Located just east of Phoenix, Tempe is a college town best known for being the home of Arizona State University. Unsurprisingly, it is a popular hub for young adults, often playing host to concerts and comedy shows, and therefore houses multiple commercial spaces and buildings. This list showcases 15 of the area’s best and leading commercial contractors in Tempe, who are behind some of its most noteworthy structures.
Our editorial team curated this list based on their excellent portfolios and extensive backgrounds. Several of these companies are the proud recipient of many distinctions and have been lauded by numerous magazines.
Sundt Construction
2620 S. 55th St., Tempe, AZ 85282
Sundt Construction takes great pride in the excellent partnerships it has secured throughout its years in business. It operates out of several offices throughout California, Texas, and Arizona and specializes in a wide variety of commercial contracting services. The firm takes great pride in the stellar rankings it has received through the years. Most recently, Engineering News-Record named the company the 58th leading contractor out of 400 firms in the country. It is also noted for its excellent work environment and was named the second leading private company in the area by Arizona Corporate Excellence.
The project above was completed in Tempe and entailed a hospitality space. It was designed and constructed for the Canopy by Hilton Tempe and includes 200 guest rooms and 14 stories. The structure also consists of an impressive rooftop pool, cafe, gym, and terrace bar.
LGE Design Build
740 N 52ND ST, Phoenix, AZ 85008
LGE Design Build works on projects from various market types, including offices, mixed-use, adaptive reuse, industrial, retail, educational, and medical projects. The firm is one of the area’s premier firms and is an expert in the design-build process. It offers its client nearly three decades of industry experience and is composed of a talented team that has worked on countless award-winning designs. Since its establishment, the firm has worked on over 1,200 projects and adheres to the highest standards. LGE is also noted for its comprehensive conceptual design proposals, in addition to its excellent cost control work. This approach assures clients that all of the firm’s projects are completed on time and within the agreed-upon budget.
The project above is an excellent example of the firm’s talent and expertise. It spanned 55,000 square feet and was completed for The Collective on Baseline. The project entailed working on a mixed-used development space that offers both entertainment and residential areas. The firm’s company also worked on several amenities perfect for shopping, dining, and fitness.
Jokake Construction
5013 E. Washington, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Jokake Construction provides a full range of services and specializes in office, healthcare, education, retail, and industrial build-outs. The firm collaborates only with the area’s best and leading designers and subcontractors, resulting in timeless and classic work. It is noted for its innovative solutions, as well as its adherence to the highest standards. The Jokake team credits its success to combined years of experience in the industry and its method, which gives clients the expertise of a large contractor but with a more personal approach. Our editorial team was also highly impressed by its additional efforts in terms of safety procedures amidst the ongoing pandemic.
The project above depicts the company’s work for the Wentworth Headquarters. Located in downtown Phoenix, this project spans 13,000 square feet and entailed an extensive renovation as well as a gut out of a three-story office space. The firm’s team worked on high-end finishes throughout the project, including an open lobby and a full bar.
Gilbane
2355 E Camelback Rd, Suite 850 Phoenix, AZ 85016
Regarded for its stellar national rankings, Gilbane 150 is an award-winning firm that provides an extensive range of general contracting services. Aside from its commercial work, its portfolio also includes a comprehensive range of civic, educational, environmental, and healthcare projects. In addition to these, the firm has also taken on projects in the industrial, entertainment, and historic renovation markets. Some of the firm’s most recent rankings include being named the number one Education Builder by Building Design+Construction (BD+C) and the number one Correctional Facilities builder by the Engineering News-Record (ENR). The firm is also a proud ten-time Associated General Contractors Award winner. Showcased below is one of the company’s best projects.
For this project, the firm’s team provided project management services for two new psychiatric facilities. Our editorial team was highly impressed by its inter-related facilities, in addition to its open floorplan.
