The Best Commercial Contractors in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Last updated on July 18th, 2024 at 05:46 am

Finding the right contractor is pivotal in constructing commercial properties in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With an average project cost ranging between $200,000 and $1.7 million and higher-end ventures exceeding the $2 million mark, selecting the right team for your project becomes crucial. Project timelines can extend up to 20 months, depending on the project’s size, design complexity, and materials used. Challenges and unforeseen hurdles are common in construction.

In a city with around 300,000 residents and a median home value of $34,000, the need for reliable and skilled commercial contractors is clear. Every project, whether it’s a corporate headquarters, retail space, or manufacturing facility, needs a team that can handle construction complexities while delivering quality results within budget and on schedule.

Choosing among the pool of Pittsburgh general contractors can greatly impact your project’s success. The right contractor will coordinate subcontractors, manage timelines, and adhere to safety standards, ensuring a smooth construction process. This helps prevent setbacks and brings your commercial vision to life in the vibrant city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Overview: The Best Commercial Contractors in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more.

MBM Contracting

4999 Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236

MBM was established as a general contracting firm. Its first office was in a single room in the basement of a hair salon, where the primary responsibility was door installation. The firm has been praised in several publications, including The Business Journals in 2018 and The Tribune Democrat in 2020. It has also received several major honors from the AIA.

Being one of the top commercial construction companies in Pittsburgh PA, MBM Contracting was appointed as the Construction Manager for Conemaugh Health System’s new 16,000-square-foot outpatient facility in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Primary care, cardiology, neuroscience, surgery, and urology specialty care are all available at the new facility, as well as nuclear medicine, lab testing, and advanced diagnostic imaging services such as mobile computerized tomography (CT), mobile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray, and 3D mammography. In order to fulfill their commitment to serve the people of Somerset and the neighboring areas, the new outpatient facility was thoughtfully designed to expand to the Somerset area.

Shannon Construction

3257 West Liberty Ave. Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Driven by the belief that treating people fairly is one of the best methods in any business, Shannon Construction is a Pittsburgh commercial builder with a long history that has been passed down through two generations. Shannon Construction has been built on this foundation for 50-plus years and is one of the top construction companies in Pittsburgh that is affiliated with the Better Business Bureau. The firm principal, Ken Schultz, has 35 years of project and construction management experience and has helped develop the firm’s values, building a “Legacy of Craftsmanship and Service.” Through passion and consistency, Shannon has been saluted by The Business Journals, NEXTpittsburgh, and the Smart Business Magazine, among other media, for the excellent works they have produced over the years.

The Davis Companies purchased the former Art Institute Dormitories (250,000 plus sf) on 2nd Avenue in Pittsburgh. Shannon performed a total commercial building renovation. The project included 204 industrial loft-style units featuring studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments. Amenities are essential to any urban living space, including a fitness center, maker’s studio, bowling alley, game area, common rooms, and on-site security. A collaborative effort between the design team and Shannon Construction ensured that the building’s mechanical components were re-designed for Apartment Living. In 2020, Terminal 21 was awarded the Master Builders Association’s Building Excellence Award.

Volpatt Construction

100 Castleview Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234

Volpatt Construction is a full-service construction corporation celebrating 30 years of excellence in the Tri-State Area. Today, the family-operated company continues to play an integral role in building Western PA and the Tri-State Area into a top global destination. Ray Volpatt, Sr. created the business with a philosophy of working closely with owners to ensure that projects are completed in a timely and efficient manner. As a result, Volpatt Construction has been able to build a long list of repeat clients, partnering with the top businesses and institutions in the area.

With a focus on quality, hands-on service, competitive pricing, and timely project completion, Volpatt Construction has effectively positioned itself as one of the most respected building contractors in the area. From its very first job at the University of Pittsburgh to over 890 successfully delivered projects, the company continues to turn strong ideas into award-winning projects that have been recognized by their respective industry and featured in various press. 

The company is also expanding and has created a new division called ShareInTech, a construction workforce optimization, building management, and asset supervision technology company. The company’s Supervizr platform gives users the power to visualize construction project management from start to finish and conduct workforce optimization, building management, and asset supervision. Supervizr was developed in conjunction with UrsaLeo and Connect Up Technologies. UrsaLeo is an IoT and enterprise software company that enables users to visualize operational data in a photorealistic 3D representation of their facility or product and Connect Up offers innovative solutions for safety and health in the workplace.

In 2018, Volpatt Construction completed the first net-zero municipal building, which utilizes a passive design to generate power on-site through a photovoltaic solar array system, geothermal system, and heat pump. The new municipal facility now houses the council chambers, administrative offices, police station, library, and community room. The building today performs at a LEED Gold level, the second highest certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

GGC National Contractors

3442 Babcock Boulevard Suite B, Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Gaining licensure in nearly every state in the United States, GGC National Contractors was founded on the ideals of long-term construction and high quality. Jennifer and John Castellano founded GGC National Contractors in November 2009 on the ideals of sustainable building. For nearly 35 years, the husband-and-wife team has been thoroughly rooted in various industries.

