Today, the company is marking its 20^th anniversary, a milestone that reflects not only growth, but also the steady development of a reputation built on trust and meticulous attention to detail.

Co-owner Braden Lomanto says the company’s story begins with its founder and lead builder, Rick Wiersma, whose early experiences in the trades set the foundation for what the company would eventually become.

Rick entered the construction industry as a teenager and built his skillset working for other builders before a large development shutdown forced him to reconsider his career path. When the company he worked for closed down operations, he began taking on small renovation jobs independently. What started with tasks such as flooring installation and small trim work quickly expanded as homeowners recognized the quality of his work.

Rick’s reputation for precision and detail helped fuel that progression, but the workload eventually reached a point where scaling the business called for a new approach. This is when Braden joined the company to help streamline and organize operations in support of the company’s focus on precision work. From there, the company began taking on larger renovations, additions, and eventually boutique custom homes built from the ground up. “If someone called us today and needed a bathroom renovation, we could absolutely still do it,” Lomanto says. “But where we find ourselves best utilized is with larger, more complex renovations and custom home builds. Attention to detail is best served to fewer homeowners with more involved projects. We can carefully control each step to ensure these large financial investments are not only worthwhile, but reflect a homeowner’s true dream.”

While the company has completed a wide range of projects over the past two decades, Lomanto says the most meaningful achievement is not tied to any single build. “The biggest standout moment for us isn’t necessarily a specific job,” Lomanto explains. “It’s the process of gaining trust from homeowners.”

He notes that many clients begin a project feeling cautious about hiring a contractor. The construction industry’s reputation, shaped by both positive experiences and cautionary stories, often leads homeowners to approach projects carefully. When working with Precise Custom Homes, that uncertainty fades as the project progresses. “By the time we complete a build, the quality of the work and the transparency in communication helps solidify that trust, but you have to earn it,” he explains. “That’s something we’re really proud of after 20 years.”

In many cases, that trust becomes the foundation for long-term relationships. Returning clients and referrals now represent a significant portion of the company’s work, a trend Lomanto sees as a direct reflection of the company’s philosophy and approach to service.

The past several years have been turbulent for the construction industry. The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented surge in residential renovation and building activity, followed by rising interest rates and shifting market conditions. According to Lomanto, the current market is not necessarily slowing down; it is recalibrating.

During the pandemic, demand for home improvement projects soared as homeowners spent more time indoors and redirected travel and entertainment budgets into their living spaces. At the same time, the rapid influx of work created opportunities for new trades and contractors to enter the market. Material shortages and unpredictable delivery timelines also became common challenges across the industry.

For companies focused on service and craftsmanship, however, the shifting market conditions are now revealing a different landscape. “As things settle, homeowners are becoming more thoughtful about who they hire,” Lomanto explains. “People are taking the time to find the right contractor rather than rushing into a project. This is a good thing.”

This can create difficulties for builders who rely on quick turnaround projects or deliver inconsistent service. Lomanto believes that companies prioritizing relationships and quality are seeing an opportunity. “The builders who have always focused on the homeowner are still doing well,” he says.

Of course, demand for custom homes remains strong and broader economic factors continue to influence the decision-making process for many homeowners. Rising interest rates, global geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty in financial markets have prompted some clients to slow down their planning timelines. The impact varies significantly depending on the scale of the project. For high-end custom homes, where budgets can reach several million dollars, clients often have greater financial flexibility.

Renovations are more sensitive to economic changes. Homeowners considering a large renovation may reconsider if refinancing costs increase or if economic uncertainty makes them more cautious. A renovation that might cost several hundred thousand dollars can quickly become a more complicated financial decision when interest rates shift.

“At times, project costs or scheduling constraints may fall outside a homeowner’s comfort zone, requiring honest and sometimes difficult conversations. When handled thoughtfully, these discussions can also become an opportunity to demonstrate flexibility, and a commitment to finding practical solutions together. We can discuss the options such as focusing on concept design only, building in phases, or even planning the project for a few years down the road.” For Lomanto, helping homeowners arrive at the right decision—even if it means pausing on a project—remains part of the company’s service commitment.

Similarly, the company doesn’t push ‘luxury’ for its own sake. In the custom home market, ‘luxury’ often conjures images of expansive layouts and high-end finishes, but this team believes thoughtful material choices can create an impact without dramatically increasing costs. Small upgrades can significantly elevate the feel of a home.

One example is interior trim and door design. Upgrading to taller doors and larger single-piece trim profiles can instantly create a more refined aesthetic while remaining cost-effective. Likewise, the tactile experience of a solid door and quality hardware contributes to a sense of authentic craftsmanship. “When you walk into a home and have a sensory response to the weight of a solid door or the quality of refined hardware, you notice,” Lomanto says.

Beyond visible finishes, Precise often focuses on improvements behind the walls. HVAC, plumbing, and electrical upgrades as well as infrastructure for future technology can make a home more adaptable without significantly affecting the budget. “As homes are getting smarter, planning wiring for blinds, speakers, entertainment systems, or security systems help homeowners ensure their houses are planned and ready for future installations,” Lomanto explains. “Planning ahead gives them flexibility.” He believes a smaller home built with higher-quality materials and thoughtful design often delivers greater long-term value than a larger home built with compromises.

Despite being a custom home builder, Precise Custom Homes operates with an intentionally small core team to ensure effective control of communication. Precise utilizes a network of specialized subcontractors to complete each project. This structure allows the company to maintain control of all work while maximizing subtrades’ and partners’ capabilities and expertise. “Our trades understand the level of care and attention to detail we expect from them. Similarly, they know how they will be supported by us to ensure a common goal of delivering a finely crafted home to our clients.”

This approach helps maintain consistent standards across projects, but it also means the company must carefully manage staffing and training. The construction industry continues to face an ongoing shortage of skilled tradespeople, particularly in specialized areas. With the ongoing inquiries about apprenticeships, Lomanto is optimistic that support for trade careers over the past several years is now bringing in a younger generation.

Precise often helps connect aspiring tradespeople with subcontractors who can provide real hands-on experience in specific disciplines. Within the company, Lomanto emphasizes a culture of continuous learning and collaboration. Team members are encouraged to ask about what they don’t know, work through challenges collaboratively, and seek out expert guidance when specialized knowledge is required. “It simply ensures that each project benefits from the most informed decisions possible,” Lomanto says.

One of the most significant shifts in recent years has been in the design phase of a project, where advancements in digital modeling now allow homeowners to visualize their homes with remarkable accuracy before construction begins. Three-dimensional design tools enable clients to explore layouts, materials, and architectural details long before a foundation is poured. Architects can create immersive environments that allow clients to walk through a space digitally. This process helps homeowners make meaningful decisions earlier and reduces surprises during construction. “People want to see and feel the layout, visualize cabinet colours, floor stains, everything,” Lomanto explains. “Each decision gives them more confidence in the design.”

While these tools have transformed planning and communication, technology cannot replace the realities of construction where trade management, material handling, and weather conditions still require hands-on management and experienced decision-making.

Among the company’s many projects, one stands out as a defining example of its capabilities. The Copetown Ranch project demonstrates the level of craftsmanship Precise Custom Homes aims to achieve, with a build that includes a primary residence as well as a large auxiliary structure totaling several thousand square feet. Despite its size and complexity, the project was completed in approximately 16 months through careful planning and coordination. Even years after completion, the home continues to impress visitors.

Now, as Precise Custom Homes moves into its third decade, Lomanto says the company’s focus remains firmly on thoughtful, sustainable growth. Rather than expanding rapidly, the company aims to manage two to three custom home builds at a time, a scale that allows the team to maintain its high standard of service to each homeowner. “We know our team can deliver exceptional work at that level,” he says. “Growth should occur organically as demand increases.”

For Lomanto, the long-term vision remains simple: “maintain our commitment to craftsmanship and build real relationships [like those] that helped define the company’s formative years. Construction markets will always go up and down,” he says. “What stays consistent is service and communication.”

For Precise Custom Homes, those principles continue to shape every project, every client relationship, and every step forward.

