Oakland is a big city that stretches from the coast to rolling hills covered with redwood trees. It has a long and complicated history and culture, its own slang, delicious food, and lots of places to see and things to do. Oakland is one of the best places to live and work in the United States—it offers lovely views of the bay, parks, open spaces, great weather, and a rich cultural scene.

Our editorial team has identified ten of the best construction companies working in Oakland, California. Through their skills, experience, expertise, and impressive portfolios, these exceptional firms have consistently shown that they can help clients with a wide range of construction needs.

Skyline Construction

100 Pringle Avenue, Suite #330, Walnut Creek CA 94596

Skyline Construction has over 26 years of experience building commercial space in the East Bay. This 100% employee-owned general contractor has its roots in the Bay Area and has grown to become nationally ranked. With 9 offices in Northern California, Southern California, Washington and Illinois, the organization provides commercial interior construction services to tenants with the vision to grow its national presence. The firm has built a reputation for constructing creative and sophisticated interior spaces for some of the top companies in the world including Oracle, Delta Dental, Instacart, Twitch, and Workday among many others. Skyline is also proud to be a woman-led enterprise with CEO Jessica Carps at the helm. Under her leadership, the organization ranks annually amongst the Top Commercial Contractors in the Bay Area and in ENR’s Top 400 National Contractors. Skyline’s large portfolio includes more than just corporate office projects, they also perform highly specialized and technical projects in life science, healthcare, hospitality, structures and commercial office.

One of the firm’s notable projects was Pandora’s Oakland Headquarters –a 291,000-square-foot campus in downtown Oakland. Skyline’s 12-year partnership with Pandora resulted in their lively, multi-floor office which evolved over the years into an inventive, custom space with voice recording studios, themed collaboration areas, and cutting-edge technology connecting employees in other offices worldwide. The space features an extensive corporate cafeteria, several coffee bars on each floor, an executive floor, two custom-made stairways, a breakthrough bridge connecting the two towers of the building, and an all-hands area designed for large gatherings and musical performances with full-height glazing and an operable glass partition.

Hathaway Dinwiddie

275 Battery Street, Suite #300, San Francisco, CA 94111

In 1996, two of California’s oldest companies, E.A. Hathaway & Co and Dinwiddie Construction, merged to form Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction. Since then, the firm has cemented its reputation as an industry leader by helping many clients, companies, and institutions with their construction needs. Its list of completed projects includes commercial offices, higher education, bio-pharmaceutical, LEED/sustainable, healthcare, technology, entertainment, finance, and particular-use facilities. Its integrated, personalized, and hands-on approach lets the firm be thoroughly involved with the project to help clients realize their vision. 

One of the firm’s notable projects is the Claremont Hotel Renovation. It is located in the East Bay and features stunning views of San Francisco and is built with undeniable charm. It includes enormous rooms and amazing attention to detail.

W.A. Rose Construction, Inc.

1010 Calcot Place, Suite A, Oakland, CA 94606

W.A. Rose Construction has been in the industry for an impressive 86 years. Since its inception in 1936, the firm has put together a unique portfolio of various projects that includes the commercial, schools, non-profits, public works, and residential sectors. The firm specializes in tenant improvement, school renovations, structural upgrades, and home remodeling. Its dedication to excellence and customer service–combined with its personalized approach–has resulted in projects consistently being delivered on time and within budget. The firm has also built lasting relationships with a network of reliable, skilled craftsmen to ensure quality and professionalism. 

Baygreens is a restaurant that serves a wide range of healthy salads. Before it could become a restaurant, the space required a small amount of demolition. The firm put in new ceiling tiles that were missing, painted the walls white with bright green trim, put in a subway tile backsplash, and built a pony wall for the counter. The new space also needed a lot of electrical upgrades to work with industrial restaurant equipment and meet Title 24 requirements.

BBI Construction

1155 Third Street, Suite #230, Oakland, CA 94607

BBI Construction is a mid-sized general contractor that has served the Greater San Francisco Bay Area since 1974. The firm focuses on new commercial construction, renovation, schools, multifamily housing, and institutional buildings. The firm’s pre-construction phase allows it to get things right the first time. The firm is thoroughly involved at the beginning of the design process to help plan the budget and communicate closely with its clients to bring their vision to life. It is backed by a diverse group passionate about delivering a smooth and seamless project. 

This featured project is a two-floor, unreinforced brick building in downtown Oakland. This complete renovation of a 100-year-old building included cleaning the exterior brick façade, replacing the existing staircase, adding new storefront glazing, upgrading the current MEP systems, and putting in high-end cabinetry and lighting.

