A Hub Built for Builders

Inside ABC SEMI’s New Sterling Heights Facility Services

The Thomas J. Campbell Liberty Center can serve multiple purposes for members wanting a place to meet.

In every industry, there are places where people go to get things done—and there are places where things happen. The Associated Builders and Contractors of Southeastern Michigan set out to create the latter.

Our new Sterling Heights campus, a 100,000-square-foot milestone in the organization’s history, is more than a headquarters and more than a training center. It is a destination intentionally designed to become the gathering place for Michigan’s merit shop community—where leaders meet, ideas collide and the future of construction takes shape.

From the very beginning, The ABC SEMI Board of Directors along with the president & CEO Keith Ledbetter had a vision: a home base for the industry that was as functional as it was aspirational. Not just a building, but a resource. Not just a facility, but an ecosystem that welcomes collaboration, education, celebration and growth. The result is a campus that stands ready to serve ABC members in ways never before possible.

And now that the doors are open, the invitation is officially extended: this building doesn’t just belong to ABC—it belongs to you.

Every square foot was designed with the modern contractor, team leader and industry influencer in mind. Whether you’re hosting a board retreat, welcoming new employees, planning a company celebration or seeking a polished venue for client meetings, ABC SEMI now offers multiple flexible environments to elevate your event experience.

An inside look at the classrooms that can be useful for employee/leadership training.

The heart of ABC’s mission has always been education—and our new facility delivers it in a setting that reflects today’s construction environment. Our classroom and training spaces are equipped with:

• Projector capabilities for presentations and videos

• Smartboard-ready layouts for interactive

instruction

• Configurable seating arrangements to fit any teaching or meeting style

• A professional, polished atmosphere that impresses students, staff and guests alike

Members are already using these rooms for onboarding sessions, continuing education, safety meetings, strategic planning retreats and more. Whether you need to train five people or fifty, SEMCA’s newest classrooms ensure your experience is productive, seamless and designed for impact.

The crown jewel of our campus is almost here. Freedom Hall—our soon-to-be premier event venue —is being built to accommodate up to 350 guests and redefine where Southeast Michigan’s construction industry gathers.

From receptions and awards banquets to job fairs, annual meetings and milestone celebrations, Freedom Hall is designed not just to host events, but to elevate them. When complete, it will boast:

• Space for staging, catering, vendors and entertainment

• A flexible layout for everything from plated dinners to strolling receptions

It’s not open yet—but anticipation is growing. Members are already asking when they can book it and imagining the possibilities. Freedom Hall isn’t just coming soon, it’s about to become the place to be.

“ABC will be able to host some of the most spectacular events that will draw people from every corner of the industry and give us some much needed influence to boost the membership,” said 2025 outgoing chair Chris Holsbeke, owner of Holsbeke Construction.

Not every event needs a runway stage or a 300 person crowd. Some of the most meaningful work happens face-to-face, in thoughtfully crafted environments that inspire conversation and strategy.

That’s exactly what the Thomas J. Campbell Liberty Center was built for. Perfect for gatherings of 100 guests or fewer, this versatile space can transform into:

A rendering of Freedom Hall once construction is complete.

• A boardroom environment for executive decision-making

• A roundtable configuration for industry panels and leadership forums

• A cocktail reception or intimate dinner setting for client entertainment

• A private space for employee recognition, interviews or VIP hosting

The Thomas J. Campbell Liberty Center is quickly emerging as a preferred setting for companies who want something more sophisticated than a conference room.

“My dad was instrumental in having a dynamic facility and we’re proud to see his dream come true here in Sterling Heights,” said Jeff Campbell, son of Tom Campbell and co-owner of Oakdale Equipment. “He wanted a room that reflected what ABC stood for and I think we delivered.”

This is the next chapter for ABC SEMI. We’re not just expanding what we offer, but elevating how we offer it.

“ABC Southeastern Michigan will be the hub for the industry. Whatever is happening in construction, it will be happening here, and I’m proud to be leading the charge that will put merit in the center of the industry,” Ledbetter said. The industry has a new headquarters, a new gathering place and a new source of pride.

It’s not just a building, it’s your building. It’s a hub for the merit shop. A symbol of opportunity. And a destination worthy of the future you are constructing.