As a LEED Green certified firm, GGC National Contractors widely contributed to the green building movement that society aims to spread. John Castellano, the firm’s principal, has over 38 years of experience in commercial construction and has acquired the expertise that led the company to complete over 10 works in their portfolio. One completed work is the American Eagle Outfitters in Las Vegas, Nevada. They were responsible for the overall general construction and helped design the 12,261-square-foot establishment.

Massaro Corporation

120 Delta Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Massaro Construction Group (MCG) is a privately held company that has been providing commercial general construction services to the region for five decades. With a full range of high-quality services that have helped establish over a hundred completed projects across the country, this Pittsburgh general contractor was featured in an article from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and has been lauded by several media publications, including The Business Journals, NEXTPittsburgh, The Tribune-Review, and Boston Real Estate Times. On top of all that, the firm has also won a vast number of awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the MBA.

Carlow University engaged Massaro to completely renovate an existing library into a new University Commons facility with a new library. The building is 28,500 square feet and has five floors. This project included complete demolition and abatement of existing interior space and a new front curtain wall on the E elevation and interior renovations. While the building will be unoccupied during the renovations, the campus will remain fully operational. Thus, careful delivery coordination is critical to completing the work on time and without interfering with the University’s day-to-day activities.

Franjo Construction

335 E. 7th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120

Franjo Construction Corporation is a family-owned and operated construction firm based in Homestead, Pennsylvania. The name Franjo comes from the combination of Frank and Joe Leonello, Jr, two brothers who own and run the organization. Franjo has risen from its incorporation in 1997 to become one of Pittsburgh’s fastest-growing firms in 2014-2019 and one of Pittsburgh’s Top Workplaces 3 years in a row. Their technical expertise, innovative leadership, committed staff, attention to detail, and enthusiasm for construction have earned them this honor. Due to its continued growth, among the top construction companies in Pittsburgh, it has expanded over the years. It owns three buildings in Pittsburgh, which contain its offices, warehouse, and a shop for its millwork, casework, and steel fabrication shop. Franjo Construction now has three affiliates: Franjo Specialty Group, Franjo Restoration Services, and Fort Lauderdale-based GSD Contracting.

Franjo Construction is proud of its long-term relationship with the German supermarket chain Aldi. For the past 18 years, Franjo Construction has been Aldi’s official construction team in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Throughout this time, its dedicated team has established over 105 outlets with a combined revenue of nearly $80 million. Most of these Aldi stores are in Pennsylvania, with others located in Ohio, West Virginia, and Florida.

One of its largest projects to date is Arsenal 201 Apartments in Lawrenceville. Located next to the 40th Street Bridge, this two-phase apartment complex has been developed by Indianapolis-based Milhaus. Franjo completed phase I, which included 243 apartments, 19,000 SF of retail space, 75 parking spaces, and several other amenities. Milhaus again selected Franjo as the general contractor for phase II, which is currently under construction. Once complete, it will add 343 apartments and a 400-space parking garage.

Mosites Construction & Development Company

400 Mosites Way Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15205

Mosites Construction Company is fueled by passion. Founder Mosco George Mosites moved to Pittsburgh, where he utilized his expertise in climbing, tying, and rigging lines to establish his painting and maintenance contracting business, which later became the most famous in the tri-state area. The firm was also a recipient of numerous MBA Building Excellence Awards for Excellence in various categories such as New Construction, Craftsmanship, and Safety.

PNC and Parkhurst Dining Services, a member of the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, collaborated to develop one of Pittsburgh’s first green dining experiences using environmentally friendly items. The environmentally-friendly café is located in the Allegheny Center Mall and serves as a model for all PNC cafes to follow. Bamboo walls, green glass tile walls created from 100% pre-consumer and post-consumer waste, organic linoleum flooring, and natural quartz and glass worktops made from 85% recycled bottles make up this Eco Bistro featured here. The USGBC has awarded this project a LEED certification for Commercial Interiors.

Marco Contractors, Inc.

100 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15095

Marco Contractors, Inc. is a national general contractor with over 42 years of experience. This firm is recognized and licensed in every state and has excellent financial planning capabilities, as demonstrated in the D&B rating of 3A1 and a Paydex of 80. Throughout the years, Marco Contractors has built a vast network of loyal clients and has been lauded for its excellence in customer service by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, CBS Pittsburgh, and the Tribune-Review.

Marco Contractors, Inc., is a preferred contractor for Chipotle. These projects include level-five finishes throughout, custom-finished woodwork, and extremely tight construction schedules that Marco consistently meets. Marco Construction has done ground-up construction for Chipotle’s 2,200-square-foot establishment in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of contractors, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the commercial contractors in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.