Last updated on July 9th, 2024 at 11:02 am
The state of Pennsylvania is filled with both Fortune 500 corporations and growing startups. At the same time, locals residing here take advantage of the breathtaking natural environment, world-class sports, innovative arts and culture, and delicious food at surprisingly low prices. Though some smaller Pennsylvania towns and cities have fewer of these attractions, its bigger cities, like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, are overflowing with potential and opportunities.
Throughout its 67 counties, the state’s extensive architectural history is put on display; the state’s homes contain examples of numerous regional and national architectural styles and structures that cover not only various ages, but also a wide spectrum of design rigor. This list features the best construction companies in Pennsylvania, which were chosen because, along with having been in the construction industry for a number of years, they have been the recipients of numerous impressive local and national awards.
Clemens Construction
The Drexel Bldg. 1435 Walnut St. Floor 2, Philadelphia, PA 19102
A recognized general contractor for commercial projects, Clemens Construction Company was established in 1979 and has its corporate office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has received numerous awards and recognitions for its work, and is well known for its innovative problem-solving and its proficiency in the building of intricate urban infill projects. The firm has won a handful of awards, including a 2019 Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Philadelphia, the 2019 Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia (PAGP), and three awards from the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA): Best Educational Institution Project, Best Green Space Project, and Best Retail Project.
Clemens completed this featured $7.6 million project—the winner of the 2019 GBCA Best Retail Project award—while the shop was still open, which meant that workers still had access to their storage areas, swing areas remained available, and customers were not aware of the ongoing construction. Many of the interior’s historic characteristics were updated by Clemens, including the use of pre-existing artistic columns to hold the mezzanine level and create a fresh, contemporary entrance. On the bases of these damaged columns, Clemens poured fresh concrete and applied faux finishes while restoring the original plaster detailing. The external cornice was cleaned, mended, and restored to its original state, and wood trim was infilled.
W.S. Cumby
938 Lincoln Ave. Springfield, PA 19064
W.S. Cumby, which was established in 1981, offers general contracting, design-build, and construction management services. The clientele of the company includes a variety of repeat customers from the hospitality, healthcare, educational, commercial, multi-family residential, religious, and retail sectors.
William S. Cumby, Jr., the company’s chairman and co-founder, has always been an engaged part of his community. In fact, he is a previous president and trustee of the Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia, and has been a member in good standing since 1999. William Cumby III, the company’s current president and CEO, has more than 18 years of experience in the building, finance, and commercial real estate sectors.
One project completed by W.S. Cumby is this Dansko corporate headquarters, which won the 2008 Merit Construction Award of Excellence from the Southern Pennsylvania chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). A daylit workplace, conference rooms, a full commercial kitchen, a dining area, a workout facility, meditation rooms, and a retail outlet store are all features of the three-story Class-A office and retail structure. One of the earliest “Living Walls” in the area can be found in the main foyer of the structure. Improved indoor air quality and a healthy and clean indoor environment were two goals of the project, which W.S. Cumby accomplished by the installation of a vertical bio-wall of indoor plants.
Intech Construction
3020 Market St. Philadelphia, PA 19104
Intech Construction, established in 1986 by Craig “Sab” Sabatino and Will Schwartz, has grown to be a significant presence in the Philadelphia area. The firm’s team has built numerous noteworthy projects and has provided services to important cultural and educational institutions, private development facilities, and the healthcare, hospitality, and business sectors. Intech Construction is currently ranked #20 in Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) MidAtlantic Top Contractors, #91 on ENR’s Top 100 Construction Management-at-Risk Firms (National), #235 on ENR’s Top 400 Contractors (National), and #4 on Philadelphia Business Journal’s Top 25 Contractors. The firm is also a winner of the 2022 Athletic Business Facilities of Merit award and the 2021 GBCA Excellence in Craftsmanship over $50 million award.
