Spotlight On: Kia Hajifathalian, Vice President & Market General Manager, Baker Construction
Key points:
- • Baker Construction expanded its Miami-Dade business by 30%.
- • Complex projects and infrastructure investment are reshaping South Florida construction.
- • Technology, safety, and workforce development remain key industry priorities.
September 2026 — Invest: spoke with Kia Hajifathalian, vice president and market general manager for Baker Construction, about the firm’s recent growth in Miami-Dade, the increasing complexity of construction projects, and how safety, technology, and workforce development are shaping the region’s built environment. “There’s nothing better for business development than performance. When you successfully deliver complex, high-profile projects, it creates a lasting impression with clients and partners,” Hajifathalian said.
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How would you describe Baker Construction’s performance in the region over the past year, and what does that say about the broader construction market?
The past year, particularly in Miami-Dade, was successful for us. Overall, we grew our business in the county by about 30% compared to the previous year, which is encouraging when you’re expanding both revenue and market presence. That growth was driven by several major projects that really highlight what our teams are capable of executing in this market.
One of the most significant accomplishments was breaking the record for the largest concrete foundation pour ever completed in the state of Florida, for the Bentley Tower in Sunny Isles. That pour ranks among the Top 3 nationwide. What made it even more meaningful was that it was executed smoothly, with strong coordination and no safety issues, which speaks to the level of planning and discipline involved.
Another major achievement was completing the new Miami International Airport parking garage, which added approximately 2,200 parking spaces. That project finished six months ahead of schedule, despite the logistical challenges of working in an active airport environment with planes, trains, pedestrian traffic, and vehicles all operating around the job site.
The third highlight was Miami Freedom Park Stadium. Being part of a project with such a lasting cultural and economic impact is exciting. We completed our scope roughly two months ahead of schedule, and it’s rewarding to know we contributed to an asset that will serve the community for decades.
How have those projects influenced Baker Construction’s positioning and reputation in the market?
There’s nothing better for business development than performance. When you successfully deliver complex, high-profile projects, it creates a lasting impression with clients and partners. Records like the largest foundation pour or finishing critical infrastructure ahead of schedule stay top of mind when future projects are being awarded.
Internally, those projects also reinforce our culture. While the large jobs get the most attention, we completed roughly 40 projects in the state of Florida during the same period. Across all of them, one of the areas I’m most proud of is our safety performance.
Construction has historically been one of the more dangerous industries, and we’ve made a concerted effort to improve year over year. Our EMR is currently around 0.5, compared to an industry average of 1, and our recordable incident rate is below 1, while the industry average is closer to 3. Those metrics matter because they mean our people are going home safe at the end of the day, and that’s the most important outcome for us.
What major shifts or trends are emerging in South Florida’s construction landscape?
One of the biggest trends is the increasing complexity of projects. From a contractor’s perspective, complexity can be challenging, but it’s also exciting. We live in the communities we build, and it’s rewarding to see architecture that elevates the skyline rather than repeating the same box-shaped structures.
Miami is increasingly home to buildings with unique forms and ambitious designs, whether it’s high-rise residential towers, mixed-use developments, or cultural assets. That kind of architecture helps move the city from being perceived as a regional market to a truly international one.
Beyond vertical construction, there’s also been significant investment in infrastructure. We’ve seen major work in water and wastewater treatment facilities, which are critical for environmental sustainability. Airports continue to expand and modernize to accommodate increased passenger volumes, and there’s been ongoing investment in entertainment venues and sports facilities that support tourism, a key economic driver for South Florida.
Healthcare is another area seeing strong growth. Hospital expansions and medical facilities are essential for supporting a growing population and strengthening the region’s long-term resilience. Overall, the market has become more diversified, moving beyond just condos and apartments toward a more balanced mix of infrastructure, healthcare, and entertainment assets.
With continued population growth, what infrastructure needs stand out most over the next few years?
South Florida has made meaningful progress across many areas, but public transportation remains an area where the region is falling behind. When you look at globally recognized cities, strong public transit is a common thread, and that’s something Miami still needs to improve.
Aside from transportation, there has been notable progress compared to five years ago. That progress doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires coordination between public agencies, private developers, contractors, and community stakeholders. When everyone works together, you can see tangible improvements in how projects are delivered and how communities benefit.
How is Baker Construction integrating artificial intelligence and new technologies into its operations?
AI has become a major focus across industries, and construction is no exception. One of the most immediate impacts has been in contract review. Construction contracts can span hundreds of pages, and AI tools can now help identify changes, risks, and key clauses far more efficiently. Human oversight remains essential, but AI significantly reduces the time required for initial analysis.
Estimating and pricing are also evolving, with tools emerging that can analyze plans, perform quantity takeoffs, and assist with pricing. Internally, we’re developing proprietary language models trained on our own data to support less experienced team members. These tools act as decision-support systems while still requiring checks and balances.
We’re also seeing AI integrate more closely with technologies like BIM and VDC. What used to be separate workflows are now becoming interconnected. Looking ahead, AI has strong potential to further enhance safety through hazard recognition and to improve quality control by identifying issues earlier in the process.
What are the biggest challenges facing the construction industry today?
One of the most pressing challenges is talent. Construction offers meaningful work, strong compensation, and the opportunity to build assets that directly serve society, from hospitals and bridges to water treatment plants and power facilities. Despite that, younger generations are often drawn toward other industries.
As an industry, we need to do a better job showing students and young professionals what construction actually involves. When we visit schools and colleges and explain what we do, many people are surprised by how innovative and technology-driven the industry has become.
Locally, one issue that is especially concerning in Miami-Dade is worker misclassification. Some companies improperly classify workers as independent contractors, avoiding payroll taxes, overtime, and insurance obligations. That creates an uneven playing field and shifts the tax burden onto the broader community. Over time, it also undermines safety, and companies that are willing to cheat and take shortcuts as it relates to taxes and insurance have a tendency to take the same approach to safety and quality.
Addressing these issues is important for the long-term health of the industry. Accountability helps ensure that professional companies can compete fairly and continue investing in safety, quality, and innovation.
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