Robert Maddux
Senior Vice President / Design & Construction
- 30 years of experience
- 10 years at KDC
Robert Maddux
Senior Vice President / Design & Construction
Unlike most 18-year-olds, when Robert Maddux graduated from high school, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life—develop commercial real estate. And that’s exactly what he does as vice president of design and construction in KDC’s Atlanta office.
Robert spends most of his time working on the massive State Farm project in Atlanta. He’s responsible for coordinating the project’s budget, reporting, safety, and constructability. He’s also involved in development and construction planning for new business opportunities, digging into scope of work, detailed schedules and budgets, resource allocation, and legal requirements.
The best part of my job is interacting with a variety of people on a daily basis. I’m very social, and I like being part of a team and solving problems as a group.
Robert’s interest in design and construction started when he got a job as an electrician’s assistant for a library project when he was a teenager. He enjoyed the physicality of the job so much that he continued to work construction throughout high school and college.
“I’m one of those rare people who went to college knowing exactly what I wanted to do,” he says.
Robert attended Purdue University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in building construction management. After graduation, he took a job with a general contractor and spent 10 years working on a variety of institutional projects including churches, schools, and hospitals.
“One of the great things about construction is that it gives you a good foundation for project management,” Robert says.
Prior to joining KDC, Robert spent nine years at an Atlanta-based boutique development company. His primary responsibility was managing the development 3630 Peachtree, one of Atlanta’s largest mixed-use projects, and the consortium of developers that built the 500,000-square-foot building with high-end retail and a Ritz-Carlton hotel.
“Transitioning from construction to development was exciting and challenging,” Robert recalls. “Construction is a very specific, very linear process. Development isn’t like that at all. One day you might be working with an architect for building design, and the next day you’re working on something else. You have to be flexible and patient, and be able to leave something 50 percent completed and then return to it.”
“The best part of my job is interacting with a variety of people on a daily basis,” he says. “I’m very social, and I like being part of a team and solving problems as a group.”
Robert met his wife, Renee, at Purdue, and they have three sons. He spends most of his free time with his family, and his favorite thing to do outside of work is coach lacrosse in a rec league for the kids.
The Maddux family loves the outdoors, especially saltwater fishing. One day, Robert hopes to tour Europe with his family.
