Looking to strengthen its long-term workforce development efforts and its pipeline of skilled labor, Superior Construction plans to build a 13,000-square-foot training facility next door to its office in South Jacksonville.
The city is reviewing a building permit application for Stellar Group Inc. to construct the training facility at 7080 Business Park Blvd. at an estimated project cost of $8.25 million. Superior’s Southeast Corporate Office is at 7272 Business Park Blvd.
According to information provided by Superior, which specializes in large-scale infrastructure projects, the two-story facility is designed to provide:
● Apprenticeship training in carpentry, pipe laying and heavy equipment operation.
● Heavy equipment simulators designed to allow employees to develop skills and build confidence in a controlled environment.
● Safety certification training.
● Intern and employee training programs, including weekly Lunch and Learn presentations.
● Meeting and conference space for companywide and regional training events.
Classrooms and hands-on training areas will be on the first floor, Superior said. The second floor will house office space, a conference room and a gym.
“The future of infrastructure depends on the future of the workforce behind it,” said Nick Largura, CEO of Superior Construction, said in an email. “This facility represents a major investment in training, technology and career development that will help develop the next generation of builders, operators and leaders at Superior.”
The National Center for Construction Education and Research reported that in 2025, 88% of companies in the industry had openings and 92% had difficulty filling positions. The center said employers reported that among candidates for positions in the industry in 2025, 57% lacked skills and qualifications.
At Superior, 40% of the company’s craft workforce is 45 or older, prompting the need for training pipelines and the preservation of institutional knowledge.
Superior said it expects to break ground on the facility in 2026.
In early May, Stellar Group Vice President of Construction Mark Harvey posted on LinkedIn that it was awarded the contract for the $9 million facility to include two large training centers, gym and an office complex.
Kasper architects + associates posted in response that it had been named the architect for the project.
“It’s been a pleasure collaborating with the Stellar team to design a facility that truly invests in the future of the industry,” the post read.
Founded in 1923 as the J. Largura Co., Superior is a fourth-generation family business. On its website, it lists a Midwest Corporate Office in Portage, Indiana, and the Southeast Corporate Office in Jacksonville.
Editor’s note: Karen Brune Mathis contributed information to this story.