(Photo above: (L-R) Vice President Mike Taylor, president Jeff Deswert and Tyler Nagelhout | Photo by Cascade Business News)
Leading Central Oregon Construction Company’s Wide Influence Evident
Look around Central Oregon and you’ll see the influence Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company (KNCC) has had on the evolution of the region’s commercial construction landscape as the firm celebrates its 30th year in business.
Whether you work, eat, shop, study, travel, worship or recreate in the High Desert, chances are you will have come into contact with a facility featuring Kirby Nagelhout craftsmanship. Today the company continues building on that legacy and is expanding its influence state-wide and beyond as it moves into the next decades.
Employing over 100 people, the company’s total volume has exceeded one billion dollars since its inception in 1986.
A brief history of flagship projects undertaken by KNCC in Central Oregon covers the whole commercial spectrum, including long-term client Mt. Bachelor’s iconic Pine Marten Lodge, the Redmond Air Terminal, many of the buildings for Central Oregon Community College, Sisters, Summit and Crook County High Schools, U.S. Forest Service Headquarters, Juniper Swim and Fitness, Unitarian Universalist New Home and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Center.
Local landmarks such as Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, Deschutes Brewery, the Bend Bulletin headquarters, Franklin Crossing, Deschutes County Library Bend and Redmond Branchs, the Riverhouse Hotel Convention Center and Bend Research’s expanding campus bear KNCC’s inimitable stamp.
More recent history has also seen the company broaden its footprint and undertake additional projects throughout the state — including the Lime Wind Energy facility in Baker County and the current $35 million Pendleton School District wide bond measure that includes Washington and Sherwood Heights Elementary schools. Upcoming work also includes a new $20 million Yellowhawk Medical Clinic for the Umatilla Tribe and Seismic upgrades to a high school in Milton Free-Water.
Expansion efforts have been aided by the opening of regional offices in Eastern Oregon and in Portland to serve a broader region more effectively. Last year former Deschutes County Sheriff Larry Blanton was brought on in the new key role as business development director. These new efforts are part of their more aggressive approach to reaching out to serve their clients better.
From relatively modest beginnings, led by renowned construction icon Kirby Nagelhout until his passing in 2011, KNCC has steadily grown into the Central Oregon area’s largest commercial general contracting enterprise, completing thousands of projects — from the largest and most complex in the region to the relatively small — as well as promoting a culture of giving back to the community.
Current company president Jeff Deswert said that as demand for construction services locally has increased, and the need for correspondingly greater technical ability and managerial sophistication has emerged, the company has continually acquired the skills, resources and talented personnel necessary to meet those needs and stay ahead of market demands.
Deswert added: “KNCC has developed a reputation for reliability, integrity and quality that we consider to be our greatest asset. For almost 30 years, we’ve been building our reputation within our community one job at a time. Our continuing goal is to provide state of the art construction services for a full range of projects: to become the contractor of choice.
“We take a great deal of pride in our reputation. Our company is built on the belief that character determines results and that our continued success is ensured by honoring our commitments to integrity, quality, and service to our clients.
“This belief is at our foundation, and is central to all we do. It focuses our energies, guides our decisions and leads us to seek the innovation and teamwork necessary to provide our clients with construction services that we believe are second to none. To quote Kirby; ‘the best thing we ever built was a relationship’.”
Vice President Mike Taylor said the company was also proud to have continued to improve our capabilities through the last economic downturn, adding: “We needed to be lean and streamlined and still provide the exceptional service that will get the next job. We were fortunate in the lean years to have had the previous experience as a prolific public projects contractor enabling us to procure work outside of Central Oregon — so through the rebound the attitude was cultivated that we don’t want to limit ourselves to just Central Oregon.”
“Now with established offices in Pendleton and Beaverton we have become known as a statewide contractor with a fully-rounded organization and team with diverse skill sets.
“Most projects in today’s market are utilizing the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) delivery method where we work in tandem with the project team as the design develops bringing the many advantages we offer to the table. It enables us to provide the best value to our customers.
Deswert said a feature of the last 30 years had been the diversity of projects regionally and throughout the state, and the longevity and loyalty of the workforce —
with around a fifth of employees having been with the firm over 20 years.
The company has garnered a number of green building accolades including multiple Earth Advantage and LEED Platinum ratings and construction of several net zero projects. “We work hard to be on the cutting edge of sustainability and the refinement of making the built environment as efficient as possible.”
Deswert noted: “We aim to maintain and expand on the legacy we have built. People may think of us as a relatively small contractor but we typically rank amongst the largest 20 contractors in the state.”
“We are always looking to pursue whatever opportunities for growth that exist. In-migration numbers (statewide) are on the up so there are projects growing communities need such as new schools, places of employment and medical facilities.”
“Bringing in someone as dynamic as Larry Blanton also illustrates our commitment to the future and widening our future scope of work.”
“We have continued to expand our areas of expertise, for example in our work with long-time client Bend Research, now a division of Capsugel, which has featured some very specialized skills working for a major pharmaceutical industry operator. We are extremely determined and always looking to take on the next challenge.”
Blanton added: “In this business you don’t survive unless you are able and willing to adapt and change over time and give professionalism and integrity while doing so. Having been here 30 years, the company continues to evolve with integrity and commitment to excellence.
“We have built over 80 K-12 educational facilities in our history and have a unique talent when building schools. We take seriously our mission of maximizing budget value, especially when entrusted with the spending of taxpayer dollars that are designated for something as valuable as education.”
“We work for a number of global companies such as Capsugel, Nosler Inc. and Daimler, North America’s largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer. They don’t just work with anyone and those relationships are a testament to our track record and expertise.”
“We have to be able to adapt to change and evolving the expectations of our industry in the next 30 years. We hope our communities will continue to see us as a growing force in the construction business.”
The company and its employees are noted for dedication to community service, including supporting many non-profit organizations such as Grandma’s House, KIDS Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Oregon, Deschutes Children’s Foundation, the COCC Foundation, among many other local charities.
541-389-7119, www.kirbynagelhout.com