The post Precision in Practice<p class="company">Precise Custom Homes</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

That evolution is grounded in a clear strategy of combining complementary services with a focus on technically demanding work and maintaining a disciplined approach to safety and execution. Today, CD Specialty Contractors operates across roughly a dozen states, supporting clients in industries ranging from power generation, cement, and chemical processing to data centers, mining, and large-scale commercial construction.

The company’s growth began with a pivotal shift. Originally focused on insulation services in the Greater Denver, Colorado area, the business recognized early on that expansion required a broader offering. Leadership determined that scaffolding was a natural extension, one that not only complemented insulation work but also opened the door to larger industrial and commercial projects.

By acquiring a local, family-owned scaffolding company and integrating operations, CD Specialty Contractors created a more comprehensive service model. Voss explains that combining insulation and scaffolding allows the company to enter markets that would otherwise remain out of reach. It also positions the business to deliver greater value to clients by bundling services that are often interdependent on complex job sites.

That integrated approach continues to define the company’s trajectory. Rather than competing on volume, its focus remains on targeted expansion into sectors where technical expertise and reliability carry significant weight.

Today, CD Specialty Contractors boasts a diverse portfolio of work, with a strong presence in industrial maintenance and turnaround services. Power plants, cement facilities, and chemical processing operations form a core part of the business, offering consistent demand and long-term relationships. The company has also begun supporting data center construction, a sector experiencing rapid growth driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing. At the same time, the company has carved out a distinct niche in Colorado’s resort construction market, where high-end developments in mountain communities such as Vail and Steamboat Springs present unique challenges and opportunities.

“These projects operate on extremely tight timelines,” Voss says. “Contractors can’t begin until ski season ends, and everything needs to be completed before it starts again.”

That narrow construction window places enormous pressure on scheduling, coordination, and execution; with millions of dollars tied up in each development, delays are not an option. Over time, CD Specialty Contractors has earned a reputation for meeting those demands, becoming a preferred partner for several major general contractors operating in the region.

As Voss explains, the company reached a point where outbound marketing became less critical. Instead, clients began seeking out the firm based on past performance and industry referrals, a shift that reflects both credibility and consistency.

Across every service line, safety remains the defining priority. For CD Specialty Contractors, this is a continuous thread woven through planning and execution. Voss emphasizes that every project, regardless of size, begins with a detailed execution plan. That process brings together project managers and leadership to map out each phase of the work, with safety considerations addressed from the outset and revisited at every stage. “Safety is number one,” Voss says. “It’s the first thing we identify, and it carries through every step of the plan.”

This approach is particularly critical in scaffolding, where the company’s work directly affects not only its own employees but also other trades working on the same structure. Daily inspections are standard, ensuring that systems remain secure and compliant as conditions evolve on site.

Beyond routine checks, CD Specialty Contractors takes an additional step that sets it apart. Estimators and project managers conduct unannounced safety inspections throughout the lifecycle of a project, visits designed to verify that completed systems continue to perform as intended. Initially, some clients may question the purpose of these inspections. Over time, however, the value becomes clear. Contractors recognize that the company is proactively safeguarding both its own workforce and everyone else relying on the structures in place.

The company also offers leading-edge fall protection through its proprietary SwitchRail Safety System, a reusable engineered solution increasingly specified by major contractors for perimeter protection on new construction sites.

Another expanding capability is the company’s public access stair systems. Unlike standard worker egress stairs governed by OSHA, public access stairs must meet the stricter requirements of the International Building Code, including child-safety guard panels, kick-plate risers, IBC-compliant stair treads, and continuous handrail connections. CD Specialty Contractors manufactures these systems with high-quality materials and provides engineered drawings for every installation.

Although CD Specialty Contractors does not maintain licensed engineers in-house, engineering remains central to its operations. The company handles design and 3D modeling internally, producing detailed plans for scaffolding and access systems. When projects require stamped drawings, the company partners with licensed engineers in the relevant jurisdiction, a necessity in the United States, where certification requirements vary by state. This hybrid approach allows CD Specialty Contractors to maintain control over design while ensuring compliance with local regulations.

Early involvement in project planning provides additional benefits. By contributing to constructability discussions and identifying potential challenges upfront, the company helps clients reduce risk and avoid costly delays.

Shoring represents another area where CD Specialty Contractors has taken a deliberate approach to specialization. Rather than competing in commoditized segments of the market, the company focuses on technically demanding applications that require precision and expertise. While traditional shoring supports concrete structures during construction, CD Specialty Contractors increasingly works on existing buildings that require temporary support during repairs or upgrades. These projects often involve aging infrastructure or complex load conditions.

Voss points to the lessons learned from incidents such as the Surfside condominium collapse as a reminder of the importance of structural integrity. In response to growing awareness across the industry, demand for specialized shoring solutions continues to rise.

In so much of the company’s work, minor deviations can have major consequences. “In the niche that we’ve gone after, you can’t be off a quarter of an inch,” Voss says. The result is a highly controlled process that prioritizes accuracy and accountability, and that level of precision also supports stronger project outcomes. On a recent assignment, the company completed a complex shoring project in just 60 days, delivering both speed and quality while maintaining strong margins.

This kind of success is possible because CD Specialty Contractors works closely with clients to define project scope and coordinate schedules. Relationships with major suppliers provide access to the latest technologies, enabling the company to offer informed guidance on performance and installation efficiency.

While scaffolding, shoring, and access solutions have represented the majority of the company’s growth, industrial insulation remains at the heart of its identity—and the technical demands of that work continue to evolve. Much of it takes place behind the scenes. Beneath the visible outer layers of aluminum or stainless steel lies a complex system of coatings, heat tracing, and insulation materials designed to control temperature and prevent corrosion, and as Voss explains, understanding how these components interact is essential. “A lot of the plants we’re working in are 40 or 50 years old,” he says. “The insulation technology has come a long way.”

Here, material selection affects not only performance but also long-term maintenance requirements and compatibility with existing systems. In many cases, older products are no longer available, requiring the team to identify suitable alternatives and guide clients through the decision-making process. And environmental considerations are also shaping the industry. As facilities place greater emphasis on energy efficiency and emissions, insulation plays an increasingly important role in reducing thermal loss and optimizing performance.

Behind every successful project is a workforce equipped with the right skills and training, and CD Specialty Contractors invests heavily in both. New employees complete an extensive onboarding program that includes dozens of safety and technical courses. Training continues throughout their careers, with regular updates to ensure compliance with evolving standards and best practices. The company favors small-group instruction, allowing for more focused learning and better retention. Craft-specific training supplements core safety education, with additional input from manufacturers when specialized knowledge is required.

This commitment to development extends beyond technical skills. As the company grows, employees are stepping into leadership roles, gaining experience in management and decision-making. For Voss, this progression is essential to sustaining long-term success. Supporting a larger operation requires careful planning, from staffing and logistics to maintaining consistent standards across multiple locations.

Indeed, over the past three years, the company has more than doubled in size, expanding both its geographic reach and service capabilities. “What began with work at two power plants has grown into a presence across 12 facilities, with additional opportunities on the horizon,” Voss says. The company now holds master service agreements with seven industrial customers across power generation, cement, mining, and specialty chemical markets, and that expansion brings both opportunity and complexity. For Voss, however, these challenges are part of a familiar pattern. “Growing companies is something I’ve done throughout my career,” he shares. “It creates opportunities not just for the business, but for the people within it.”

One of the most notable examples of the company’s growth strategy is its entry into the swing stage market. Initially absent from the company’s service portfolio, this division took shape after hiring two experienced professionals with deep industry knowledge. Within just a few years, the swing stage division became a major contributor, earning a reputation for handling complex and high-risk projects.

As CD Specialty Contractors continues to grow, its direction remains clear. The company is focused on expanding its presence in key markets, strengthening relationships with existing clients, and maintaining the standards that have driven its success. Emerging technologies, including early exploration into artificial intelligence for estimating and administrative functions, offer additional opportunities for improvement. At the same time, the fundamentals—safety and precision—remain unchanged.

