Like every project, each construction market has its own set of unique circumstances and challenges. You need a contractor who can handle unexpected concerns and, at the same time, manage your construction project with the highest standards of quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

To help you choose the right designer equipped to handle any building deliverables you might require, our team has curated a list of the best commercial contractors in Rochester, New York. These firms were selected for their accreditations, certifications, and professional affiliations. We also considered the recognition each firm has received in the form of industry awards, client reviews, and press features. We have laid out the range of services the firms offer, their specializations, and the length of time they have been in the industry.

LeChase

205 Indigo Creek Drive, Rochester, NY 14626

LeChase Construction is a full-service construction management and general construction firm accredited by the Fails Management Institute (FMI), Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and the American Contractors Insurance Group (ACIG). It has partnered with clients in the healthcare, education, commercial, and industrial sectors, offering pre-construction consulting, sustainable building, Virtual Design, and Construction, as well as commercial development management services. The company can independently perform specialized activities and trades work such as masonry, demolition, concrete, and site work. On top of this, LeChase carries expertise in real estate covering financing, site acquisition and development, and leaseback.

Inducted into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame, Chairman R. Wayne LeChase is a former member of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and the former chairman of Greater Rochester Enterprise. He is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Builders Exchange of Rochester, and the Herbert W. Vanden Brul Entrepreneurial Award from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), for which LeChase built the Global Cybersecurity Institute.

This three-story research facility features a first-floor simulation lab that allows students to experience real-world cybersecurity situations and exterior windows designed to reflect binary code. The LeChase team addressed the logistical challenge of having occupied and functional buildings surrounding the site by working with RIT on a phasing plan to relocate underground utilities, keeping a central loading dock open.

LeFrois Builders & Developers

1020 Lehigh Station Rd, Henrietta, NY 14467

For over 65 years, LeFrois Builders & Developers has delivered exceptional design, planning, and construction capabilities, encompassing space planning, site design, development, finance, leasing, and property management. Its in-house workforce is skilled in all aspects of earthmoving, utilities, masonry, concrete, as well as carpentry, drywall, and steel erection as a Certified Butler Builder. Prior to construction, LeFrois arranges for permits and necessary inspections, and is on-site regularly once construction begins to ensure the project finishes on schedule and on budget.

Rich LeFrois, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LeFrois Builders and Developers, has been recognized by the New York State Commercial Association of REALTORS (NYSCAR) Rochester Area Chapter with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Rich has driven the company to earn membership with the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Webster Chamber of Commerce. He has cultivated the firm’s experience with automotive dealerships and its know-how around the specific challenges of auto facility construction.

This is reflected in the Vision Automotive Group’s Hyundai dealership which includes a showroom with a reception area, sales offices, service drive, and parts sales and storage. The exterior comprises large glass walls facing the showroom wrapped in aluminum composite panels.

Taylor, The Builders

2580 Baird Road, Penfield, NY 14526

Taylor has designed and built a portfolio of diverse projects, including multi-family housing, institutional work for non-profits, healthcare, and educational projects. Taylor’s 30 years of construction management, general contracting, and design-build experience has allowed it to deliver an accurate cost and scheduling framework, total communication, and continuity from start to finish. Taylor ranked third in Rochester Chamber of Commerce’s Top 100 list of fastest-growing companies. Its strong track record of consistent financial and project management meets the standards of the Builders Exchange of Rochester and Tompkins Chamber.

James Taylor teamed up with Karl Schuler in leading the company to expand its services to better attend to clients’ needs. Founder and CEO James served as the Vice-Chair at the Heritage Christian Foundation Board and the President at RJ Taylor General Contractors. Meanwhile, Karl is certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). James and Karl guided their team in developing the Courtyard by Marriot. The four-story hotel contains 126 rooms, in addition to below-grade and surface parking spaces.

Christa Construction, LLC

64 Commercial Street, Suite 401, Rochester, NY 14614

With accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and BER, Christa Construction uses its prowess in construction to provide clients “executive-level” involvement in every project. The firm’s in-house team supports its abilities in construction, project, and facilities management, design-build, and real estate development work. Christa is able to turn over accurate cost estimates and innovative financing alternatives coupled with value engineering, scheduling, and phasing plans. The company gives back to the community through its participation in Leader’s Build Habitat for Humanity, and in environmental initiatives by achieving LEED certification, for its projects.

David Christa sits as the CEO of Christa Construction and runs the business alongside Mike Seaman. Seaman grew up working for his father’s general contracting company and pursued an education in both Construction Management and Construction Engineering. David and Mike’s efforts, along with that of their team, resulted in the addition to and renovation of the Hyatt Regency.

The 25-story Hyatt hotel now includes a full-service Starbucks, a high-end restaurant, and a fourth-floor lounge opening to a rooftop garden bar. The Christa team updated the guest rooms, banquet rooms, indoor pool, and hotel lobby. Christa Construction continues to build value for its clients and the facility’s end-users with buildings that have won awards from the Commercial Real Estate Development Association Upstate New York and the Construction Specifications Institute.

DiMarco Constructors

1950 Brighton Henrietta Town Line Road, Rochester, NY 14623

DiMarco Constructors is a Gold Star Contractor and Lead Safe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Certified Firm. It offers traditional design-build, construction management, general construction, and preconstruction services. The company’s expansive portfolio includes commercial, educational, industrial, medical, and multi-unit housing projects for public and private clients. Apart from this, it undertakes specialized projects such as occupied rehabilitation and historic preservations. DiMarco Constructors works with clients in hybrid project delivery arrangements such as design-assist. Its customized approach enables it to provide efficient upfront planning and maximizes its internal expertise, gaining the trust of the BER and the Building Performance Institute Inc.