Caliente Construction
485 W Vaughn St, Tempe, AZ, 85283
Founded in 1991, Caliente Construction specializes in the design-build approach, enabling it to keep the entire process in-house. This lessens the additional challenge for clients in looking for different subcontractors and artisans. Our editorial team was especially impressed by its comprehensive preconstruction work and its extensive renovations and construction management. Composed of a talented group of over 90 professionals, the company draws inspiration from more than 30 years of industry experience and has since worked on over 4,220 projects. Caliente is proud to be a woman-owned and certified business and has completed projects throughout Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.
The project above is an excellent example of the firm’s expertise. It spans 5,700 square feet and entailed working on a tenant improvement. Our editorial team loved its open space and floor plan.
W.E. O’Neil Construction
4511 E. Kerby Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85040
W.E. O’Neil Construction is a national, employee-owned commercial construction company with local offices in Phoenix and Tucson, AZ. W.E. O’Neil has been in Arizona for almost 40 years and is one of the Top 100 general contractors in the United States, according to Engineering News Record. The firm is especially noted for its use of the best and latest technologies, including Building Information Modeling and their transparent approach to the building process. W.E. O’Neil is involved in a broad range of market sectors, including the commercial, educational, healthcare, industrial, aviation, hospitality, multi-family, municipal, and recreational markets.
One of their prominent projects includes the upscale SouthBridge project, which features various restaurants, high-end retail, and offices in Scottsdale, AZ.
A.R. Mays Construction
6900 E. Indian School Rd., Suite 200, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Headquartered in Scottsdale, A.R. Mays Construction offers a complete range of services and has been in business since 1986. The firm specializes in commercial projects in particular and has worked on projects throughout the southwest. Our editorial team was especially impressed by its team’s great training as well as its excellent processes and methods. The company is led by its owner and president, Adam Mays. He is an experienced and talented professional who ensures that each of the firm’s projects receives the benefit of his experience. Under his leadership, the company has had the opportunity to work on various noteworthy projects that have been featured in several publications.
The project above is an excellent example of the firm’s expertise. Completed in Tempe, this photo depicts the firm’s work for Warner Village. It entailed designing and constructing a mixed-use space consisting of eight buildings that span nearly 60,000 square feet. It also showcases a one-story medical office.
Concord General Contracting
2240 West Broadway Rd., Suite 105, Mesa, AZ 85202
Operating out of its office in Mesa, Concord General Contracting specializes in commercial, educational, government, and non-profit projects. The company draws inspiration from over five decades of working in and around the industry and is especially noted for its great innovative techniques, comprehensive preconstruction, and use of Building Information Modeling. Since its inception, the company has had the opportunity to work with some of the area’s best and leading subcontractors, which have resulted in stellar and outstanding spaces. The project below is an excellent embodiment of the firm’s talent and expertise.
Located in the heart of Phoenix, this project was completed for Kiewit Western Co. and entailed an extensive renovation and all-new addition. It spans 31,000 square feet and showcases a great open floor plan and modern design.
Builders Guild
4950 East Ingram St., Mesa, AZ 85205
Builders Guild provides its clients a full range of services and takes great pride in its outstanding track record. The firm offers its clients over 30 years of industry experience and services the entirety of Arizona. Noted for its excellent design-build method, the firm utilizes a highly hands-on approach that emphasizes the importance of working closely with its clients throughout the entire process. All of its teams come with a Construction Manager at Risk, assuring clients of its adherence to the highest of safety standards. The photo below is an excellent example of the firm’s expertise.
Completed for Gilbert Professional Park, this project entailed working on an office condo complex. It consists of eight one-story buildings and spans over 30,600 square feet. For this project, the company’s team worked with the talented professionals of Kubieck Architects & Associates.
Fleming Complete
1736 S. Nevada Way, Mesa, AZ 85204
Fleming Complete provides services to a diverse range of markets and extends its services throughout the Phoenix metro area. It specializes in tenant improvements and offers building repairs to existing clients. The firm utilizes only the best and latest industry techniques, which have allowed the company to work with countless household brands in the area. Some of these include Bank of the West, Gentle Dental, Penske Truck Leasing, Peter Piper Pizza, Sunrise Preschools and many more. Showcased below is one of the company’s best works.
Completed for Extra Space Storage, for this space, the firm repurposed an existing three-story structure. It also constructed two all-new state of the art storage buildings.