For CD Specialty Contractors, the future is defined as much by people as by projects. “There’s a certain level of service that clients expect from us, and they get it,” says Voss. Developing the next generation of leaders, supporting employee growth, and maintaining a strong organizational culture are all critical to sustaining momentum.

In an industry where reputation is built one project at a time, CD Specialty Contractors is proving that consistent execution and a clear sense of purpose can set a company apart.

The post Helping Construction Partners Build with Expertise<p class="company">CD Specialty Contractors</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Now serving the Greater San Francisco Bay Area from its base in Fremont, the company has long since expanded its operations as an electrical contractor to include voice and data services to serve its varied clients across the construction industry, and its reputation is solid within its home state.

Four decades is a considerable amount of time to be active as a business, and President and General Manager Raul Real has been with RK Electric for nearly its entire lifespan. Raul, having started with the company just a year after its founding, rose through the ranks in a number of positions before carrying the company mantle forward after the retirement of its founder around 2001.

Having fulfilled various positions within the company for 39 years now, Raul says that the secret to success is not necessarily unique but rather tried, tested, and true. “The design-build capabilities we have are how we thrive,” he says.

He says that RK concentrates on what it provides to the construction industry, which is primarily service and construction for electrical systems and for structured cabling. A big part of that focus, especially on the electrical side, has to do with preventative maintenance. Thanks to its in-house engineering department, the company invests in this aspect heavily, preventing unscheduled outages that its clients cannot afford to have happen.

Preventative maintenance begins with ensuring that a client’s blueprints are accurate, followed by infrared testing and preventative maintenance work, which includes visually assessing panels and testing electrical breakers. Further breaker coordination and arc flash studies by RK engineers involve promoting safety for personnel working in the structure and the prevention of outages by coordinating breakers according to their specific size and specifications.

However, preventative maintenance is only as effective as its users allow it to be. Unfortunately, in the past, some clients have neglected to do the preventative maintenance work directed by RK, Raul says. As a result, these clients are put at risk of a large outage that can take down their operations for a long time.

Raul believes that clients who postpone these preventative measures can be short-sighted, a flaw that can prevent them from doing their research and development work normally. However, no matter what the situation, RK Electric is always ready to help bring its clients up to speed and ensure the integrity of their operations.

In his time with RK Electric, Raul has experienced all of the historic ebbs and flows of the technology world in and around Silicon Valley, ranging from the boom and bust of the dotcom era in the 1990s to the recent growth of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers today. The cross-industry focus on AI is significant, with many pilot lines—production lines meant to produce small amounts of a new technology on the way to larger commercialization—being installed in California for placing and testing servers.

“We see AI features in every company, and it’s amazing,” Raul says—and this widespread adoption does not seem to be stopping any time soon. This sector-wide AI focus has led to something of a boom period for RK Electric’s niche within the industry. Raul notes that although there was a brief period of sluggishness in the market around 2024, it has since been on a constant ascension and is still moving forward, with RK itself experiencing steady growth alongside it. There will certainly be no shortage of work as more AI pilot lines are built and the construction industry gets a handle on just what AI can do for it.

The RK Electric team continues to keep busy amidst this rise, having a number of future projects in the pipeline. Raul tells us that the company’s revenue this year is expected to meet its projected budget; it is now just a matter of keeping up with client demand while ensuring the company has a solid foundation and can continue to support its customers amidst this fast pace. Current market and project speed resemble that previously seen in eras like the dotcom boom, which was another period of marked success for the company. RK expects to be able to support quite a few of today’s burgeoning and top technology companies when it comes to structured cabling and electrical services in the near future and, hopefully, for a long time to come.

Following its celebration of 40 years of business, Raul believes that he and the company overall have learned quite a few lessons over the years. “You have to know what you’re good at… and stay in your lane” to succeed, he says. The RK team knows the things at which it excels in its sector, and that is where its focus will remain.

Along with its considerable suite of offerings, the company promotes itself as a flexible company that can change direction and move forward very quickly because of its in-house engineering capabilities. Even on fast-tracked projects where similar companies can often fail to meet expectations, RK can design ahead of time or even engage in real-time design with information flow directly from the end user. The experience and ability to pivot to meet a client’s needs at a moment’s notice is a key attribute that keeps RK’s client base coming back.

Of course, it is about more than just the bottom line and being nimble for RK Electric. Raul says that the company’s philosophy has always been to put forth a team effort, with no one person being more important than any other. “The company succeeds when everyone acts as a team,” he says, because it gives confidence to the business and, in turn, to customers when they see the team moving in one direction.

This kind of unity can be difficult to achieve, but here, it has been baked into daily operations from the very beginning. The present state of construction is allowing for some incredible, exciting opportunities, and the RK Electric team is united in its commitment to swift, client-centered, and effective electrical solutions.

The post 40 Years of Electrical Solutions<p class="company">RK Electric</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

New home buyers tend to focus on aesthetics, like kitchen countertops and cabinetry, says Construction Manager, Jason Cabrelle. “A lot of people take energy efficiency for granted—until they see the savings on their hydro and gas bills.” In the past few years, Park View Homes has focused even more on its commitment to creating properties of the highest standards, and this includes what Cabrelle calls “behind-the-scenes” activity, like air barriers and mechanical systems.

Going “airtight”
Around 2022, Park View started as an ENERGY STAR^® for New Homes Standard builder. Only builders licensed by the Government of Canada “can promote themselves as ENERGY STAR^® builders and can apply to have their homes ENERGY STAR^® certified,” according to regulations.

Owing to the program’s exacting standards for new homes, there were some growing pains surrounding airtightness. “We air test every single one of our houses, which, at the end of the day, gives people more comfort in their homes,” Cabrelle explains. “We want to make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible in your house and that your house is as efficient as possible.” Some of the many advantages of airtightness include fewer drafts, greater comfort, a healthier and quieter home, reduced heating and cooling loads, and less energy waste.

Far from just talking quality, the company measures it, air testing every single house for potential leakage. “Testing each house keeps us accountable; we can’t get away from the results,” Cabrelle says. “We have to honour them. It’s not just that we say, ‘we are ENERGY STAR^®,’ it’s that we are tested, and we live up to it.”

To ensure houses meet rigorous standards, the company works with a third-party energy advisor on energy efficiency designs. Once homes are reviewed and signed off, they receive an ENERGY STAR^® sticker. And Park View has been featured several times on Homesol’s social media as a ‘Tight Home of the Week.’

“Because our homes are so energy efficient, it helps homebuyers qualify for green financing options,” says Cabrelle of the RBC Green Home Mortgage Program, where buyers have the option to extend their amortization period to up to 35 years (compared to typical amortization periods, which are usually a maximum of 30 years).

Attention to detail
Starting as a site supervisor and working his way up to Construction Manager, Cabrelle has seen plenty of changes to Ontario’s home-building sector over the past 14 years. Regardless of home model, location, or price point, all Park View homes are created with the utmost attention to detail and a tight build process.

“We take a custom home feel and quality and transfer that to all our homes, whether it’s a single home or townhouse. We pay the same attention to detail to all our products. It really raises the consistency of our final build quality and the comfort of our houses,” he says.

“People are extremely happy with us as a company and with our communication and attention to detail. We aim to exceed expectations, and number one is our attention to detail. We take pride in our homes and in ensuring the buyer is happy. For me, it’s about building relationships and making sure those homeowners are happy. I don’t think a lot of companies do that; they are just there to build the house and turn away.”

Bellamy Farm Phase III
Founded in 2002, family-owned Park View Homes focuses on secondary markets, which are largely more rural than urban. The company is proud to be part of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA), the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA), and the Lanark-Leeds Home Builders’ Association (LLHBA).

Much of the company’s marketing is in two significant categories: downsizers and first-time homebuyers. Believing that high-quality houses built without cutting corners should be within reach, Park View Homes properties are priced in the low $400s; some, like Bellamy Farm Phase III, start at $379,000. And Park View Homes is offering a promotion on select inventory homes where only a $5,000 deposit is needed to secure your new home.

