Below we’ve listed a number of commercial contractors. Note there is often cross-over with what we would deem ‘general contractors’ in the Bay area as often these firms will do both residential and commercial jobs.

10) Oliver and Company

Website | (510) 412-9090 | 1300 South 51st Street Richmond, California 94804

In 1946, after working on construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, Lloyd H. Oliver teamed with Charles E. Coburn to found Oliver & Coburn. Seventy years later, the firm has become Oliver & Company, a full-service construction outfit that has completed over 1,000 building projects in the Bay Area. The full-service company, a founding member of the Construction Employer’s Association, has earned awards from AIA SF, James Beard Foundation, California Preservation Foundation, and Berkeley Design Advocates.

Photo Courtesy of Oliver and Company

Featured Projects

Oliver and Company renovated La Mar, an upscale restaurant on Pier 1 ½ on the Embarcadero. CCS Architecture drew the designs for the indoor/outdoor Peruvian eatery. The main dining room, lounge, patio, and chef’s table all feature distinct yet complementary finishes. Oliver and Company teamed with Jensen Architects to build adaptive offices for web services company Angry Monkey. The office space at 350 9th Street features a two story plant-wall and, in order to facilitate mobile workstations, power and data lines were run overhead with multiple access points so that employees can work from anywhere within the space. Also in collaboration with Jensen Architects, Oliver and Company built the California College of the Arts Graduate Center, consisting of two steel buildings that contain 68 individual studios and offices. The street-facing sides of each building are enmeshed in expanded aluminum that appears opaque during the day, but at night glows with diffused interior light. The project won the 2009 Best New U.S. Building and Urban Design, American Architecture Award.

9) Cahill Contractors

Website | (415) 986-0600 | 425 California Street, Suite 2200 San Francisco, CA 94104

Inspired by the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906, J.R. Cahill embarked on a career as an engineer and contractor. In 1923, he formed Cahill Brothers with brother Edward and focused on large commercial and residential buildings. The company became Cahill Construction Company when J.R.’s sons joined the team, and together they built hundreds of projects in the Bay Area. Today, CEO Kathryn Cahill oversees the family business. Cahill Construction Company’s builds have been featured in Architectural Record. After nearly 100 years in construction, the company is one of the San Francisco Business Times top commercial contractors in the Bay Area.

Photo Courtesy of Cahill

Featured Projects

Cahill Construction Company converted the residence for the Archbishop of San Francisco. The 46,755 square-foot structure went up in 1962, and the remodel plans from ACB Design and HOK Interiors called for a $9.8M budget and resulted in a five-story concrete and wood convent. The renovation consisted of a kitchen gut and remodel, the addition of five guest rooms, a guest suite, and upgraded finishes throughout. Cahill also completed Hotel Nikko at 222 Mason Street along with Stanton Architecture. The budget for the project is $15M. Additionally, Cahill worked on hospitality projects such as Hilton Chinatown and Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco.

8) Dickinson Cameron

Website | (760) 438-9114 | 6184 Innovation Way Carlsbad, CA 92009

President and CEO Frank Naliboff co-founded the firm in 1994 with former partner Nathan Morton. In the last 20 years, Dickinson Cameron Construction has found a niche in leading immaculate builds for luxury retailers across the U.S.. Since then, Naliboff and his team have managed hundreds of retail build-outs and restaurant renovations. The company’s client list includes Apple, MAC Cosmetics, Yves Saint Laurent, and Dior. The national contractor also builds restaurants for well-known names, such as Fred’s at Barney’s and Yard House, and chef Gordon Ramsay.

Photo Courtesy of Dickson Cameron

Featured Projects

Dickinson Cameron Construction completed a 20-month remodel on Tiffany & Co in Union Square. The three-level store at 350 Post has been a neighborhood fixture for 25 years. The New York City flagship’s Gilded-Age style influenced the renovation design, but the unique character of the San Francisco outpost has been retained. Dickinson Cameron Construction worked with historical preservation and architecture firm Page & Turnbull to create a space for Emporio Armani in a historic building at 1 Grant Avenue. The project meant navigating stringent code for preserving original elements of the 1910 building, formerly the Savings Union Branch of Security Pacific National Bank. The building style, derived from the Roman Pantheon, fit the aesthetic of the brand, but the interior needed the addition of high-end finishes and free-standing displays in the round that would emphasize its architectural features while creating a functional retail store.