Among its notable projects is AmerisourceBergen’s Corporate Headquarters, which earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification. The 11-story structure features office and amenity space and two lower stories of parking— altogether totaling 427,000 square feet. With rooms designed to foster cooperation, the new headquarters accommodates around 1,400 AmerisourceBergen workers, and features amenities including a fitness center, on-site eating options, a training facility, and a social plaza. High-end finishes can be seen throughout the brand-new, cutting-edge building, with a massive staircase serving as the focal point of the building’s main entrance.
Shannon Construction
3257 West Liberty Ave. Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15216
Since its founding, Shannon Construction has grown to be a well-known commercial builder in Pittsburgh, carrying on a strong family tradition. Its services include construction management, self-perform construction, general contracting, building construction maintenance, green building techniques, and design and build. In addition to his 14 years as president of Shannon Construction Company, president Ken Schultz also has 30 years of experience in project and construction management. Schultz’s portfolio of projects—which, impressively, amounts to $2 billion worth—includes projects completed across a wide variety of sectors such as biotech, hospitality, public works, mixed-use, industrial, retail, educational, commercial, and distribution.
Shannon Construction has received a lot of recognition for its work, as the firm consistently aims to provide clients with the focus, devotion, creativity, and skill required to successfully finish projects on time and within budget. Most recently, in 2022, it was a finalist of the Master Builders Association (MBA)’s Excellence in Construction award.
This featured project serves as an example of the company’s ability to deliver projects on time. The Shannon Team successfully restored the 32nd through 34th floors of the K&L Gates building for Evoqua under a constrained eight-week time period. Despite the short turnaround time, Shannon Construction still managed to prioritize the project’s quality and cost-effectiveness.
Hanson Fine Building, Inc.
86 W Johnson St. Philadelphia, PA 19144
For older homes and historic buildings in the Greater Philadelphia area, Hanson Fine Building, Inc. specializes in fine renovations, custom additions, environmentally friendly new construction, and historic preservation. Founded in 1986, this firm offers services that oversee all aspects of the construction process, including excavation, concrete, masonry, mechanical systems, framing, and finish carpentry. John M. Hanson, one of the firm’s principals, was chosen in 2010 to join the Carpenter’s Company of Philadelphia; he has also been on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Preservation Alliance since 2014. Christopher M. Hanson, the company’s other principal, is a Certified Builder with the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) and a LEED-accredited expert through the US Green Building Council. Under the leadership of these principals, the Hanson Fine Building, Inc. project portfolio has earned recognition from the AIA, the PAGP, Preservation Pennsylvania, Urban Land Institute Philadelphia (ULIP), Residential Architect Magazine, Remodeling Magazine, and Docomomo-US.
For this West Philadelphia expansion, the firm placed a strong emphasis on recycled materials. The floor is resawn from rescued heart pine beams, the roof rafters are saved from a former church in Manayunk, and the walls are reclaimed from a Center City Philadelphia art gallery. In the kitchen, a portion of the ceiling was left uncovered to show the second-floor framing, which was painted white along with the walls. Cabinets and countertops made of soapstone were ordered locally.
Gardner/Fox Associates
919 Glenbrook Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Gardner/Fox Associates, a full-service design/build construction company based in suburban Philadelphia, was established in 1987. Architectural, interior, and landscape design are offered by the company’s residential division, which is carried out by qualified construction project managers and multi-trade craftsmen. Gardner/Fox provides services to clients for a widely varying scope of projects—from complete kitchen renovations to the simple addition of built-ins in the basement. It specializes in numerous different design styles, including eclectic, Victorian, modern, and farmhouse, to name a few. The firm is also affiliated with AIA and NARI, and its team of professionals are LEED Green Associates.
