Matt Lackey

A Visit to Birmingham’s Masonic Temple

I had passed by the granite building at the corner of 4th Avenue North and 17th Street North countless times, never giving it more than a glance. Like many older buildings in downtown Birmingham, it appeared worn and forgotten, blending into the streetscape. I had never noticed the fluorescent metal signage or the Masonic symbols…
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ULI Alabama Tours Innovative Housing in Titusville

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend ULI Alabama’s project tour highlighting Navigate Communities’ efforts on housing and community revitalization and reimagining the construction process. Navigate Communities, a nonprofit affordable housing consultant, is currently building housing in the Goldwater Estates area of the Titusville community in Birmingham, Alabama. Located along 6th Avenue South…
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A Full Circle Moment at Jordan-Hare Stadium

In October 2021, my stepdaughter received the notification: “Abby, welcome to the Auburn University Class of 2026!” It was especially exciting for me as Abby would be the first in my family to attend college. Last fall, we made our third annual Parents’ Day trip to Auburn University to attend a football game. As we…
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I-65: One of the South’s Key Interstates

The air is full of excitement! Your bags are packed, the dogs have been dropped off at the kennel, and snacks have been packed. Today is the day you have been waiting for – it’s your family’s first trip to the beautiful Alabama beaches! It does not take long in your journey for you to…
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The Benefit of On-Call Municipal Contracts

Recently, on-call contracts have become an integral part of municipal partnerships, facilitating seamless collaboration between local governments and specialized service providers. On-call contracts are not only for large projects, but they also serve as a mechanism for small, specific tasks. One such task is surveying services. Examples of surveying services performed under on-call contracts have…
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Over Three Decades at the Galleria

If you live in the Birmingham area, you may frequent the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover for some last-minute gifts this holiday season! Did you know that Sain has been an instrumental force behind the engineering and surveying developments at the iconic Galleria for over three decades? Our involvement has spanned from the original survey of…
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Mapping What We Cannot See with Hydrographic Surveys

The Standards of Practice for Surveying in the State of Alabama defines a hydrographic survey as the determination of data relating to bodies of water, including depth of water and configuration of the bottom, directions and force of current, and location of fixed objects for survey and navigation purposes. Most hydrographic work is used to…
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History of Technologies in Survey

The practice of surveying dates back to 3000 BC when the Egyptians had to re-establish farmland boundaries after the flooding of the Nile. Land surveying methods were also used in the construction of the Great Giza Pyramid. Today, land surveying is a sophisticated scientific technique that uses technology to measure and determine points on the…
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Safe Digging with Alabama 811

Whether you are an engineer, contractor, or property owner, you play an essential role in keeping people safe with every dig. Safe digging begins with calling Alabama 811. Alabama 811 is dedicated to preventing damage to Alabama’s underground utilities and promoting public safety. The organization functions as a communication system, connecting member utility companies with…
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