7) XL Construction

Website | (415) 358-6200 | 343 Sansome Street, Suite 505 San Francisco, CA 94104

XL Construction has specialized in commercial projects for companies in technology, healthcare, and education since its founding in 1992. Founders Eric Raff and Dave Beck emphasize people-first solutions, both internally and in dealing with clients, a strategy that has led to a 93% client referral rate. The company ranked 16th on Modern Healthcare’s Top General Contracting Companies list in 2017 and in the top 30 on ENR California Top Contractors list in 2016. The firm has also won a CEA Excellence in Safety Award for several years running.

Photo Courtesy of XL

Featured Projects

Providing preconstruction and construction services for Genetech’s Building 20, XL Construction renovated the 48,000 square-foot lab and office space while laboratories were still in use, which required ample coordination between the contractor, the client, and all workers on site. The project’s energy management system and use of renewable and recycled content materials led the team to submit for LEED-CI Gold. The renovation balanced the technological needs for the space with employee comfort and a modern aesthetic. XL Construction is working with architects from WRNS Studio to build two new buildings for Sonoma Academy in Santa Rosa, California. The larger of the two, the Grange Building, will house a student center, a gathering space, and a food service center that will also be used for educational purposes. The 20,000 square-foot building will feature a geoexchange system and photovoltaic panel aimed at achieving Net Positive energy.

6) Nova Partners

Website | (650) 324-5324 | 894 Folsom St. San Francisco, California 94107

Bob McIntire founded Nova Partners in 1993, the same year that he served as Director of Development, Design and Construction for Apple’s 1 Infinite Loop R&D campus. Under McIntire, who now serves as President and CEO, Nova Partners offers project management and construction services. The firm partners with corporate clients from pre-construction through post-construction inspections and consulting. Though the company is based in San Francisco, it has worked on projects across the U.S., and in Europe and Asia.

Photo Courtesy of Nova

Featured Projects

Nova Partners secured the construction contract for the biggest biotech real estate lease deal of 2016, the South San Francisco campus for Verily. The company also renovated the plaza at 535 Market Street in collaboration with Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction, PWP Landscape Architecture, and Keating Architecture. Demolishing the existing lower and upper plaza, the entire space was completely renovated, along with the building lobby and entry facade. Nova Partners is also the contractor for One Maritime Plaza’s rehab. The space at 300 Clay Street will be warmer and more welcoming after the renovation, while 16,230 square feet surrounding the 25-story office tower will become glass-enclosed, retail spaces.

5) BCCI

Website | (415) 817-5100 | 1160 Battery Street, Suite 250 San Francisco, CA 94111

Founded in 1986, BCCI is a privately-owned, full-service construction company. The company, which specializes in interiors and structures, emphasizes a collaborative approach to tenant improvements and office build-outs for investment banks and technology companies. The firm ranks among the San Francisco Business Times’ Largest Greater Bay Area Contractors and GenieBelt Biggest Influencers in Construction. ENR California has also ranked the firm as a Top Contractor.

Photo Courtesy of BCCI

Featured Projects

BCCI worked with architect MK Think and the client to update Mozilla’s San Francisco office. The design called for an unconventional layout, with most of the 17,000 square-foot space dedicated to open and cafe-like workspaces, instead of typical cubicles or workstations. The company also renovated Mozilla’s top-floor deck space so employees could use it as an informal work area. BCCI renovated a challenging space to serve as the Capital One Labs creative team’s office. The financial firm was looking to create an inspiring and warm space in the industrial shell. The architects at Studio O+A and BCCI achieved that aesthetic with polished concrete floors, a feature staircase, and a mezzanine sleep nook for employees to take cat naps. BCCI collaborated with architects at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to create new headquarters for Square. The office incorporates 175,000 square feet of space across four stories, giving the startup room to grow and reorganize. Spanning a city block, the main level is a blend of open work areas, glass cubes used for conferences, and a coffee bar and gallery.

4) Build Group

Website | (415) 367-9399 | 457 Minna Street, Suite 100 San Francisco, CA 94103

In 2007, colleagues Ross Edwards, Bob Hopper, Dave Williams, and Eric Horn founded Build Group, each of them bringing more than 30 years of experience to the business. The company survived the countrywide economic downturn by taking over troubled projects and bartering services for office space. Over the last decade, Build Group has grown its estimated revenue to hundreds of millions of dollars in residential and commercial contracts, and now employs a staff of over 400. The employee-owned company has been featured in DDC Journal and Profile magazine.  In honor of their ten years in business, the company has developed a new mission statement. We Build: Value- People-Trust.  

