Leadership in Construction: A Conversation with Karim Allana, CEO of Allana Buick & Bers

Karim Allana is a pathfinder in the architectural engineering and construction sector, being the founder and at the same time the Chief Executive Officer of Allana Buick & Bers, Inc. (ABB). Through his vision and direction, ABB has developed from a small-scale enterprise providing and consulting on roofing into a big firm that focuses on the provision of high-performance building solutions.

Allana’s philosophy, which is backed by over 40 years of experience and around 225 highly skilled workers, is a mix of solid engineering and sustainable practices that last over time. Karim Allana was initially a civil engineering student at Santa Clara University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and his career was thus founded on essentials. A job in a roofing company and later as a project engineer at Turner Construction provided him with an insight into the industry that was very much grounded in construction basics. 

He was able to open his own company in 1987, which was then called Roofing Services and Consultants, and that was the start of his commitment to improving building performance through sound engineering and practical solutions.

Building ABB: Milestones and Expansion

ABB’s growth path has been astonishing from its small beginnings in Sunnyvale, California. The company, which was a small consulting group, gradually turned into a multi-skilled firm that could deal with assorted engineering and construction issues over the entire U.S. 

The company had several changes during the 1990s and early 2000s, the most notable being new market entries and additions to its leadership in the company. By 2005, the firm changed its name to Allana Buick & Bers, Inc., which not only signified the firm’s larger capabilities but also its growing knowledge in the field.

With Allana’s strategic leadership, ABB has moved its operations into more than a dozen states and Mexico while serving the healthcare, government, education, multifamily residential, industrial, and insurance industries, thus gaining wide recognition. 

The firm, throughout its history, has been a partner in the construction of new structures and repair works worth billions of dollars, proving its ability to take on different types of projects in terms of scale and complexity.

Holistic Approach to Building Performance

Karim Allana’s vision for ABB is defined by a comprehensive grasp of the factors that contribute to building performance. He applies a systems approach instead of regarding structures as unchanging entities: how design, materials, and construction practices affect each other over a period of time. 

ABB helps the clients in the process of optimizing building enclosure systems, roofing, waterproofing, HVAC, fire protection, and allied trades in order to prolong the life of the buildings, minimize risk, and reduce operational costs. Forensic analysis is a pivotal component of ABB’s strategy, knowing the reasons for the component’s failure and using this knowledge for better future designs. 

According to Allana, the investigation of failures not only provides the point of view that is sometimes lost in the traditional design approach but also aids the clients in preventing early aging of the building and incurring big expenses on repair. This view not only contributes to the sustainability of the building but also makes the economics of the building much more efficient in the long run.

Lessons in Leadership and Sustainability

Allana, while reflecting upon his journey, points out the significance of traits like resilience, lifelong learning, and collaborative problem-solving. His advice to the young professionals entering the field extols the importance of deep technical knowledge in combination with the reluctant sharing of experiences. 

Sustainability in construction is an area of practice where Allana really shines, as buildings not only become more livable but also the entire industry is better prepared to meet the future demands.

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