This project completed by Gardner/Fox Associates won the 2019 Regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award for an Entire House $500,001 to $750,000. The clients requested a first-floor guest suite and an open-concept living area, both of which Gardner/Fox included in their design. The new central area’s farmhouse kitchen, dining area, and family room are all decorated in a rustic manner, with raised ceilings and many windows that enhance each area’s feeling of openness. Further, incorporating the two-car garage into the extension allowed for the creation of a complete guest suite, wet bar, laundry room, and mudroom. The family’s new three-car garage, which is connected to the new design via a breezeway, was the finishing touch on this beautiful home.
Pohlig Homes
274 Lancaster Ave. Suite 100, Malvern, PA 19355
Pohlig Homes is a construction company that specializes in luxury residences and estates on the Philadelphia Main Line, the shore of New Jersey, and surrounding areas. The firm’s team strives to exceed client expectations all the way from the initial sketch of the home through the final settlement. This approach has drawn a significant number of return customers and referrals. Pohlig even recently received a well-known award in residential building: the Best Custom Home Builder in America, presented by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). The firm has also received over 10 awards from the Home Builders Associations of Bucks & Montgomery and Chester & Delaware Counties.
One principal of the firm, Chris Bergh, is included among Pro Builder’s 40 under 40 Class of 2020. Ever since his summer internship as a field laborer during his sophomore year in college, Bergh has worked with Pohlig. Prior to beginning his work at Pohlig, the other principal, Wayne Leighton, was a bridge design engineer who later transitioned into the field of real estate planning and development. At Pohlig, Leighton has combined his financial expertise with his technical background in order to purchase and build the company’s award-winning residential communities.
Myers Constructs
Crane Arts Bldg. 1400 N American St. Suite 208, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Myers Constructs has been a design-to-build general contracting company for 26 years, specializing in custom residential remodeling and restoration, and handling everything from project conception to finished construction. The company holds an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Renovation, Remodeling, and Painting (RRP) accreditation, and is a Women Business Enterprise accredited by the Philadelphia Office of Economic Opportunity. It is also a member of the NARI and NKBA. Tamara Myers, the president and founder of Myers Constructs, Inc., has completed an individual EPA RRP certification training and is a LEED Accredited Professional. Under her leadership, Myers Constructs has become a recipient of the 2017 NARI CotY Regional Award for a Residential Historical Renovation/ Restoration Under $250,000, the 2016 NARI Regional CotY Award in the Basement category $50,000 to $100,000, and the 2011 PAGP Grand Jury Award.
This featured project highlights one of the firm’s award-winning projects; this was the recipient of the 2018 Regional CotY: Region 1 Northeast for Entire House $250,000 to $500,000 award. This kitchen, which has numerous features that make efficient use of its space, was updated as part of Center City Trinity’s whole-house remodel. The kitchen is in the basement and the house has an impressively small footprint.
Bellweather Design-Build
4613 Woodland Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19143
Bellweather Design-Build integrates all elements of a project in order to ensure effective residential project planning, design, and construction. Specifically, the firm offers a streamlined procedure that unifies its architectural, interior design, and construction services, and that enables one team to oversee and be in charge of all project-related tasks. For over 20 years, the firm has received high client satisfaction ratings, thanks to its dependable service, innovative solutions, and quality craftsmanship. Will Giesey, the company’s founder and managing partner, is always actively involved in projects, ensuring that all factors are taken into account during the sales and design planning phases of the project.
Bellweather Design-Build is a winner of several accolades, including the 2022 GuildQuality Guildmaster with the Highest Distinction award and the 2020 Philadelphia Business Journal Best Places to Work award. Additionally, this Four Story Graduate Hospital Rowhome remodel was a 2020 Regional CotY Award Winner for a Residential Addition Over $250,000. In its work on this remodel, the company constructed a three-story extension that greatly increased the usable space in the house. The townhouse was given new, larger, and more economical vinyl windows that allowed more natural light to enter the property. Also, the fourth story now has a fiberglass roof deck with a pilothouse, which provides the clients with a more central entertaining and gathering area for guests.