John DiMarco, the President and Chief Operating Officer, is Engineer In Training Certified. His more than 25 years of hands-on experience spans renovation and new construction projects for mixed-use, multi-residential and commercial properties. His mastery over real estate development business including site design, development, construction, and management proved to be useful in the Brooks Crossing Apartments project.

Supported by a pile foundation, the cast-in-place concrete structure is enveloped with a façade built out of brick, a glass curtain wall, and composite panels. The multi-story retail and residential center houses 170 beds for students, a restaurant, student commons, laundry facilities, a boathouse, and a credit union.

Holdsworth Klimowski Construction

101 Victor Heights Pkwy, Victor, NY 14564

Holdsworth Klimowski Construction (HKC) has provided design-build, construction management, and general contracting for over two decades as a Lead EPA Certified Renovation Firm. It has been recognized by the BER for its work on hospitals, commercial construction projects, historic buildings, and schools. HKC is capable of shouldering pre-construction planning, bidding, estimating, and budgeting, along with carpentry tasks involving project supervision, concrete, and masonry.

Standing as President and co-founder of HKC, Ted Holdsworth’s skill in both business and construction was nurtured at a young age and has been a driving force in the expansion of the company’s expertise. Ted is in charge of operational management and financial systems. Under his supervision, HKC has gained command over healthcare facility construction. The firm has done intensive care units, operating rooms, scan rooms, emergency departments, outpatient surgical facilities, cancer centers, and patient care units.

An excellent example is the Highland Hospital for which HKC completed a two-story addition to the Imaging Science Department, and an expansion of the Maternity Department and Emergency Department. Besides this, the team renovated the Ambulatory Procedure Center, the Orthopedic Department, and the Breast Cancer Center, among many others.

Thompson Builds, Inc.

410 Sanford Road S, Churchville, NY 14428

Thompson Builds provides design-build and general contracting services for commercial, industrial, residential, and institutional clients. It specializes in new construction and renovations, from repairing damage to adding beauty and value to a facility. The company is accustomed to self-performing site work, masonry, and carpentry.

Paul Thompson is the President of Thompson Builds. Having over 30 years of experience, Paul maintains strong connections with the American Institute of Architects Rochester Chapter. Under his leadership, Thompson Builds was awarded a Civic Beautification Award by the Greater Churchville-Riga Chamber of Commerce. Paul oversees coordination between the company’s design and construction professionals to control costs and deliver consistent schedules as they did with Liberty Pumps.

Paul Thompson and Thompson Builds, Inc. has been involved in all phases of the 250,000SF of facilities at Liberty Pumps. Most recently was a 100,000 SF addition consisting of a warehouse expansion, 2 story office, and training area additions and renovations of the cafeteria and R&D lab and testing labs. Thompson Builds, Inc is in the process of starting another 100,000 + warehouse and loading dock addition for liberty Pumps for 2022.

Nichols Construction Team

75 Highpower Rd. Rochester, NY 14623

A full-service multidisciplinary general contractor and construction management firm, the Nichols Construction Team brings more than 30 years of experience in delivering pre-construction consulting, design-build, interior renovations, concrete tilt-up, and subcontracting services. It can assist clients in needs assessment, process equipment inventory, schematic site planning, and budgeting approvals. The team conducts a continuous value engineering process throughout pre-construction, design, and on-site construction to recommend new construction techniques. The company can self-perform many of the disciplines of a general construction project which allows it to control quality, cost, and schedules more efficiently.

John Nichols, the Founding Partner, has been working in the construction industry for more than 40 years. John manages all pre-construction services, evaluates the client’s needs, develops project delivery strategies, and obtains all necessary approvals. He leads the Nichols Construction Team with Clay Carpenter and Ric Carley. Clay specializes in construction cost accounting, while Ric has focused on strategic planning and operational leadership for over 35 years. The Partners supervise the Team in achieving clients’ strategic objectives and a product of their integrity and teamwork is the Commons at Harley.

A core element of the building is the frame of a 15,000-square-foot recycled Western-New York barn. The structure is known as a “living building” because it generates its own energy, heats and cools with renewable nontoxic resources, and captures and utilizes water and carbon in its greenhouse.

DGA Builders

1170 Pittsford-Victor Road Suite 100, Pittsford, NY 14534

DGA is a construction management and general contracting firm offering general contracting, construction management, design-build, and pre-construction consulting services. Full-service Agency Construction Management or Clerk of the Works services are made available for clients based on their needs and budget. With over forty years in business, DGA Builders has developed in-depth specialties in medical, commercial, multi-unit, institutional, and industrial construction. It has completed thousands of new construction, expansion, and renovation projects as a LEED and BER accredited business.

Gregory P. Craig is the President of DGA and has been managing healthcare projects for 25 years. He has led the company in advancing its prowess in healthcare construction with a focus on high-intensity phased occupied renovation, major building additions, and facilities infrastructure modernization. Moreover, DGA has done departmental phased re-organizations, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Operating Theater construction, and all phases of imaging and radiation suite construction.

One of the firm’s most challenging projects was the Rochester General Hospital Emergency Department and Rochester Heart Institute. The expansion was a multi-phased project consisting of a new three-story addition of the adult and pediatric emergency departments, ICU, and relocation of cardiac catheterization labs. The follow-up renovation phase included extensive support space for these departments.