Building Community in Southern Oregon & Beyond

S+B JAMES CONSTRUCTION: BUILDING COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN OREGON AND BEYOND

By Valerie Coulman

If you’ve been doing business or just enjoying a night out around Southern Oregon for any amount of time, chances are you’ve encountered the work of S+B James Construction.

S+B James Construction began in 1967 as an industrial mill construction firm called James Construction. It became S+B James Construction when the original founder, Jack James, sold the firm to his nephews, Sam and Bill James, in 1977. Rob Hernandez and Tom Hall purchased it in 1995 and transformed it to the commercial construction enterprise it is today. When both men recently retired, they handpicked Allen Purdy and Terry Mackey to run the business.

“It’s still a locally owned and operated company,” says Allen Purdy, President of S+B James Construction, “with many employees who have been with the company for 40 years, and who are like family.”

Here in Southern Oregon, S+B James has a well-established history of building high quality projects throughout the area. The results, says Purdy, can be seen in the repeat clients from the company’s 42-year history, including Harry & David, Providence, La Clinica, Rogue Credit Union, St. Mary’s High School and many others. One recent project involved the extensive renovations at The Village at Medford Center, giving the area an updated and upscale look.

“We are a full-service construction company that offers design-build services, general contracting, construction manager-general contractor (CM-GC) and construction management,” describes Purdy. Their build services include utilizing subcontractors, feasibility studies, green building and design, on-call facility maintenance and repair, as well as specializing in all types of construction: rough carpentry, concrete work, site improvements, erection of pre-engineered steel building construction, and more.

“Our expertise gives us a unique perspective of both the ‘big picture’ and the details that most impact the budget, constructability and schedule of a project,” reminds Purdy. ”We specialize in giving our clients as much info as we can up-front so they can make educated decisions throughout the entire process.” With four in-house architects and a collection of build-design specialists, S+B James Construction offers a unique and proactive approach to build options and project budgets right from the planning stage.

“We know business owners and managers don’t like surprises and we do our absolute best with every project to be ‘on time and on budget’,” says Purdy. Their team allows them to create a cohesive design and build plan with architect, owner, and contractor working closely together from beginning to end…and beyond, adds Purdy. “Our relationships with our clients extend far beyond that of a traditional construction company, and that partnership continues after the work is done.”

Their process also allows them to anticipate and mitigate challenges that might be specific to a particular industry. “Our team has vast knowledge in all areas of construction,” says Purdy. “With that being said, we also have staff that specializes in different construction areas. For example, we have staff specializing in hospital and operating room conditions,” explains Purdy. Their range of experience has benefitted the many industries they work with, including healthcare, commercial, government, office, retail, schools, colleges, religious, industrial, mixed-use and multi-family housing.

In each industry, S+B James Construction’s depth of knowledge also allows them to assign specific staff to each project to oversee the appropriate building and code requirements. “One of our strengths is helping clients make decisions early in the design/build or construction process, even if they aren’t ready to start the project yet,” says Purdy. A well thought-out and executed design is key to a successfully completed project, and S+B James is proud of their history of working closely with a range of industries to provide the facilities they need to serve their customers and the community.

Since its inception, S+B James Construction has built strong roots in the community. “We take great pride in leading by example,” adds Terry Mackey, S+B James Construction’s Vice President. “We get in the trenches and invest our time and resources to ensure we are building a strong community.” Through company-driven partnerships with youth sports programs and community foundations or the hours they allow individual staff to participate in community events, S+B James Construction’s strong sense of community is a foundational part of its culture.

Their practices support a global consciousness, too. “We have noticed more clients asking to incorporate earth-friendly practices into their projects,” says Purdy. One of the most recognizable green initiative with instantaneous results is solar energy. A visit to the S+B James offices demonstrates that they practice what they teach. A small solar array on the roof of the main office building has saved in excess of 100,000 pounds of greenhouse gases in less than 10 years of use, Purdy reports. With staff trained and certified in the latest green building practices, their green building initiatives support each project they design. The company actively continues to foster and grow the level of staff expertise in environmental stewardship.

S+B James’ extensive resume of successful projects in Southern Oregon have also led to client projects outside the Rogue Valley in Washington, Montana and northern California. Anticipating further growth, Allen and Terry opened an office in the Sacramento area, which has expanded to 15 employees and is quickly making a strong stand in that market place.

Wherever they build, says Mackey, their projects are about the community they create and support. “We believe in establishing environments where innovation and teamwork are encouraged.” It’s a conviction they demonstrate at both a corporate and practical level with each project they undertake.

“We support our community through our everyday operations by constructing projects that become integral parts of our cities,” sums up Purdy. “We believe in building strong communities by joining with, and supporting organizations that have a solid base, a passion for making the community better and a dedication to giving back to the communities we serve and the people who live there.”

For more information:

www.sbjames.com

8425 Agate Road
White City
541.826.5668

1450 Halyard Drive Suite #11A
West Sacramento, CA
916.290.8618