In the heart of Smiths Falls, Bellamy Farm Phase III is in an area known for its stunning natural beauty. Just an hour’s drive from Ottawa, Smiths Falls boasts small-town charm and nearby amenities like shops, restaurants, and medical facilities, without the stress of big-city traffic congestion and noise. Three home styles are available—Garageless Bungalows, Bungalow Townhomes, and Two-Storey Townhomes—all beautifully designed with ENERGY STAR^® efficiency.

Attainable bungalow townhomes have the option of one or two bedrooms. About 1100 square feet in size, bungalows have a finished basement and are completely freehold. Along with a driveway, the properties have sheds ideal for tools, recycling bins, and other items. Equipped with a heat pump, these homes run an 8kW backup electric heater as secondary heat in the system.

“Those specific buildings—with some changes in our paperwork—could be registered as Net Zero Ready homes,” explains Cabrelle. “The quality is exactly the same as in our $1.5 million homes, as far as finished quality goes.” Creating houses that balance craftsmanship and attention to detail with energy efficiency is a team effort.

Something for everyone
Along with Bellamy Farm Phase III, Park View Homes has two other main subdivisions underway in the Ottawa area: Russell Ridge estates in Marionville (just outside of Russell), and Merrickville Grove in the heritage village of Merrickville. Combined, these three subdivisions cover the varying tastes and needs of many different buyers, from singles to young couples looking for their first house, to families with children, to older empty-nesters seeking the peace of a laidback, rural lifestyle.

Established in 2021, the Russell Ridge community consists of spacious homes on three-quarter-acre country lots with nearby nature trails and quiet country roads. Available in three, four, and five-bedroom designs with optional finished basements, Russell Ridge embodies the finest in construction and efficient ENERGY STAR^® design.

With just 24 homes and no through streets, Russell Ridge is tranquil, secure, and exclusive. With nearby access to schools, shops, and restaurants, easy access to Highway 417, and a 25-minute drive from the east end of Ottawa, this community is perfect for hybrid workers and families alike. Built to order in about 12 months, the Sussex Craftsman Model measures 2,250 square feet and is priced at $1,069,000.

The company’s Merrickville Grove is an 83-home community near Merrickville’s historic Main Street. Known as the “Jewel of the Rideau,” the development is five minutes on foot from the Rideau Canal, coffee shops, quaint local stores, and restaurants. These bungalow townhomes and two-storey townhomes start at an attainable $499,900.

With nearby parks, schools, shopping, and safe, quiet streets, Merrickville Grove is the perfect place for young couples to raise a family and for active retirees who want the comfort of a home with low maintenance. It is a quiet place where homeowners can walk downtown, grab a coffee or a meal, browse shops, and say hi to neighbours. And, to give back to the municipality, Park View Homes hired a company to build a park with structures for everyone to enjoy. Most times, builders will save the park until the very end of the subdivision development; Park View did the opposite. By installing the park early in the construction process, buyers were able to enjoy it as their homes were being built, and locals could take advantage of the space. “We try to help out the communities we work in,” says Cabrelle. “Recently we helped put a new deck and accessible ramp on the public library in Merrickville at no cost.”

Living its values
For most of us, buying a new home is not only a big financial investment, but an investment in the lives of our families. Realizing this, Park View Homes treats homeowners and potential buyers with the utmost respect and integrity. “It’s all about things like that, the relationships we build with homeowners,” says Cabrelle. “We give everybody the same treatment.”

Focused on more than product, Park View Homes builds not only homes but entire communities, and the company’s team stands behind its proven track record of over 1,200 houses constructed to date. “For me, that’s an important thing, where we can help out and show that we aren’t a ‘big bad builder’ who doesn’t care about homeowners,” says Cabrelle. “Actually, it’s the complete opposite; what we care about is that the homeowner is happy with their home and community,” he says.

“We are super proud to be building in those communities, and proud of where we’ve come from. We’re proud to be focusing on home comfort and making sure that we exceed expectations while we try to give them the best experience, start to finish.”

The post Crafting with Care<p class="company">Park View Homes</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Sherriff Goslin Roofing provides both residential and commercial roofing while offering superlative service regardless of a project’s size. The company, which also installs windows, gutters, and siding, has been family-owned throughout its lengthy history.

“We go back a long way. I’m currently the fourth generation,” says President and Chairman of the Board, Steve Ticknor, who is the great-grandson of co-founder Fred Sherriff.

Serving homeowners
Sherriff Goslin Roofing has 17 branches in total, situated across Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. All branches are company-owned and mutually supportive; if one branch requires assistance on a project, other branches are happy to step in. And while the team does work on commercial projects, the focus is on “residential reroofing on existing homes,” explains Executive Vice President, Craig Lockerbie.

“Our bread and butter is your average homeowner in the small town of Anywhere, USA,” agrees Ticknor. “We want to keep them happy and have them tell their friends and neighbors about us.”

The company’s primary focus is residential reroofing and commercial flat roofing. Its services include roof repairs and replacement, storm damage restoration, and installing shingles and specialty roofs. Among its ancillary services are gutter, window, and siding installation—again, largely for existing structures.

Standout products
At present, the company can handle almost any type of roofing project, including specialty assignments involving metal, copper, or even ‘green’ roofs. Metal roofs are highly durable, stand up to brutal weather conditions, and are aesthetically pleasing. Lockerbie points out that metal roofing “is becoming a bigger part of the business,” due to increased customer demand.

A green roof, meanwhile, features a layer of live vegetation, be it shrubs, flowers, plants, or even trees, installed on a flat roof surface. Rooftop flora enhances insulation, resulting in more energy-efficient buildings, and absorbs rainwater, reducing the flow of runoff into sewers. Green roofs can also offer office workers a tranquil spot to unwind while helping building owners and developers achieve LEED certification. The growing popularity of green roofs “has a lot to do with LEED building; you get credit points for installing a green roof,” Lockerbie explains.

The team has also installed copper roofing, including a recent project involving a copper roof on a Greek Orthodox church.

In addition to outstanding service, Sherriff Goslin stands out with the patented Art-Loc, a specialty shingle originally developed in the 1920s by Bert Goslin. Unlike traditional shingles, these shingles interlock, forming a visually striking and structurally sound diamond-shaped pattern. Initially used to cover cedar shingles at a time when sealant strips were not common, Art-Loc has been an enduring success.

This product “is really what propelled us as a company at that time,” Lockerbie shares. “We still install thousands of squares each year of this product in the Midwest.”

In fact, almost all the shingles used by Sherriff Goslin are manufactured by the Atlas Roofing Corporation of Atlanta, Georgia. “They make Art-Loc for us. We’re the only ones who can sell it,” says Ticknor.

The biggest asset: people
The company’s family ownership model has provided consistency throughout the many decades and serves as a template for workplace loyalty. All told, managers of the 17 branches have a collective 454 years of service, a testament to the dedication and commitment that gives Sherriff Goslin a competitive edge. “We think loyalty is a big deal,” says Ticknor, citing cases where two generations of the same family work for the company.

“One of our biggest assets is the people that work here,” echoes Lockerbie. “We’re still here because of them. That’s very important to us.”

Sherriff Goslin employs between 150 and 180 staff on a seasonal basis as, for obvious reasons, work slows down in wintertime when snow blankets the Midwest. The team self-performs some tasks while subcontracting out other roofing duties, and in terms of new hires, the firm prefers “somebody willing to do whatever the job takes. Somebody not afraid of heights, obviously—you spent a lot of time going up and down a ladder—and somebody that really cares about servicing the customer,” says Lockerbie.

Safety and quality above all
To support its people, the company offers comprehensive employee and safety training. Two full-time safety monitors—who happen to be father and son—conduct safety training and perform on-site inspections, ensuring that employees are up to date with their training, keeping track of new Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements, and constantly visiting jobsites.

And the Sherriff Goslin team is equally devoted to quality and customer care. Each roofing project begins with a free, thorough inspection. If clients wish to go forward, they are assigned a specific project manager who guides them through the process and keeps them updated on the progress of the work. Project managers are immersed in all aspects of an assignment from start to finish. Jobsites are tidied after work is completed, and clients can contact the company if any post-construction problems arise.