Porter Brothers
1285 N Fiesta Blvd, Gilbert, AZ 85233
Porter Brothers primarily credits its stellar services to over six decades of experience in the industry. Its team makes use of an excellent and highly comprehensive design-build process that allows for a great cost-effective approach. It also infuses value engineering into its work, enabling its team to complete all of its projects on time and within the agreed-upon budget. Upon consultation, the firm begins its process by working on an extensive program outline, which in turn, it submits to its clients early on. The project below is an excellent example of the firm’s work.
Located in Tempe, the project above is composed of seven buildings. It spans 32,000 square feet and was designed and crafted for Crossroads Professional Village. Our editorial team was highly impressed by its masonry and use of steel, as well as its great wood framing and insulation.
Reliance Build
281 N Roosevelt Ave # 3, Chandler, AZ 85226
Reliance Build operates out of its office in Chandler and extends its services throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area and Tempe. It is regarded for its innovative approaches and specialization for a variety of commercial projects. Composed of a talented team of professionals and artisans, the firm can take on spaces regardless of size or scale. The firm has been in business since 1993 and since then, has had the opportunity to take on projects costing around a billion dollars. It takes great pride in its 89% repeat clientele rate and is particularly noted for its excellent tenant improvements, ground-up construction, as well as its green construction work. The firm’s portfolio depicts several spaces from the financial, fitness, and retail markets. It also showcases its healthcare, industrial, and recreational work.
The project above was completed for Starbucks and is located in Tempe. For this space, the firm’s team was tasked with its extensive tenant improvements and high-end finishes. It also worked on cost estimation and scheduling and provided the client with comprehensive feasibility studies.
DECCA Builders
16050 North 76th Street, Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
DECCA Builders is a family-owned and operated business providing its clients with a complete and comprehensive range of services. Our editorial team was impressed by its excellent command of the design-build approach, in addition to its great conceptual cost estimates to its on-site construction management. Since its inception, DECCA has curated a stellar portfolio for itself consisting of a gallery of retail, office, industrial, manufacturing, multi-family, residential, educational, governmental, hospitality, renovations, and tenant improvements. The company primarily draws inspiration and ideas from its over four decades of experience in the industry, and is led by its president, Mike Wareing. He oversees all management and financial functions including estimating, purchasing, accounting, and field operations for Decca.
The photo above depicts the company’s work for Credit Union West Headquarters. It spans 78,706 square feet and entails working on a large office building. The project is located in Glendale and was completed in collaboration with the professionals of DAVIS Architects.
Southwest Architectural Builders
3826 North Third St., Phoenix, AZ 85012
Founded in 1986, Southwest Architectural Builders is a general commercial contracting firm that offers a comprehensive list of services. It specializes in tenant improvement and ground-up construction work and has had the opportunity to work with a variety of noteworthy clients, including the University of Phoenix, the NBA, and TeleTech. The firm has had the opportunity to work in some of the most sought-after areas in the Valley and is the product of the vision of firm president and leader Joe Hitzel. He offers the company’s clients over four decades of experience in the industry and has established lasting relationships with countless brands. Under his leadership, the company has been consistently regarded as among the area’s “Best Places to Work.”
The firm’s portfolio also showcases several great adaptive reuse and Class A spaces. The photo above is an excellent example of the firm’s expertise. It was completed for Norris Design and spans 12,350 square feet.
Western States General Contracting
9420 East Doubletree Ranch Rd, Suite C110, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Western States General Contracting was founded in 2008 and specializes in a comprehensive range of general contracting and construction management services. The firm operates out of its headquarters in Scottsdale and is regarded for its great attention to detail and high regard for hands-on approaches. The company is composed of an excellent and experienced team of designers, engineers, and subcontractors. Our editorial team was especially impressed by its knack for the design-build process, as well as its competitive bidding and value engineering.
The photo above showcases one of its best restaurant projects. Located in Tempe, this project was completed for the Wildflower Bread Company. The firm’s team was primarily tasked with working on its all-new exterior patio.
