NAMPA — A couple of blocks from other large buildings owned by other major companies, Autovol, a Nampa-based construction company that has built more than 3 million square feet of affordable living space since 2020, sits on the other side of the tracks.
There must be something special at 16376 Star Road, the 52-acre property where Autovol sits.
The purchased land used to be the home of a barn, and remnants of it are still there. Take a tour of the Hudson Room, where leadership has meetings. There are pieces all over that room.
Their state-of-the-art building includes a 410,000-square-foot factory floor, 30,000 square feet of office space, and it’s all connected. That helps bridge the gap between the executives and the “solutioneers,” which is used instead of the term employees.
In addition to the company’s success, there is a culture brimming with positivity. Perhaps, it’s why the modular housing construction company has quickly met its 60-person hiring goal for a second shift. With a second shift, and more applicants on the way, Autovol will be able to produce more housing for people who need it.
And 2025 was a boon year for Autovol. The company made $125 million in revenue, according to an Idaho Press interview with Rick Murdock, Autovol’s CEO and co-founder.
The company combines the use of automation — highly precise robots from ABB Robotics — and solutioneers to build apartments and other housing complexes to 80% completion before shipping them to developers, where they are then completed.
“That’s the most productive year,” Murdock said. “We started production in 2020 and then we moved forward from that. Every year there has been more production and more volume out of the plant, and that’s just, first of all it’s wonderful to have the business there to do that. And second of all, it’s just the advancement of people. It’s fine-tuning automation robotics, so it produces more.”
The housing the company makes is primarily multi-family apartment buildings. They build 80% of the units in Nampa. The units are completed on-site, where they are connected like intricate, and precise puzzle pieces.
According to John Liebenthal, Autovol’s marketing director, the company averages about five modules per day, or 20 per week.
“Sometimes we’ll hit 18 or 19, sometimes we’ll hit 21 or 22,” Liebenthal said. “If that was studios, that could be the equivalent of 10 studio apartments a day.”
When the modules are delivered, it’s done so with “the highest of quality,” Murdock said.
“One of the most important things that we make sure that we succeed in is we meet all of the codes for each one of the municipalities we’re building in,” Murdock said. “We make sure it’s code-compliant, make sure the building’s safe, make sure it’s operable and make sure it’s a great place to live. They’re very attractive buildings.”
Murdock said, structurally, what Autovol builds most is referred to as “five story over podium.” The podium is “usually the parking garage.”
“We kind of hit the gamut between studios, one bedroom, two bedroom,” Murdock said. “Whatever fits that market for the developer.”
While the automation helps production, the company needs more manpower.
“We’ve graduated up to near-capacity of what we can do in a shift,” Murdock said about the company’s four 10-hour shifts from Monday through Thursday. “That’s why the second shift is coming on board. We’d like to have more capacity.”
The second shift, a 12-hour period, runs from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
INSIGHT FROM A SOLUTIONEER
Brandon Hadley, an automation utility solutioneer, spoke about his experience working for Autovol and why he’s glad to work there. Hadley’s job requires him to move all around. Before Autovol, he said he knew “nothing” about construction. But he was ready to work.
“I absolutely love working here at Autovol,” Hadley said. “I’ve been here going on six years now, so I was able to see it from the ground up. I’m truly one of those people who believes in the vision that Rick (Murdock) had and Autovol had, and the culture that has been developed here is second to none.”
Hadley, a fifth-generation “farmboy,” moved up from Georgia to Idaho. In 2020 he started working at Autovol. He said he’s never experienced what he has at Autovol at any other workplace.
He’s also proud of the work Autovol does.
“When you come here, you feel like you’re doing something meaningful for the world,” Hadley said. “You’re making an impact for the good in a world that seems to be full of nasty things nowadays.”
With about one week left before the Feb. 1 hiring goal date, Autovol’s almost met that goal and they want to do more, according to Liebenthal.
“We are still accepting applications and further staffing up,” Liebenthal said Thursday in a text to the Idaho Press. “The initial 60 was what we need to get the shift started, but as it ramps (up) more will be needed.”
The company’s been getting the new employees oriented this past week. It’s an important step, because they’re getting the new employees on the factory floor with existing teams so they can get settled in.
AUTOVOL IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND
Murdock spoke more about the company and what separates it from its competitors with the Idaho Press on Wednesday.
First, it was Murdock’s work with robots. Murdock said that is where he got started.
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“I was doing homework in Sweden and trying to understand and learn more and so forth, and here we are,” Murdock said. “Just really thought that we could change the way we do construction. And I’m so happy it worked. It’s the first time in the country.”
