3. How can this design align with both regulatory standards and long-term ecological function?

These are the same questions underpinning Virginia’s statewide efforts to modernize zoning, encourage green infrastructure, and meet its Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) targets.

Through the Built Safe, Built VA™ campaign, Earthly Infrastructure® is highlighting how environmentally intelligent site design can coexist with economic growth—setting a new standard for what it means to build responsibly in the Commonwealth.

About the Author
Eric S. Cavallo is a Virginia Class B Commercial Building Contractor, ICC Member, and Founder of Earthly Infrastructure®. He serves on the Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals and advises the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development on regulatory reform, including building code modernization and environmental planning.

Built Safe, Built VA | Reaffirming the Industry’s Commitment to Jobsite Safety

By Eric S. Cavallo - Licensed Commercial Building Contractor, Virginia | Member, International Code Council (ICC) | Appointed Board Member, Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals (2025–2029) | Advisory Committee Member, Virginia DHCD – SB195 Code Reform | Founder & CEO, Earthly Infrastructure® Building and Infrastructure Development Inc.

Jobsite safety remains one of the most critical obligations within the construction industry—not merely as a matter of project performance, but as a legal requirement, an ethical imperative, and a professional benchmark. In Virginia, construction safety expectations are governed by a combination of federal and state oversight, including the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program, OSHA standards under 29 CFR Part 1926, and enforcement mechanisms contained within the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). These frameworks exist to ensure a uniform minimum standard for safe practice across every licensed construction activity in the Commonwealth.

However, the successful implementation of safety measures is not accomplished by regulation alone. It is achieved through the culture, planning, and day-to-day decisions of builders, subcontractors, project managers, and trade partners. Effective safety programs demand more than posted signage and required PPE—they require comprehensive pre-task planning, documented job hazard analyses, qualified supervision, and transparent chains of responsibility. When these systems fail, the consequences are not theoretical: injuries, litigation, insurance exposure, and long-term reputational harm become very real.

In Virginia’s rapidly growing markets—particularly in the multifamily, commercial, and infrastructure sectors—the complexity of projects compounds risk. Overlapping scopes of work, dense scheduling, and limited staging areas introduce unique safety challenges that cannot be deferred or overlooked. From excavation support systems and fall protection plans to confined space entry and material handling protocols, each phase of construction demands a risk-aware approach. The firms that compete successfully in today’s industry understand that incident prevention is not separate from business strategy—it is central to it.

Furthermore, jobsite safety is not confined to the physical boundaries of the construction zone. Projects that fail to manage public interface—through improperly secured perimeters, unmarked hazards, or insufficient traffic control—can jeopardize public welfare, invite enforcement action, and erode confidence in the construction profession. Safety, therefore, is not merely internal compliance—it is a signal of professionalism to the broader community, including municipalities, neighbors, and end users.

The Built Safe, Built VA initiative was developed to promote a statewide culture of safety-conscious construction, grounded in law and reinforced by ethical practice. In today’s regulatory environment, it is no longer acceptable to treat safety as a temporary campaign or a check-the-box obligation. It must be embedded into the operational DNA of every contractor and design professional licensed to build in Virginia. When we build safely, we protect lives, uphold our licenses, and elevate the industry as a whole.

I invite fellow professionals, regulators, and stakeholders to share their perspectives on how we can continue strengthening safety practices across Virginia’s construction sector. Your insights are welcome as part of this ongoing conversation.