Building communities that fit—and portfolios that perform

The Challenge

As a vertically integrated developer-builder-owner, EMBREY approaches each project as part of a larger portfolio — with a constant focus on the long-term health of every asset. Keeping teams in sync, preserving project data across every phase and maintaining visibility into performance is critical to meeting investor expectations and making smart, high-level decisions.

The Solution

EMBREY uses its own Procore instance to connect development, construction and property management teams within a single unified system. By capturing and maintaining project data across every phase — and making it accessible across the organization — the company can stay aligned, maintain visibility into performance and keep building communities that benefit neighborhoods, residents and investors.

The Results

• Full lifecycle visibility across development, construction and operations
• Helping enable faster decision-making with real-time access to project data
• Helping to improve forecasting and capital planning through centralized financial tracking
• Reduced reliance on manual communication across teams
• Stronger consistency across a national portfolio

Building communities that fit their surroundings

At EMBREY, development never begins with a template. Since 1974, the company has built its reputation on creating communities that feel like a natural extension of their surroundings.

That often means working with unusual sites and designing something that fits, rather than forcing a standard approach.

“We don’t take a square building and try to force it onto a piece of land that doesn’t fit,” said Helena Finley, EMBREY’s Managing Director & Executive Vice President of Construction.  “We approach each site by asking what can be built there that genuinely fits the community. Our goal is to add value to what is already there .”

That mindset informs every stage of development, from early planning to long-term operations.  It’s what makes EMBREY’s projects distinctive. But it also requires a demanding level of coordination across projects.

The rise of a unique neighborhood in Austin

That approach is on full display at The Hatchery in Austin.

The project — a 344-unit multifamily mixed-use community near Lady Bird Lake — sits on an unusually shaped site, requiring a design that fits both the land and the surrounding neighborhood. And construction comes at a time when other builders are shying away from the Austin market.

“We believe in the city, and we believe in the future of Austin,” said Finley. “What makes this project especially exciting is the design — it’s going to be stunning when complete. With its location near the neighborhood park, easy walkability to restaurants and offices, and striking downtown views, it already offers so much. Add in upgraded amenities like a wellness area, cold plunge, and sauna, and it becomes an even more exceptional place to live.” 

Projects like The Hatchery are complex by nature. Delivering them successfully depends on tight coordination across teams — and on having a clear, shared view of what’s happening at every stage. For EMBREY, that coordination starts with ownership — not just of the asset, but of the system used to manage it. To maintain easy coordination among its various teams and specialty contractors, the company operates its own Procore instance, giving it full control over how information is captured and shared.

“Owning your platform gives you control over the tools, the data and the process,” Finley said. “If you’re relying on someone else’s system, you don’t have the same level of visibility or the same ability to manage the work with precision.” 

That decision changes how projects are run. From the earliest stages, teams begin working in the same system, with development, construction and operations all connected in one place.

“You can really track the project from beginning to end,” Finley said. “You’re not losing information between phases, and that’s a huge advantage for us.”

Gaining insights across a vast portfolio

That kind of continuity becomes even more valuable at scale. With multiple projects underway, EMBREY needs to understand how every asset is performing — not just job by job, but across the entire portfolio.

“Procore gives everyone at EMBREY access to the same information,” Finley said. “You don’t have to ask 10 different people for updates. You can find what you need in real time, regardless of time zone or whether it’s outside normal work hours.” 

“I may have a question late at night about a project on the East Coast,” Finley said. “Instead of calling someone and interrupting their evening, I can open Procore and get the information I need. The daily logs, photos and project documentation give me a clear picture of where things stand without creating unnecessary disruption for the team.” 

It also allows the company to learn from its work in a repeatable, systematic way. By analyzing RFIs, change orders and project outcomes — including projects like The Hatchery — teams can identify patterns and apply those insights moving forward.

“We’re not repeating the same things over and over again,” Finley said. “We can see what happened, understand the root cause and make adjustments on the next project.”

Turning data into better decisions

For EMBREY, that learning loop helps to support more informed, data-backed financial decisions.

“Our ultimate goal is to deliver strong results for our investors while creating exceptional places for people to live,” Finley said. “Schedule and budget matter, but they are only part of the equation. The real measure of success is whether the overall project performs the way it needs to.” 

That means understanding not just where a project stands today, but where it’s heading. Procore’s forecasting tools help the team anticipate outcomes and communicate clearly with partners.

On projects like The Hatchery, that visibility is strengthened by EMBREY’s Power BI integration, which allows teams to quickly analyze labor, productivity and cost data in real time. Instead of chasing updates, leaders can see exactly where projects stand, helping them to make faster, more informed decisions. At the same time, the platform supports day-to-day coordination across projects that involve hundreds — sometimes thousands — of people.

“We estimate that roughly 1,000 people touch each of our projects,” Finley said. “With that many people involved, having one place where everyone can access the same information is critical.”

That shared visibility also reinforces EMBREY’s approach to subcontractor partnerships.

“Our subcontractors are essential to our success,” Finley said. “When they perform well, the project performs well. Providing real-time access to schedules, plans, RFIs and project updates is part of how we support that partnership. It is a two-way street — they also complete their own logs, which gives us better visibility into inspections, manpower and productivity across the jobsite.”

“Being able to access the information without having to ask someone is a massive benefit,” she added. “It keeps everything moving without slowing people down.”

Building more than just projects

As EMBREY continues to grow, it sees Procore as a partner in innovation that evolves alongside the business.

“What Procore has done is continue to add tools and connect them,” Finley said. “That’s where the magic happens — when everything is connected and you can see the full picture.”

And for a company building projects like The Hatchery, designed to fit their communities and perform over the long term, that visibility is essential.

“We’re building more than just projects,” Finley said. “We’re building a portfolio, and having that level of insight into every phase is what allows us to do it the right way."