Where Great Company Breaks New Ground

Three and a half decades ago, three builders set out to do something different in an industry known for tradition. Doug Woods, Peter Nosler and Ron Davidowski (the D, P, and R) didn’t want to just build things, they wanted to build a company that would push boundaries—by putting people at the center of its business.

Fast forward to today, DPR Construction is doing just that. It now ranks among the top 10 U.S. contractors and is one of the world’s largest self-performing GCs. But the story of DPR at 35 is not about size and scale. It’s about its long-term mission to become a most admired company: one that delivers great results, is indispensable to its’ communities, and innovates to advance industry standards.

Through its core market focus, DPR has developed strong relationships with game-changing customers while growing expertise in some of the most technically complex built environments.

“Our customers are leading-edge; they advance new technologies, discover and create new medicines, heal the sick, educate, and more” said George Pfeffer, who serves as DPR’s CEO and is a Leadership Team member. “The work we do together will serve future generations, and we’re fortunate to do it with talented teammates who are passionate about building and making a difference.”

That difference is also evident in DPR’s ability to challenge industry norms, the examples of which vary; from progressing construction techniques through collaborative delivery, VDC and prefabrication, to its 70+ patents, many of which support field crews. It’s become routine for DPR to break new ground in service of more predictable outcomes for customers and safer, more efficient jobsites for teams.

But innovation at DPR goes beyond technology and processes, it’s also about people. With a workforce of more than 12,000, including nearly 6,000 self-perform craftworkers, DPR is building more than projects, it’s building belonging.

“We know that our teams do their best work when they feel like they can be themselves and are respected both for who they are and for their contributions,” said Pfeffer. “We’re working every day to ensure all employees feel safe, supported and valued.”

DPR is committed to creating a workplace where all employees can grow, develop, and build a great career. The effort is extensive, including providing comprehensive benefits, investing in mental health programs, upgrading jobsite conditions, and creating more pathways for employee ownership.

“This is about building DPR for the long term,” said Mark Whitson, who serves as President of DPR and is a Leadership Team member. “We’re on a mission to become a most admired company by the year 2030, and part of that is continuing to push boundaries and the industry forward as our founders intended. We know that the best way to ensure our success is by keeping people and our culture at the core of all we do.”