Committed to enhancing and innovating the construction industry, BZI® is setting new safety standards and accelerating project delivery
Recognized nationally as one of the top steel and construction organizations, Building Zone Industries (BZI) is revolutionizing how the industry approaches project delivery. Headquartered in Utah, the BZI family of companies operates through three primary organizations: Building Zone Industries LLC, responsible for steel erection; BZI Steel LLC for steel fabrication; and InnovaTech® LLC, which specializes in designing, engineering, and manufacturing construction equipment and processes to enhance on-site safety and efficiency.
BZI serves customers in sectors like data centers, warehouse and distribution, food and beverage, and manufacturers of EVs, microchips, and batteries. Having won several industry and workplace awards, and with its affiliate development company recently launching the BZI Innovation Park, we sit down with James Barlow, CEO, to gain an insight into recent achievements. 
“The BZI story is truly an American Dream; what started in 2006 with a handful of third-generation farmhands wanting to provide for their families has evolved into a leading construction enterprise,” James opens. “In its early days, the business focused on pre-engineered metal buildings for the farming community, but it quickly expanded into providing structural steel within several markets.
“BZI has navigated many changes in the industry, from the 2008 recession to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. When I joined the company in 2015, there were just over 100 people within the organization, and it was generating around $20 million annually. The business was reorganized in 2016, and we’ve since scaled operations up to over $400 million last year.
“Today, we’re primarily known for steel erection and wall systems installation, but we also offer fabrication services,” he continues. “Around three years ago we developed and rapidly scaled a new process for wall systems installation – insulated metal panel (IMP) systems – which consists of panels attached to a steel structure. We later launched our Nautilus Core & Shell initiative to offer synchronized fabrication, erection, and wall system installation in a seamless workflow. By providing a full package, we enhance the building delivery through value engineering and design services, meeting customer needs and optimizing the construction process. The repeatability and energy efficiency of Nautilus means the product is well suited to the data center market, which has seen increased demand over the last few years.”
Culture of creativity
Over the years, several affiliated entities have been established to complement the overall business. “This buildout is a product of opportunity and the talents of our teams,” James explains. “We’ve always encouraged people to think outside the box, promoting a culture of creativity without fear, and we launched InnovaTech® to focus specifically on creating products, processes, and systems that enhance safety or project efficiency. It began by establishing the role of Chief Innovation Officer, and after a few years of organic and incremental growth, InnovaTech now has 60 full-time employees building new systems and processes.
“Although these employees are still part of the BZI family, the creation of InnovaTech has created a separate brand and identity from which we can measure the impact of our innovative structure. InnovaTech was intended to be a vehicle from which we could sell our products to the general market, which we’re now beginning to materialize.
“There’s also a handful of smaller entities, all of which were developed because of internal demand for hard-to-find products and systems that resulted in deeper investment into other capabilities. Iron Depot is an example, and we now also offer external products and services with this entity.
Earlier this month (in July 2025) BZI’s affiliate development company, BZI Innovation Park, LLC celebrated its phase one grand opening and milestone achievement of its first tenant RailSync, which has delivered more than 600 railcars of steel and lumber since it began operations in the Park in 2023. BZI Innovation Park is an industrial and transportation hub in the Iron Springs Project Area of Cedar City, Utah, which will also soon become the location of the company’s new headquarters. “The BZI Innovation Park is central to the company’s success and growth over the next 20 years, and it will also be a major economic driver in the region,” James shares. “After four years of hard work, the Park is officially open for business to outside tenants, representing our commitment to building something meaningful and long-lasting within our community. We’ve partnered with the Utah Inland Port Authority to help us establish the park, and we maintain a special relationship with the organization today.
“The story of the park is an interesting one, as we originally went looking for 40 acres with rail service to expand fabrication operations and bring all team members under one roof,” he reflects. “We struggled to find 40 acres, but we did find a 400-acre site and went ahead with that, thinking we could open the services to others once the site was developed. We went on to purchase the neighboring 420 acres for good measure, bringing the overall site up to 820 acres.”
Speaking about the BZI Innovation Park, Ben Hart, Executive Director of the Utah Inland Port Authority, commented: “It’s impressive to see how quickly and effectively BZI has brought its vision to life, earning national recognition and creating real opportunities for Iron County, its businesses, and its residents. From the park’s inception, I’ve seen firsthand how BZI’s leadership and execution are driving economic growth, improving quality of life, and strengthening global transportation access.”
Dedication to safety
Committed to its people, BZI founded its own training program under SteelTech Academy. “With eight full-time instructors, SteelTech Academy provides a range of training courses, enabling us to tap into an expanded workforce by bringing people with little steel experience into the business,” James elaborates. “We invest significantly in SteelTech, with around $3.5 million per year used to fund training initiatives and an impressive 30,000-plus student contact hours conducted annually over the last four years. People value the investment we’re making in them, and this not only helps our retention rates but also helps us build a strong culture. We’re passionate about investing in safety, and it’s part of the reason why we offer regular training to mitigate potential safety issues. When combined, the two components of training and safety are BZI’s secret sauce that differentiates us from others in the market.”
BZI’s approach to team members also extends to the wider community, with several initiatives underway to support various causes. “While the business has to be profitable, we strive to be great stewards for our communities,” James states. “We established our Community Contributions program a couple of years ago to create a structure for the community partnerships we already operated. From youth engineering programs to funding initiatives, high value opportunities that create thriving communities are always on the radar at BZI.”
When we asked Billy Wilson, Regional Field Coordinator at Ryan Companies, his view on BZI, he said: “Safety is the cornerstone of any successful project, and BZI’s innovative top-down building approach has safety at its core. BZI’s SteelTech Academy training ensures team members have the knowledge they need to do things correctly and safely. These are just a part of the reasons I confidently advocate for BZI to work on Ryan Companies’ projects; such expertise and dedication to safety has consistently impressed me across every project we’ve collaborated on.”
Building thriving communities
As our conversation ends, James turns to what’s next for both BZI and the wider industry. “The labor shortage presents an interesting opportunity for the construction industry to adopt new technologies,” he suggests. “While the industry has historically been slower to adopt AI, robotics, and automation, there’s more implementation happening as younger generations enter the workforce and propel companies forward. I’m excited for the industry to step forward and adopt technologies, and BZI will continue to disrupt the market with our innovative solutions to enhance safety and productivity.
“We have some great projects underway, including some large aerospace contracts that will contribute to national defense. We’re expecting to set new records in 2025, and it’s likely we’ll reach 1000-plus employees in the coming months. However, the biggest milestone for us this year is launching the BZI Innovation Park and getting the first tenants in August.”
Over the last five years, BZI has experienced phenomenal growth, expansion into new markets, reached $1 billion in accumulated revenue, and achieved industrywide recognition. “It’s hard to predict what exactly will happen during the next five years but BZI will continue to focus on the approaches and values that are resonating with and appreciated by our customers, partners, and team members,” James concludes. “We’ll continue to improve safety, push to new levels of innovation to solve real problems, adopt new thinking and technology, and bring high-value opportunities to our team members to build thriving communities where we do business.”