Berkeley is a popular choice for relocating families or business owners looking to establish themselves in the market. It has a strong economy, safe and healthy communities, a clean and green environment, and a renowned university nearby. Current business owners and homeowners have entrusted this list of the best construction companies in Berkeley, California to handle their building and remodeling needs. These firms have regularly demonstrated their commitment to high-caliber work. They have remarkable backgrounds and deliver top-notch customer service to their clients.
HDR Remodeling
1889 Alcatraz Ave. Berkeley, CA 94703
HDR Remodeling has consistently proven itself as an expert in enhancing both homes and the lives of those living in the Greater East Bay Area. The firm has provided clever and effective solutions for 34 years, which are ideal for the project. Its expert staff has developed stunningly reimagined spaces by incorporating those techniques. President Fellows, who has 25 years of expertise, is in charge of the group. He holds certifications from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI – CRPM), C2 Asbestos Hazard Safety, and Lead Renovation & Repair.
HDR Remodeling has been recognized by various publications and institutions since its inception. Some of those include features from Remodeling Magazine, Piedmont Post, and US News and World Report, as well as being named as one of the Top 50 LGBT-owned businesses in the Bay Area. This Alcatraz Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is also one of the firm’s award-winning projects. It brought the firm the NARI Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award, the Chrysalis Award, and the Remmies Award.
Levitch Associates, Inc
1029 Heinz Ave. Berkeley, CA 94710
Levitch Associates, Inc., a third-generation family business, is one of the leading local architectural and construction firms in the area. It was established in 1960 and focuses on remodeling and building new homes, as well as light commercial and industrial operations. Its team has renovated over 1,000 areas under the direction of American Institute of Architects (AIA) professional Maurice Levitch, the firm’s president. Many of those projects have received honors, including the PCBC Gold Nugget Award and the Award for Design and Excellence. Publications like Qualified Remodeler and Remodeling Magazine also praised the impressively crafted spaces.
This Lighthearted Bungalow Addition is one of the firm’s notable projects in both remodeling and addition. The homeowners needed more space and functionality for their growing family, as well as a much-needed revival of the home. After exploring numerous approaches, the client and the team landed at a home addition and relocation of remodeled bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry room. The team also built a new kitchen and family room and designed them with fresh colors and patterns.
Alward Construction, Inc.
1035 Carleton St. Berkeley, CA 94710
Alward Construction, Inc. has served the San Francisco Bay area for 43 years. It offers a broad range of building and renovation services, concentrating on kitchen and bathroom, interior and exterior, basement and attic, full home, and commercial spaces. The firm adopts a client-centered strategy that has pleased and satisfied prior clients. In fact, repeat customers account for almost 50% of its ongoing projects. The firm’s efforts have received praise from numerous organizations, and it has received multiple distinctions, including the Chrysalis Best Project: Bath Remodel over $60k and Chrysalis Best Project: Addition over $250k.
This Berkley Hills entire house remodel is also one of the firm’s award-winning projects. It brought over four awards, including the NARI San Francisco Bay Area Grand Award, and NARI CotY for Region VII. An architectural couple created a distinctive local project to mark their move from San Diego to the Bay Area. They used a worn-out 1930s stucco and boxy home and had it completely redone, starting from its core.
MacLeod Design and Construction
1701 Martin Luther King Jr. Wym, Berkeley, CA 94709
Sustainable and energy-efficient spaces are the specialty of green building contractor MacLeod Design and Construction. The firm is passionate about reducing the construction industry’s carbon footprint and utilizing creative, eco-friendly building techniques. The AIA, Passive House Institute US, Energy Star, and Build-It Green have reviewed and accredited its process. The firm’s principal, Ian Macleod, leads a team that has produced numerous impressive builds. Some of those were highlighted in the Chronicle Books’ San Francisco Modern: Interiors, Architecture, and Design, as well as in Huffington Post and Bay Citizen.
The MacLeod team constructed a new two-story split-level addition to this tiny Berkley Bungalow. It features a master bedroom and a garden-level office and playroom. The second story of the extension blends in with the bungalow by using the same hip roof pitch and identical wood shakes, which will appear darker with age. The bottom floor, on the other hand, stands out as a purposely distinct addition and has sturdy fiber-cement paneling.
PROYECTO
2705 Webster St. #5755, Berkeley, CA 94705
PROYECTO’s strategy in building stunning and high-quality spaces includes careful project management. Its in-house designers, project managers, and technicians ensure that everything goes according to schedule and carefully adheres to the plan. They work closely with clients and communicate openly on a regular basis to make sure the project is completed as intended. The firm mainly works on whole homes, kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs, and room additions. Dwell, California Home Design, and Home & Garden Television (HGTV) have all praised its projects.
Prior to founding the company in 2015, President Manuel Navarro and CEO Abe Wortman collaborated on real estate development projects 20 years ago. Navarro is a journeyman carpenter and a certified general contractor. He has constructed a wide range of structures, from single-family houses that provide comfort to the Bay Area to massive structures that line the San Francisco skyline. On the other hand, Wortman has expertise as a French chef, sommelier, and real estate designer. While working in residential housing, he discovered his appreciation for remodeling and learned what was missing in the industry. This inspired him to design elegant and functional environments and give customers the assistance they require.
WA Rose Construction
1010 Calcot Pl. Ste. A, Oakland, CA 94606
WA Rose Construction is the oldest firm on this list and has proven to be an expert and skillful in various construction needs. It serves both residential and commercial industries and supports schools, non-profit institutions, and public works. The firm is a certified Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE), which highlights its commitment to the local community. The certification also confirms its wide network of reliable and skilled craftsmen its team partners with to create high-quality builds.