High standards, of course, are imperative given the nature of Sherriff Goslin’s business. “When you sell a roof, you’re selling something that you look at every day,” says Ticknor. A poorly done roof will be obvious to anybody driving by. Given this, it is essential that the work is done correctly and that all projects go according to plan, and this attitude is reflected in the company’s core values: safety, integrity, and quality.

A rich history
Sherriff Goslin Roofing traces its roots to 1906—a time when airplanes were a new innovation and automobiles were still rare. That year, Fred Sherriff organized the Battle Creek Roofing and Manufacturing Company. In 1910, he partnered with B.G. ‘Bert’ Goslin, and Sherriff Goslin Roofing was born. In the early years, employees were known to travel to jobsites by bicycle or train.

At one time, the company had branches as far afield as Illinois and even Florida, but over the decades, these were consolidated to streamline operations, as having to drive hours for projects was not a recipe for profitability, says Lockerbie. Regardless of these structural changes, the presence of the Sherriff and Goslin families has remained a constant, and the two families currently share majority ownership.

Churches, along with barns, offices, and other structures, represent the commercial side of the company’s business. High-profile projects within this segment include the Gilmore Car Museum, a huge complex featuring hundreds of vintage vehicles in multiple buildings spread over dozens of acres in Hickory Corners, Michigan. Among other tasks, Sherriff Goslin installed metal roofing and Art-Loc shingles on the museum’s facilities. “It’s a pretty big project that we continue to work. They keep adding buildings there,” says Lockerbie.

Success in the modern era
While Ticknor is certainly proud of the team’s achievements in the commercial sector, the company’s residential work remains paramount. “The big, fancy projects are really cool, but really our mainstay is dealing with individual homeowners, whether a 1,200-square-foot Cape Cod or a $1 million home. It’s about dealing with that individual person, because their home is [probably their] largest investment,” he notes. “No matter how big or small their home is, they’re trusting us to take care of them.”

“I’m seeing a wide variety of work. It’s not just residential; it’s round barns, country clubs, apartment complexes, huge condo complexes,” says Vice President of Marketing Cindy Goodison. Goodison takes the lead in the area of company promotion and uses a licensed drone pilot to get aerial shots of completed roofing projects. Such footage offers a vivid demonstration on how the firm blends old-fashioned craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.

Goodison explains that advertising by the individual branches is more localized. Branches are better suited to respond to local conditions—whether it be a storm or strong economic growth in a community—and use print or television to spotlight their services. “Branches have the latitude to do what they see fit at a branch level,” she says. “They’re the boots on the ground. They know their competitors. If the competition turns up the heat, they know it’s time to start making noise in their areas.”

Going forward, the company plans to focus on enhancing its existing service offerings and continuing to hit high benchmarks in terms of quality, safety, workplace loyalty, and customer support.

“We’d like to be at 125 years in business,” Ticknor says of the five-year forecast for the company, adding that he is thankful for the company’s longevity. “We’ve made it to 120. We don’t take that for granted at all.”

The post This Family-Owned Business Marks 120 Years<p class="company">Sherriff Goslin Roofing</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

“We build trailers for people who work hard. That’s our mission. That’s who we design for, that’s who we respect,” says Francis Wieler, head of Marketing.

Regardless of the industry served, the company’s trailers are used by “working professionals who rely on this equipment daily,” he adds.

Products of the highest standard
RawMaxx has recently launched a variety of new trailers as well as an advanced solution called 3D Configurator. The latter enables prospective customers to create digital trailer designs on a computer screen based on their input, while the new trailers include the G7X Series, GDX Knight, DTX Deckover Tilt, and SGX models. Wieler describes the G7X Series as “an evolution of our GTX Series.” While the GTX trailer is 102 inches wide, the G7X is narrower, at 83 inches. As such, the new G7X Series represents a more affordable option for clients looking for a trailer that is both maneuverable and compact.

Trailers in the G7X Series include the versatile Bumper Pull model, which is available in 20, 22, and 24-foot lengths and comes with a front toolbox, powder coat finish, and a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000 pounds (the measure of the total weight of a fully-loaded trailer).

The G7X Gooseneck trailer is another model in the new G7X Series, also available in 20, 22, and 24-foot lengths with a 14,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating and front toolbox. The G7X Gooseneck trailer offers exceptional stability and is well-suited for heavy loads.

The company’s GDX lineup consists of general duty dump trailers, a category popular with contractors. The new GDX Knight trailer features 10-cubic-yard capacity, 41-degree tilt angle, and a manual tarp system. The trailer offers durability and efficiency, and loading and unloading is a cinch. The GDX Knight is designed “for crews who consistently push heavier materials or higher volumes. It has structurally reinforced walls and increased capacity,” says RawMaxx.

The DTX Deckover Tilt is also designed for handling heavy loads, with a GVWR of 14,000 pounds. This model boasts 17-degree tilt angle and a hoist-lift system fitted with a 5×16” cylinder for speedy and efficient loading and unloading. An upgraded version offers a gross vehicle weight rating of 20,000 pounds.

The SGX trailer, meanwhile, has a gravity-tilt design, an 8,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating, and is suitable for moving boom lifts, scissor lifts, and cherry pickers.

Some of these trailers feature the Milwaukee PACKOUT system, an innovative, modular storage setup comprising various chests, boxes, and cooler units for heavy-duty storage. Milwaukee PACKOUT “gives operators an organized space and secured tool storage placement under the trailer directly.”

Quality from the start
RawMaxx was founded in Mexico in 2017 with a focus from the start on manufacturing heavy-duty steel trailers. “While the product line has expanded significantly, the core mission has remained the same: build strong, dependable trailers.”

Manufacturing and design work is all performed in-house aside from a few components such as axles and hydraulic systems, which are obtained from trusted outside suppliers. The company uses CNC laser cutters, press brakes, plasma cutters, and other machinery to self-perform its engineering, fabrication, welding, assembly, and finishing. “We maintain control over our production process to ensure consistency in quality.”

The company sells its products through an extensive dealer network—most based in the United States, with a few in Canada. While clients cannot buy directly, RawMaxx sees this as an advantage.

“We do not sell to end users,” he says. “This allows us to focus on manufacturing products and development. It also helps keep the price lower, because we can sell a full load to a dealer, which ensures that the customer is going to get a better price. If somebody from New York buys a trailer from us directly, the cost of shipping that one trailer is going to be more than if we ship seven or eight trailers on one load.”

People-powered service
At present, the company employs 600 people, an increase of about 40 from this time last year. The spike in personnel can be attributed to increased demand for the products in the United States.

When it comes to new hires, RawMaxx looks for people with a strong work ethic, a willingness to learn, a team mindset, a sense of accountability, and an alignment with the company’s values of integrity, hard work, expertise, innovation, and adaptability. “The culture overall here is blue collar, performance-driven, with a focus on continuous improvement and respect for the craft.”

The company prides itself on being “non-corporate,” he adds. There is no rigid company bureaucracy; issues are dealt with right away, and do not require months of meetings, memos, and analysis to address.

Customer support is offered via the company’s nationwide dealer network, and to this end, RawMaxx offers spare parts, replacement parts, service guidance, technical assistance, product updates, and warranties including five years for axles, three years for structural issues, and one year for paint. “If a customer has an issue, we work directly with the dealer to ensure that it’s resolved quickly and properly.”

In addition to its customers, the company believes in supporting charities and its workforce, with charitable endeavors including funding for a local orphanage and an overarching commitment to its nearby communities. And the RawMaxx team is happy to help fellow staff members through rough patches with financial aid or other forms of assistance. Staff members “will always stand together and support each other in times of need or when surrounding communities are in need. The entire team will rally and organize food, clothing, and financial drives. It’s part of the culture here at RawMaxx.”

Safety, of course, is also central to the company culture. Workers receive comprehensive safety training with established protocols in case of accidents or mishaps. Personal protective equipment including helmets, work boots, and googles, are mandatory and paid for by the company.