Photo Courtesy of Build

Featured Projects

Build Group partnered with Kwan Henmi architects to build the JINS Flagship Store. The shop on 151 Powell Street was the Japanese eyewear retailer’s first flagship in the U.S. The Union Square store boasts nearly 5,000 square feet of retail space and is lined with backlit displays mounted on exposed brick. The store won 1st Place in Retail Design Institute’s Hard-Line Specialty Category for Excellence in Store Design and Execution. Nearby, at 865 Market Street, Build Group led construction on a 4,924 square-foot retail space for Club Monaco. The company demolished the existing store and laid white oak floors to complement high-end finishes and millwork. Build Group also installed 12-foot-tall custom doors and updated the store facade.

3) Trainor Commercial Construction, Inc.

Website | (415) 259-0200 | 1925 Francisco Blvd. E Ste. 21 San Rafael, CA 94901

Husband and wife team Brian and Suzanne Trainor started Trainor Commercial Construction, Inc. in 2001. The company specializes in high-end retail construction services with a luxury clientele that includes Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Gucci. The team has collaborated with premier San Francisco architects, such as Stanton Architecture, and generates annual revenue between $20M and $30M. The company operates nationally, with just under 50 employees. Trainor Commercial Construction, Inc. builds have won two international store design awards from the Retail Design Institute. Multiple magazines, including Architectural Digest, have featured the company’s work.

Photo Courtesy of Trainor

Featured Projects

Trainor Commercial Construction not only renovated the Macy’s at 170 O’Farrell Street, but they are also on-site throughout the year as the general contractor leading seasonal updates to the store, which requires a variety of alcove build-outs that reflect individual brand styles, while also contributing to a cohesive store aesthetic. Trainor Commercial Construction built San Francisco’s first Neiman Marcus Last Call, the brand’s outlet store. The retail location at 767 B Market Street is spread over two floors with exposed ductwork and polished concrete floors throughout. San Francisco-born brand Philz Coffee worked with Trainor Commercial Construction to build their Dogpatch headquarters and retail location on the ground floor of an existing office building. The facility at 1258 Minnesota Street serves as a training ground for Philz employees, office space for the growing business, and a storefront. McCall Design Group’s plans combine a cafe aesthetic with the open, collaborative air of a tech startup.

2) Bali Construction

Website | (925) 478-8182 | 1508 3rd Avenue Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Veteran contractor Kevin Balestrieri founded Bali Construction in 2010. As company president, he oversees construction management and design-build commercial projects, including restaurants, retail stores, and corporate tenant improvements. The company has built an extensive network of architects and subcontractors to address individual client needs. Aside from two article features in the San Francisco Business Times, the company has also ranked among the paper’s fastest-growing private companies in the Bay Area in 2015 and 2016.

Photo Courtesy of Bali

Featured Projects

Harvey Hacker Architects and Studios Architecture’s designed for Lyft’s “Driver’s Hub” called for structural retrofit upgrades for two 1920s-era buildings. In one building, Bali Construction created an industrial open-floor-plan office space with offset hangout rooms. The other building adds an additional office space, a kitchen, and a lounge area. In total, the remodel covered 20,000 square feet. Bali Construction also has a long list of hospitality clients. Among them is upscale SoMa eatery Cockscomb. Celano Design Studio created the renovation designs for the loft-like concrete building at 564 Fourth Street. The designs called for a split-level build with bars on both levels, and an open kitchen so that diners can see Executive Chef and Top Chef Masters winner Chris Cosentino in action. It’s a clean and open space with unique details, like a long wood counter that runs through the spacious kitchen above polished concrete floors.

1) Skyline Construction

Website | (415) 908-1020 | 505 Sansome Street, 7th Floor San Francisco, CA 94111

Skyline Construction has opened five offices in the Bay Area since its founding in 1996. The employee-owned firm specializes in high-end interior projects for companies in a variety of sectors, including technology, banking, and legal. The San Francisco Business Times named Skyline Construction a Top 25 Commercial Contractor and one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Businesses in the Bay Area. The company also received a Bank of America Platinum Service Award.

Photo Courtesy of Skyline

Featured Projects

Weebly brought on Skyline Construction when the software company relocated to an office space in SoMa. Over the course of 19 weeks, in collaboration with Huntsman Architectural Group, Skyline created an open space at 460 Bryant that facilitates collaboration, but also allows for concentrated meeting environments. Per Weebly’s request, Skyline Construction also built in a throwback to the building’s past—a prohibition-style speakeasy room, hidden behind bookcases. Skyline helmed a 26-week remodel of Ancestry.com’s two-floor office space at 153 Townsend Street, creating a streamlined aesthetic throughout the 58,000-square-foot space by raising the floor and tucking electrical and data cabling, and the HVAC system, underfoot. Skyline Construction built in unique features that speak directly to how the Ancestry.com team envisioned their workspace, like a garage door that can be closed to separate a multi-use collaboration area or opened to widen the common area.