This aging bungalow house in Berkeley needed a comprehensive remodel to be put on the market. The home has not gone through much home improvements over the years, which resulted in outdated appliances, flooring, and countertops. It also does not meet the current building codes and is already experiencing extensive dry rot. The WA Rose team completely gutted the house down to the studs, corrected any dry rot damage, and reframed the windows and walls. It also upgraded the seismic system and replaced about 85% of the foundation. The house is now an energy-efficient and bright modern home. Aside from its new charming elements, the 220-square-feet addition increased the home’s appeal and was swiftly bought off the market.
Jetton Construction, Inc.
1117-A Virginia St. Berkeley, CA 94702
With 500 structures built across the Bay Area, Jetton Construction, Inc has proven to be a driving force in Northern California’s construction industry. Since its inception in 1980 by Bill Jetton, it has continuously improved industry standards. Its exceptional team provides clients with a creative and enjoyable building experience. The firm’s streamlined process is incorporated with sustainable building practices that help the environment and the homeowners as well.
Several of Jetton’s residential structures were featured in Gentry Home Magazine and ELLE Decor, while its commercial structures were highlighted in The New York Times. The transformation of this outdated warehouse and corporate building is one of the firm’s notable works. About 10,000 square feet of space was turned into the global wine merchant’s new office space. The unconditioned 15,000-square-foot warehouse nearby was also improved to become a refrigerated storage facility for their imported wines. Several equipment and rooms within the property were also enhanced to ensure its longevity.
Oliver and Company
1300 South 51st St. Richmond, CA 94804
Oliver and Company is a full-service construction company serving Northern California. The firm has completed more than 2,000 structures and has forged countless meaningful relationships with both clients and industry members. It has a team—consisting of 75 carpenters and experienced field staff, as well as 25 in-house project managers—who all work together to solve problems and achieve project goals. Since 1946, the firm has produced award-winning structures. Some of the most recent ones include the Award of Excellence from the Mayor’s Award of Excellence California, the Award for Historic Rehabilitation and Restoration from the Palo Alto Stanford Heritage Commercial Rehabilitation Awards, and the Outstanding Restaurant Award from the James Beard Foundation.
The firm is managed by CEO Josh Oliver. He has 30 years of experience in the industry, which helps him guide the team. Their expertise lies in the construction, management, and development of various sectors. Its portfolio includes a broad range of structures, from modest industrial properties to complex high-tech buildings for the commercial, interior, industrial, educational, residential, affordable housing, and non-profit markets.
D&H Construction, Inc.
2107 Kearney St. El Cerrito, CA 94530
Since 1981, D&H Construction has provided clients from the Bay Area with exceptional commercial construction services centered around workmanship and integrity. The firm’s guiding principle is based on the belief that in building a community, one must build for a community. Along with this is the D&H team’s dedication to serving clients by closely working with them and constructing their projects with exceptional craftsmanship. The San Francisco Business Times and The Mercury News have commended the firm’s expertise. The National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) also recognized D&H Construction and awarded it the Vanguard Award for Major Rehabilitation of an Existing Rental Housing Community.
Among the firm’s impressive portfolio is the tenant improvement and re-use of this retail space. The team built a new storefront for Hi Fidelity that is entirely separate from the existing building. They also constructed several accessible public restrooms and a roof. The tenant improvement includes new interior finishes, a high-end security system and doors, and upgraded mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems.
BBI Construction
1155 Third St. Ste. 230, Oakland, CA 94607
General Contracting firm BBI Construction has served the Greater San Francisco Bay Area for five decades. It was founded by Thomas McCoy and Morris Wright, who each have 45 years of experience in the industry. McCoy and Wright, along with president and co-principal Will Rogan, manage the firm. Backed by their knowledge and expertise, they guide the diverse BBI team in working with various impressive and complex projects. The firm has a reputation for completing projects within the timeline and budget. Its commitment to craftsmanship has been praised by the East Bay Times multiple times, as well as the East Bay Express, Arch News Now, Archello, and SFGate.
Charles Whittlesey created the first Santa Fe rail depot in 1904, modeling it after a California mission. Until the 1950s, the terminal was a stopping place for people traveling through Oakland. The BBI team transformed this historic building into a K-8 Montessori School. Two new classroom buildings totaling 15,000 square feet were built as part of the project, along with a new library, cafeteria, after-school program, and administrative offices. The firm was also instructed to apply green building practices, such as recycling demolished materials, using sustainable finishes, and installing solar photovoltaic panels.
West Builders
120 Railroad Ave. Point Richmond, CA 94801
West Builders has a long-standing reputation as one of the best commercial contractors in Northern and Southern California. It was founded two decades ago to serve the corporate, manufacturing, residential, retail, civic, health care, and entertainment sectors. The firm’s approach is flexible and client-driven, focusing on their needs and demands. Well-known companies have trusted West Builders in the past, including Warner Bros, CBS Studios, and CA Ventures.
The firm’s expertise lies in design-build delivery, pre-construction, construction, seismic upgrades, renovation and retrofit, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, entitlement and permits support, and development management. The Enclave in Berkeley is one of the firm’s outstanding projects in full design-build delivery. It is an 89,000-square-foot mixed-use structure housing 55 large dormitory units and five commercial spaces. Its unique rock facade was recognized by the Engineering News-Record (ENR) California and recently awarded it Northern California’s Best Project in the Best Office/Retail/Mixed-Use category. It was also Berkeley Design Advocates’ (BDA) Design awardee in 2020.