Making customization easy
RawMaxx has also forged a partnership with prominent automotive celebrity Dave ‘Heavy D’ Sparks, who co-starred on the reality show Diesel Brothers on the Discovery Channel. Heavy D shouts out the company’s innovative design, superior components, focus on safety, excellent customer service, wide array of products, customization, and heavy-duty construction in his glowing testimonial on the company website. Heavy D also participated in the launch of 3D Configurator at the North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) 2025 show in Nashville, Tennessee and praises the solution in a company YouTube video.

3D Configurator, as mentioned, allows potential customers to view digital trailer models based on their selections regarding size, specifications, options, colors, and models. Customer input is used to add or remove details, and the ensuing image can be viewed from multiple angles, giving clients a clear sense of what they are buying. Customers “can see where every dollar is going. They can see visually what the trailer is going to look like,” states RawMaxx, adding that the 3D Configurator “is a tool to give as much confidence to the buyer as possible.”

The solution has earned the company industry kudos and took first place in a competition for ‘Best in Show for Services & Software’ at last year’s NATDA conference.

Facing challenges
While optimistic, RawMaxx is well aware of certain challenges facing the company, including volatility in the trailer sector. Underlying this volatility are rising material costs, supply chain changes, and regulatory developments. RawMaxx addresses these issues “through strong dealer and supplier relationships, in-house manufacturing control, operational efficiency, and strategic pricing adjustments. We focus on stability and long-term relationships rather than short-term reaction.”

Going forward, the company has plenty of new ideas, enhancements, and product concepts in the pipeline. “There’s always new stuff that comes out. We have a few engineers who consistently look at the market, look at what the needs are out there and what people are asking for. It can take months or years to refine something before we do release a new type of trailer.”

Over the next few years, RawMaxx also hopes to see the company strengthen its dealer network even further, continue to innovate on the digital front, and maintain its reputation for durability and integrity.

“Our goal is sustainable growth, while protecting product quality and brand reputation. That’s very important. There are a lot of people who depend on RawMaxx to make a living, whether it’s the people building the trailers or the people who depend on them to get their job done.” RawMaxx plans to be there, serving all of these people with quality, innovation, and integrity, for the long haul.

The post New Products, New Partnerships, and New High-Tech Solutions<p class="company">RawMaxx</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

General Manager and President, Andrew Cameron, tells us that in 2024, the company finished construction on the last of over 230 finished units, work that began in 2022. At this point, it was decided by upper management to set a five-year goal for Northumberland Properties to further motivate its upward momentum. This goal comes down to expanding its current unit count by more than double to a nice, even, 500 units. This is where the process of unit acquisition has become an important aspect of the work, leading to the company’s first acquisition of eight existing buildings (totalling 32 units) in Amherst.

The timing of this acquisition was auspicious because the original owners were ready to retire and came to the company with a potential deal, which was sealed in May 2025. The purchase was seen as a positive learning experience as staffing and capacity needed to be figured out along with the on-boarding of new units and tenants, and Cameron and the Northumberland crew are never ones to back down from a challenge.

Indeed, the past three years have been busy ones on multiple fronts for the company. In 2024, after completing its most recent subdivision, the company purchased a half-acre piece of land across the street from this subdivision for its first multi-family building. Northumberland has worked with architectural design agency Spitfire Design out of Moncton, as well as with the town of Amherst and local contractors, to bring the building to new life and get it ready for tenants. While the development is still in the middle of construction, it held its groundbreaking ceremony in August 2025, and Cameron says it has been an enjoyable process to oversee and participate in so far.

He explains that a lot of four-to-six-unit garden homes and townhouses have been developed in the last few years as well, further expanding the company’s portfolio. With federal and provincial money coming in for developers and businesses like Northumberland, both Amherst and Yarmouth are pushing for greater density of buildings to increase housing supply in their communities. To aid both this and its own goals, Northumberland took a step into developing multi-family buildings, a move that Cameron says was also driven by his desire to learn more about these types of developments. These buildings are of a larger scale than the company’s typical properties and involve more logistics (elevators, fire alarms, intercoms, et cetera), but are also a clear-cut way to expand company operations.

The growth being pursued by Northumberland is taking place during an interesting time for its business sector. Looking back on 2025, Cameron says that the rental industry was beginning to feel closer to the volume and feel of operations from before the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2021 to 2023, he says that it was generally easier to advertise new units and create interest for renters, whereas today, promoting new units takes considerably more effort. This means that Northumberland has to tighten up its approach to running day-to-day operations, especially in regard to marketing, repairs, and maintenance cost controls, because things in the rental and housing and development sectors are ever-shifting and still feel unknown.

The industry may have a somewhat fluid nature, but Cameron says that ultimately, housing and development is an industry still going strong, especially when it comes to construction and property management/leasing. While aspects of the industry remain uncertain thanks to extenuating circumstances like the ongoing American tariffs, Cameron says it is a reminder for both him and everyone in the business at large to focus on aspects that can be controlled, like the maintenance and utility usage of its existing units.

“It is still an exciting time for real estate despite any challenges,” he says, and Northumberland Properties is excited to provide quality apartments and services for its tenants while helping them tenants feel at home and secure where they are. “Everything in real estate is communication,” Cameron says, whether it be from developer to subcontractor or from tenant to staff member.

A new year brings more opportunities for the business to reach its full potential, and the first major goal for Northumberland Properties in 2026 will be to finish its first building of 18 units by the summer, ideally June or July. The company also has another small parcel of land that it can build an additional four-unit building on, so decisions will be made as to how best to execute that idea.

The team is also on the lookout for acquisition opportunities that align with this mission, with a potential eight-acre development in Yarmouth. Northumberland hasn’t built in the town in five years, so there is interest in bringing more units there as plans continue to take shape. Further land purchases are also being investigated in Amherst, such as acreages and infill lots, to complement the apartments currently on offer.

In 2025, Northumberland Properties celebrated 15 years in business, with Andrew Cameron having started the business in 2010 alongside his mother and father. “Our success has been reliant on so many more people besides me,” he says, and he has learned so much in 15 years from tradespeople, employees, and accountants alike on how to best run the business. To be successful in this sector takes a team effort and everyone’s contribution within the company has made a difference to its ongoing success, says Cameron.

When it comes to running a successful property management business, it’s simply made easier and less stressful when you can find and work with exceptional team members, including staff, subcontractors, and tradespeople. In fact, Cameron says, a key lesson learned in the past 15 years has been to find great people, support them, and let them do what they do best while listening and learning from them. Of course, paying one’s bills on time also helps, he says with a laugh.

As well as the value of being surrounded by capable and intelligent people, Cameron says a key to his company’s success has been to always remember that the tenants living in the many different properties are people first and not just numbers in spreadsheets. A lot of senior tenants in Northumberland developments live on their own, so allowing for the time and space for staff to build relationships with these people, as well as maintaining respect and connection to them through the staff and properties, helps them feel that they are known and looked after.

“Don’t forget who the ultimate customer is,” Cameron says, meaning the tenants and their families who will remember when a property and its owners have done right by them. He and his crew have kept this, and the firm’s other values, close to heart during the lifespan of Northumberland Properties, and it continues to pay off grandly for all involved.

The post Expansion Focused on the Ultimate Customer<p class="company">Northumberland Properties</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

The advantages of design-build
To date, ARCO has been behind the completion of more than a million square feet of warehouse, distribution, and manufacturing space across the U.S. Known for its tagline, “We build the facilities that keep America going,” ARCO’s well-honed design-build approach makes life easier for clients seeking all types of construction projects. Specializing in light industrial distribution, manufacturing, and cold storage warehouse work, the company is also active in myriad other project areas, including aviation, commercial, e-commerce, life sciences, mission-critical, multi-family, and self-storage.

For projects of all types and sizes, the highly skilled team at ARCO uses its expertise to ensure every job runs smoothly, from inception to completion and handover. Repeat customers know the inherent value of working with ARCO, and new clients are delighted to discover just how smoothly the company’s design-build approach works.