Murdock said how a lot of things set Autovol apart, but there were a couple elements in particular.
“I think one of them is the fact that we introduced automation and robotics into construction,” Murdock said. “So we’ve got 66 robots out on the floor that (are) doing their job and being operated by our operators. I don’t look at that as magic, I look at robotics as a new tool that our people have to use. It takes off the heavy lifting from them and puts it on the machines. And it gives us precision in its building.”
Murdock explained the layered, yet point-by-point process, one that is backed up by an ultra-sophisticated system, in order to make the robots work as precise as they do.
But to simplify it, Autovol is “really writing the script for the robot for that particular project,” according to Murdock.
The people behind the computer screens at each station play a pivotal role.
“The screens are there so (the people) can see everything going on inside the automation,” Murdock said. “That’s more of a quality control check so we can visually see what we’re getting out of the robots, and if they need adjusting or not. So they play a very key role.”
In short, the people at the stations are “the first line of defense” in case something happens — if there’s an odd noise or something similar occurs — because the robots will do as they’re programmed.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE REMAINS A PRIORITY
While the robots and automation separate Autovol from other manufacturing facilities, the culture itself also makes the company stand out.
The company has won Idaho Top Workplace awards for several years, USA Today Top Workplace for the last three years, and one in 2023 for its innovation.
“We’re after work-life balance,” said Murdock, who also expounded on the hiring process.
Murdock said the company has “more of a management, servitude-type culture to where we’re responsible for those coming to work here.”
“We do a three-interview process with everybody who comes through our doors,” Murdock said. “That’s with different groups all throughout the plant. (It’s) so we get a feel for who’s wanting to come here and go to work, and they get a feeling for who we really are because we’re a family. We’re accepting family members who we feel are qualified to live up to all the things that we do and are like-minded.”
If it sounds too good to be true, Hadley will help set the record straight.
“When I come to work, I get to hang out with my family, essentially,” Hadley said. “Everybody cares about everybody inside and outside of work. Everyone’s there to jump in and give you a hand wherever you might need it. Oftentimes, if somebody’s going through a hard spell in their personal life, (others) are there to lend a shoulder or lend an ear if they need it.”
SHOWING APPRECIATION FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN
Murdock’s “very happy” with the 3 million square feet of affordable housing Autovol’s built.
“We’ve got a staff here, they lean all the way into affordable housing,” Murdock said. “That’s what our mission is and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish and we’re very proud of it. We’re providing addresses for people who don’t have one, and we’re giving them options. At the same time, trying to give them a better product and doing our best to lower the cost. So yes, I’m very proud. It’s a group of people who has taken something that hasn’t been done before in this country, and at a manufacturing plant, and developed it into something that’s doing very well. It tells you all about teams.”
Most of the housing units Autovol builds gets transported from Idaho to California.
“All of California’s a great market, Northern California is probably the one where we’ve done the most (work) in,” Murdock said. “And then obviously part of that is because we have an excellent partner who does a lot of development in California. We’ve done many, many jobs for him and continue to do so.”
The model’s expanding because Autovol has also worked with companies in Wyoming and is “getting ready to do one” in Colorado.
“Our market area is Colorado-west,” Murdock said. “We cover about an 800-mile radius, (that’s) what we try to do.”
Murdock said Autovol works with developers all across the Western United States, but primarily they work with California developers because “the need’s so great.”
A HINT FOR THE FUTURE, AND SATISFACTION WITH BUILDING IN NAMPA
Murdock confirmed there are plans for developing in Idaho.
“We’re having conversations as we speak today, and meetings on a possible project we’ll do here in Idaho,” Murdock said. “We’re anxious to do one in our backyard, because of the benefits it brings not only to the customer but also our factory, and all the employees who are in our factory. All of the solutioneers would love to have something in our backyard because we’re very proud of what we do and we’re very happy with what we build. It’d be major for us to have something right here.”
As for building in Nampa, it sounds as though Autovol is glad to be part of its industrial arm.
“It’s been awesome, quite frankly,” Murdock said. “We looked across this area and we chose Nampa because we thought it was in a great place for the workforce and for attracting people. So in Nampa, I can tell you the chamber of commerce has been so supportive, so we’re a big player with them and we love who they are. (Former) Mayor (Debbie) Kling (was) tremendous to work with here in Nampa. It’s just a great place to do business, and I’m saying that after almost six years of being here. It’s been good. We’re very happy here.”