Build Group

405 14th Street, Suite #900, Oakland, CA 94612

Build Group is a one-stop-shop for its clients. It offers services as a general contractor, a construction manager, and a design builder. Since its opening in 2007, the firm has put trust and honesty at the heart of its client relationships. As a result, the firm has a well-deserved reputation as a leader in its field. The firm has built an impressive portfolio that shows it can go above and beyond. The firm has completed every project on time and on budget, from multifamily housing and commercial office spaces to high-end retail, restaurants, hospitality, student and/or senior housing, healthcare and MOB, seismic upgrades, and retrofits.

1640 Broadway is the tallest residential tower in the City of Oakland. There are shops and restaurants on the first floor of the 34-floor building, which has 254 apartments. This unique building has parking on the second through fifth floors, amenities on the sixth floor, and homes starting on the seventh floor.

HDR Remodeling

1889 Alcatraz Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703

HDR Remodeling is a full-service design-build firm focused on residential remodeling. The firm worked on projects for clients in Berkeley, Alameda, Oakland, Piedmont, and the rest of the East Bay Area. Since its inception in 1988, the firm’s experts have been helping homeowners with design, construction, and home improvement projects. Whether a simple kitchen remodel or a full-scale home renovation, the firm has repeatedly showcased its capabilities to deliver exceptional projects on time and within budget. As a result, the firm has put together a long list of satisfied clients. 

This Oakland kitchen remodel is one of the firm’s best. It went from being dark and heavy to sleek and modern Italian. The new space features clean-lined cabinets, tiles with a rustic look, and modern hardware. Its one-of-a-kind area also has a custom walnut countertop that stops people in their tracks.

Building Lab

999 43rd Street, Oakland, CA 94608

Building Lab is an award-winning general construction company that specializes in projects in the residential industry. Since its inception in 2001, the firm has delivered well-designed homes that have consistently exceeded expectations. It is backed by a team of expert craftsmen dedicated to building with precision and quality and committed to green building practices. Its integrated and personalized approach allows the firm to showcase its unique ability to help clients reach their goals with creative, practical, and long-term solutions. 

The existing layout in this featured project had a staircase in the middle and function areas radiating out to the corners: a kitchen with an eat-in area, a dining room, a living room, a master suite, and a garage at the top of the stairs. The firm was hired to make the whole main floor easier for the client to use and live in, and the brief included giving the kitchen and entryway better views of the city.

FMS Projects, Inc.

4200 Broadway, Suite A, Oakland, CA, 94611

FMS Projects has been in the industry for over 35 years. Since then, the firm has done everything from the central kitchen, and bathroom remodels to additions, basement conversions, and building new homes. The firm’s comprehensive services include earthquake and seismic retrofitting, structural improvements, foundation replacements, and parapet bracing. Since its inception in 1987, the firm has remained committed to building long-lasting relationships with its clients and consistently exceeding expectations. It takes a collaborative approach, making sure that everyone is thoroughly involved in the project. Doing so ensures that information flows smoothly and goals and priorities are clear, resulting in a seamless delivery and successful outcomes. 

This stunning kitchen combines a unique mix of contemporary and modern design elements that create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Wooden details can be found around the space–cabinets, flooring, and ceiling accents generate a rustic charm. The large windows bring in plenty of natural light and breeze.

Conscious Construction

1133 Ohio Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804

Conscious Construction was founded in 2006 as a general contractor that aims to make a positive change in an industry. Since then, the firm has worked with many clients, architects, and other design professionals to build projects that aim to improve the community and its clients’ lives. The firm’s impressive portfolio features many projects of the highest quality that provide a robust return on their investment. The firm is backed by a team of long-term employees and excellent subcontractors passionate about consistently guaranteeing satisfaction and exceeding expectations. The firm is committed to the green building movement, continuously building a solid reputation as a socially responsible builder. 

This featured house was stripped down to its bare bones. The duplex’s awkward floor plan was changed to make a large central living room with a fireplace that faces the entire room. In the kitchen, full custom cabinets with countertops hold Miele appliances without any problems, and the enlarged pass-through to the dining area connects the two rooms well.

Lorick and Martinez Design Build, Inc.

5052 Woodminster Lane, Oakland, CA 94602

Lorick and Martinez Design Build, Inc.–originally Lorick Design and Construction–was founded by Gigi Lorick in 1993. She wanted to build well-designed buildings that could stand the test of time. Since then, the firm’s impressive portfolio has become a testament to its commitment to delivering exceptional projects that meet each client’s demands. The firm has a great eye for detail and comes up with creative ideas for every budget. The firm is staffed by a team of exceptional people who do good work and treat customers well. The firm has years of experience, expertise, and skills in foundation, concrete, finish, and rough carpentry, installing doors and windows, installing specialty items, tiling, drywall, painting, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. In 2019, Mike Martinez was named partner, resulting in the name change.

This modern kitchen offers a rustic twist to the space with its wooden flooring and window sidings. The large glass door brings in a lot of sunlight and fresh breezes for a bright and airy feel. The island is the space’s focal point and provides plenty of storage and workspace.