Unlike having to deal with multiple contractors, the design-build strategy bears countless advantages. When you deal with ARCO, you are working with the best. One firm handling design and construction means a streamlined approach to projects. This makes for a single contract and one clear, well-defined, surprise-free budget. There is also a greater degree of accountability since ARCO oversees construction from start to finish. And enhanced communication with a single entity means fewer, if any, changes being required.

If any modifications are needed, they can be discussed in real time, making for greater openness and flexibility. When clients work with just one construction company, project turnaround times are usually faster, which can result in significant cost savings for customers. “ARCO’s turnkey approach provides our customers a direct relationship with one company versus multiple organizations,” states the company at arcodb.com. “This streamlines the process, expedites schedule and reduces client risk.”

#1 in the U.S.A.
In recognition of this expertise, ARCO Design/Build has won a number of awards for its exemplary work over the years. This includes being ranked as the #1 domestic builder of Distribution Centers and Warehouses in the United States by Engineering News-Record (ENR). In 2024, ARCO made #4 on ENR’s list of Top 20 Design-Build firms. Initially appearing on its Top Design-Build list in 2006 at #79, the company’s impressive growth saw it achieve more than $6.5 billion USD in revenue in 2023. “This impressive growth underscores ARCO’s commitment to excellence and solidifies its position as one of ENR’s largest design-build firms,” stated the company in a 2024 news release.

That same year, ARCO possessed a significant portfolio including more than 5,500 design-build projects. And in 2024, ARCO ranked on several of ENR’s other leaderboards. These include #17 on the Top 400 Contractors List, #4 in Top 50 Domestic Building/Manufacturing Revenue, and #50 in Top 50 Contractors Working Abroad.

This industry recognition not only demonstrates the firm’s commitment to the broader construction industry but its ongoing allegiance to quality and innovation. Said the company: “These accomplishments reflect the dedication and expertise of ARCO’s team. ARCO’s approach to the design-build methodology sets it apart as an industry leader, focusing on providing comprehensive solutions that meet and exceed client expectations. As ARCO continues to grow and expand its footprint, the company remains committed to maintaining its high standards of quality and innovation. The recognition by ENR is a testament to ARCO’s relentless pursuit of excellence and its ability to deliver outstanding results.”

A range of projects
As a premier design-build firm with multiple locations nationwide, ARCO takes on a range of diverse projects. Some of the company’s recent efforts include Millworks Molina Healthcare and The Press Telegram Building, both in Long Beach, California. The self-storage sector in particular is growing, and in May 2025, ARCO announced a dedicated self-storage division to meet the rising demand.

“The dedicated team focuses on delivering comprehensive solutions tailored to the unique needs of self-storage developers,” stated the company in a media release. “With over 300 completed facilities nationwide totaling more than 30 million square feet, ARCO has long been a trusted partner in this rapidly growing sector.”

For the company and its clients, the new division couldn’t have come at a better time, as Research and Markets reports that demand for self-storage facilities is booming across America. According to a 2024 report, the U.S. self-storage market is showing considerable growth. In 2022, the market size was $44.20 million USD, and it is projected to hit a staggering $67.02 million USD by 2030, with a forecasted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3 percent.

“This division represents the formalization of our proven capabilities rather than a new venture,” said ARCO President Eric Thompson in a release. “Through our team’s experience delivering hundreds of successful self-storage projects nationwide, we’ve developed specialized knowledge that our clients value. They consistently seek partners who understand both the technical construction aspects and the business-specific requirements of self-storage development.”

Along with the dedicated self-storage division, 2025 saw the company celebrate the grand opening of its new office space in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The new office is at 7 Radcliffe St., Suite 200, and at 6,000 square feet, it encompasses the entire second floor of the building in the heart of the city’s business district. “Our expansion into downtown Charleston represents a strategic investment in a market that is integral to our Southeast regional growth,” added Thompson, responsible for overseeing ARCO’s operations in Charleston, Charlotte, and Greenville. “The port’s connectivity to major industrial highways creates unique development opportunities. The talented Charleston workforce has been instrumental in serving our diverse client base across multiple sectors, which remains a cornerstone of ARCO’s business.”

Indeed, with its many locations and decades of combined experience, ARCO Design/Build is much more than a vendor, “but a dedicated partner committed to your company’s success,” states the company. “ARCO DB delivers the strength, resources, and expertise of an award-winning national design-build company, combined with the responsive, personalized service you’d expect from your local construction firm.”

The post America’s Design-Build Leader<p class="company">ARCO Design/Build</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Since being profiled in Construction in Focus in February 2025, Troyer Post Buildings has expanded its workforce and opened a new branch in Greeneville, Tennessee.

“We’ve got about half-a-dozen offices or so for people to come in and meet with salesmen and design their dream building,” explains Owner and CEO, Tim Troyer. “The Greeneville branch is a local presence in the community there,” and is already meeting with success, seeing 650 quotes and $4 million in sales already.

As shared in our previous profile, post frame buildings have a unique heritage. The concept originated during the Great Depression in the 1930s, when impoverished farmers sought out new materials for building barns. To save money, farmers began to embed decommissioned telephone poles in the ground and place a roof on top. By using telephone poles as support columns, farmers could avoid the expense of digging foundations and then pouring concrete. Pole barns could either be open-air or enclosed (walls can be added once the structure is up and then insulated if desired). They proved to be as sturdy as conventional barns and became widely popular.

What began as a cost-saving measure soon caught on, and the pole barn concept was expanded to include warehouses, sheds, and private residences. Bigger post frame structures still lacked foundations for the most part, but frequently featured concrete slab floors to enhance interior comfort. Steel trusses were also incorporated into larger structures to augment stability.

At present, the agricultural sector brings in the most business for Troyer Post Buildings. Within this sector, the company offers hay pole barns (roof-only structures with metal gables and steel trusses); pole equipment sheds (three sided-buildings featuring single-sloped roofs); and pole barn lean-to sheds (made from wood rafters or steel, these sheds are usually attached to a building and are used to protect equipment from inclement weather). For the commercial market, Troyer sells pole barn riding arenas (spaces for training horses); storage units (ideal for boats or recreational vehicles); and warehouses.

The residential market, which largely consists of barndominiums or “barndos,” is currently experiencing the strongest growth at the firm. Over the past year, the company has helped build roughly 40 barndos, which feature roomy interiors and a rural vibe. Commenting on their appeal, Troyer says, “I think most people are trying to find affordable housing. At the end of the day, they’re trying to find a large living area with a lot of square footage for a reasonable price.”

The barndo segment might become Troyer Post Building’s leading market “in the next year or two,” he adds.

The company’s barndo models range from the simple and compact (the Birmingham Barndominium, for example, measures 1,200 square feet based on a four-inch monolithic concrete slab) to the grand (the partial double-story Lexington Barndominium measures 3,032 square feet based on a four-inch monolithic concrete slab). The company also sells enclosed pole barn garages and an enclosed pole barn workshop (a space for doing hobbies or crafts) within the residential segment.

With strong ties to its communities, Troyer Post Buildings primarily works in Tennessee and Kentucky, although the team has also served clients in Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas. The company maintains a lumberyard at its main location, stocked primarily with wooden poles made from Southern Yellow Pine, “a local lumber that’s strong,” explains Troyer.

And while Troyer has a wide selection of existing building models that customers can choose from, clients can also create their own design. The company offers a software program called 3D Designer which allows customers to select the color, length, height, roof type, roof pitch, interiors, windows, doors, and building frame of their proposed property. The program analyzes the customer’s input and then comes up with a design.

Once the customer settles on a design, the company offers advice about feasibility and cost. If all goes to plan, Troyer Post Buildings can put together a package of materials that consists of wooden poles and other structural elements. These material packages are then delivered to the customer who can either erect the building themselves or hire a contractor recommended by Troyer. The same delivery and construction process occurs when clients chose a building from an existing model.

Given that its business is centered on lumber and construction material, Troyer Post Buildings adheres closely to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protocols. “We do pretty intensive safety training… and we follow safety guidelines,” says Troyer. “The biggest thing is not trying to rush people and to let them do their job—quality work at a steady pace. I think that’s the key for safety: focusing on quality and taking your time to do it right.”

This has been a priority from the start. The company was founded in 2014 by Tim Troyer and his brothers, who learned about construction firsthand from their father. The young firm primarily focused on pole barns for farmers but soon grew to encompass multiple sectors.

One thing that hasn’t changed since the early days of the company is the importance of faith. The Troyers are devout Mennonites, a Christian denomination that emphasizes hard work, family values, and simple living. Philanthropy is one way the family puts its beliefs into practice; when we spoke, Tim Troyer had just returned from a trip to Africa. His African mission was undertaken alongside Feeding the Orphans, a non-profit group from Knoxville, Tennessee that provides care, support, and religious uplift for the needy. Troyer Post Buildings also works with local food banks, adoption centers, and other charitable endeavors.

The family also expresses its faith through honesty and fair dealing, business practices that lead to win-win results. “We built a name in the industry for being trustworthy. We do what we say we’re going to do. At the end of the day, if we say we’re going to be there, we’ll be there. When you build with us, there are no hidden surprises. You get what you signed up for,” says Troyer.

The element of trust applies to the company’s supply chain as well, and Troyer Post Buildings prefers to work with a selection of known vendors rather than constantly switching suppliers based solely on price. “We consider our suppliers our partners. We try to create long-term relationships with our suppliers and treat them like part of the company. We try to create a win-win situation for both of us,” explains Troyer.

Promotion is handled in a low-key and decidedly unflashy fashion. While the company uses social media, online marketing, and banners to promote itself, it also sets up booths at country and local fairs to spread the word.

Clearly, it’s a winning strategy, as the firm’s workload has increased so much it’s expanded from 40 employees at the time of our previous profile to 60 today.

“When you do good work, you always get more work. All of our departments have grown,” says Troyer.

To be sure, he is proud of the company’s ability to create good, new jobs within local communities. When it comes to new hires, the company likes “humble and hungry people,” he says. This fits with the company’s culture, which is centered on such values as trust, innovation, consistency, and being helpful.

Thankfulness is another core value: “We’re very blessed by God, so we’re thankful for that. We’re trying to make our decisions based on what would please God and to follow the principles that’s he’s laid out,” explains Troyer.

The company aims to remain debt-free when possible and to constantly add value in everything it does—and this later trait applies to employees and clients alike. “We’re focused on adding value to each other as a team. We’re focused on adding value to our customers,” says Troyer.

Its success has not gone unnoticed, and the company has been earning industry kudos as of late. In April 2025, Troyer Post Buildings was ranked #224 on the Financial Times’ list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies. The list ranks the 300 companies in the U.S. with the largest revenue growth between 2020 and 2023. The firm was also awarded as Best Pole Barn Builder from The Greeneville Sun, and has ‘Recommended Builder’ status from Upper Cumberland MLS. Tim Troyer is reluctant to take credit for these achievements, stating he’s “blessed to have a good team to work with,” and that earning such honors wouldn’t be possible with their efforts.

Of course, Troyer Post Buildings faces its share of challenges and difficulties. The company is dealing with the impact of “a lackadaisical economy… people are struggling, and don’t have extra money. We’re trying to show our customers… that what we bring to the table is worth what they’re paying for,” says Troyer.

Still, things look good for the company, which plans to build on its existing competencies instead of adding new services per se. “We’re just trying to do what we do and do it well,” says Tim Troyer. “I just hope that we can serve more customers in the future and continue to build an even bigger and better team.”

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View Homes is a unique, award-winning home building company based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a multi-state presence, a flair for aesthetics, and a reputation for customer support. This firm offers a wide array of new homes to prospective buyers in different communities in a variety of styles, sizes, and price points.

In operation for over 30 years, View Homes works with a series of franchise partners and brands including Horizon View Homes, Aspen View Homes, and Desert View Homes. Through these partners, the company provides affordable luxury across New Mexico, Texas, Iowa, South Dakota, and Colorado. But what sets the company apart isn’t just how many homes it builds; it’s how it builds them. At the heart of its philosophy is a simple belief: “build high-quality, forward-thinking homes in places people want to live, [and] you’ll have happy customers for life.” This insight guides everything View Homes does.

Indeed, View Homes doesn’t chase trends; instead, it learns from people, with a design process that begins with understanding how buyers want to live. That means creating floorplans and communities that feel intuitive and welcoming, spaces that blend timeless style with practical features people truly appreciate. Standard offerings often include upgrades that other builders might charge extra for, so homeowners get added value as a baseline.

The company pairs its construction expertise with “best-in-class customer service,” a commitment to guiding buyers from first look through closing and beyond. This commitment is designed to exceed expectations at every step, a promise that has contributed to the company’s growth and reputation and been recognized by the broader industry with a series of awards, including the NRS Award in Customer Satisfaction, two consecutive “Builder of the Year” awards, and the Better Business Bureau Torch Award, the organization’s highest honor for ethics and business practices.

The company’s transparent, service-first approach is exemplified by its easy-to-navigate website, launched in 2023. Since a home is one of the biggest investments a family will make, View Homes takes that responsibility seriously, making it easy at every step for prospective buyers to find what they’re looking for. As Valerie Varney, View Homes National Vice President of Marketing, puts it, “We wanted a site that reflects the innovative approach we take when building our homes. Not only does our new site offer a fresh modern look, but the ease of use and new customization elements allow for a more intuitive and responsive user experience. It’s never been simpler to find the View home that perfectly suits your family’s needs,” she says.

The “Find Your Home” tab offers a wealth of information about a range of properties and neighborhoods, while Community Overviews note key details such as local schools, parks, nearby Interstates, military bases, retail offerings, and more—all important details for people looking for a place to settle and put down roots. Potential buyers can also enjoy digital walkthroughs of the company’s home designs to gain a better feel for the interiors, exteriors, and overall space, and can access advice for first-time homebuyers, tips for accessing financing, and more.

View Homes’ website also showcases its Thoughtful Home Collection, an “unparalleled collection of homes [that] represents decades of experience and research, resulting in our most technologically advanced residences to date,” says the company.

This collection consists of attractive houses with high-tech touches and user-friendly features, representing “the ultimate in modern living.” Each Thoughtful Home comes with a top-end HVAC system, a fully finished garage with heating/cooling and epoxy floors, a water treatment system, a touchless faucet and soft close kitchen cabinets, “Whole House” connectivity and a Wi-fi network on each floor, three garage lifestyle options (a murphy bar, a fitness area, or a work bench), and an Amazon drop box on the front porch.

The Thoughtful Home Collection is currently offered at Callan Village in Waco, Texas, and at The View at Desert Springs in El Paso, Texas.

To be sure, View Homes has built a robust marketplace presence with its family of brands, each reflecting the unique character of its region while maintaining the company’s core values of quality and customer focus. The company also offers a Local Builder Program, inviting experienced homebuilders and construction professionals to bring View Homes’ models and values to new markets. This program taps into shared technology, design resources, and operational support to help partners succeed under the View Homes umbrella.

Ultimately, View Homes does more than just sell homes; it builds neighborhoods and strengthens entire communities. The company values compassion, excellence, honesty, and collaboration, and these principles inform all aspects of the business, from material selection to sales, marketing, and post-purchase service. Support for clients doesn’t end once the homeowners receive the key to their property; rather, View Homes provides warranties along with support for customers experiencing after-hours emergencies, who can contact the company for intervention.

View Homes represents a hybrid model in the homebuilding space: a company with enough scale to operate across multiple states and brands, but with a commitment to craftsmanship and customer feedback more commonly seen with regional or boutique builders. From first-time buyers to people upgrading into their forever homes, View Homes focuses on the human side of homebuilding, delivering places where families can grow, thrive, and make memories. The company’s ongoing evolution—including dynamic online tools—reflects a company that listens to its customers and adapts without losing sight of its foundational values.

As the firm continues to grow, its mission remains the same: to provide great properties at decent prices, paired with excellent customer service during all aspects of the homebuying experience.

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