Home to important U.S. government buildings, Washington, D.C. is the official capital of the United States. In the middle of this federal district lies the White House, U.S. Capitol, and the Supreme Court Building. Offices and headquarters of many professional associations, notable institutions, and private businesses can also be found here and in nearby cities. Because of that, there is a high demand for skilled and professional commercial contractors in this area to make the buildings stand out and keep the affairs and businesses here running smoothly.
These commercial contractors help any establishment at every step of the process, from pre-planning, budgeting, and acquiring materials to construction, design, and securing permits. Featured in this article is a list of the best commercial contractors in Washington, D.C. All of them have been in the industry for many decades and have proven an excellent track record in providing award-winning services.
Vantage Construction Corporation
20130 Lakeview Center Plaza Suite 420, Ashburn, VA 20147
Teamwork: that is Vantage Construction Corporation’s main approach for delivering superior quality commercial construction projects. This approach means working closely with all the key players—the clients, design team, and subcontractors—to guarantee these results. Coupled with its expertise and the latest technology, cost and time efficiency is achieved from project conception to completion.
From tenant fit-out projects to complex commercial buildings, this company has been serving the Washington, D.C. construction market and its nearby states for the past 16 years. The company specializes in low-rise offices, build-to-suit institutional centers, distribution centers, retail, repositioning, tenant interiors, and specialty construction. One of its notable projects is the Rockwell Collins building in Sterling, Virginia. The work with this aerospace and defense company won the 2011 NAIOP Northern Virginia Award of Merit to recognize its significant contribution to the built environment. Aside from this, Vantage also takes pride as a Corporate Citizen by providing charitable support, leadership, and volunteering to various organizations such as Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing and The Builders Foundation.
McCullough Construction
5513 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Suite 200, Washington, DC 20015
Operating for the last 20 years, McCullough Construction in Washington, D.C. has gained its reputation as an excellent general contracting firm that delivers on-time and within-budget projects while exceeding client’s expectations. It specializes in commercial construction and renovations, historic restorations, and multi-family residential buildings. Ranging from pre-constructing and estimating to general contracting and construction management, McCullough extends its services up to Maryland and Virginia.
With an engineering background and a 21-year experience in the industry as an engineer, Tom McCullough, the Founder and President of this company, makes sure of his hands-on involvement to ensure superior quality in every project the company handles. One of the excellent historic renovations it has done in DC is the conversion of the historic Acme Stove Building into the LivingSocial office, which earned the firm the District of Columbia Awards the Excellence in Historic Preservation in 2017. The building has undergone a full façade restoration while preserving the ancient look of the building.
Potomac Construction
9320 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814
Dedicated to providing top-quality construction and guidance for their clients for over 15 years now, Potomac Construction has become one of the leading general contracting firms in Washington, D.C. Over the years, property owners, architects, investors, and other stakeholders have trusted Potomac’s services from site selection and pre-planning until turnover. This led to a large portfolio that the company now holds containing unique commercial projects such as restaurants, hotels, retails and groceries, gyms, healthcare spaces, banks, and high-value interior renovations.
All the success of Potomac lies in the value of collaboration. The entire collaborative process includes working closely with the clients and other stakeholders and yields the most satisfying experience for everyone. One of the best experiences the clients often get with Potomac is the quick turnaround and cost-effectiveness of their project. A recent example of this is the kitchen makeover of The Inn at Little Washington, finished in only eight days. The presence of the close-out team is another attractive feature of their services. This team acts as a point of contact for any concerns so that the clients are included in the entire process until the very end.
Smoot Construction Company
5335 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. Suite 940, Washington, DC 20015
With almost a hundred successful projects in Washington, DC, and Maryland, Virginia, Smoot Construction Company has been providing construction services under its five guiding principles: character, integrity, pride, performance, and humility for 50+ years. Over these years, Smoot has built a legacy and reputation of excellence and high standards through the latest technologies, dedicated team of leaders, experts, and partners.
Specializing in general contracting and construction management, their projects range from different commercial spaces such as offices, retail, hospitality, school buildings, libraries, as well as residential—all with superior quality that exceeds client expectations. An example of a notable project from Smoot is the 400,000-square-foot NMAAHC (National Museum for African American History and Culture) in DC, which has gathered 19 awards from the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks and different publications and organizations. Accredited by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP), Smoot Construction Company adheres to sustainability from design to construction and operations.
Buch Construction
11292 Buch Way, Laurel, MD 20723
As one of the district’s leading general contractors, Buch Construction specializes in corporate office, life sciences, retail, education, and many other commercial spaces. From base buildings to repositioning and interiors, Buch takes pride in the excellent work and care provided in each project. Even the most logistically complex projects are seamlessly managed with minimal disruption through their unique technical solutions, adhering to their stringent standards so that the clients can focus on their own business.
Founded in 1985 by Marie Buch, this family-owned general contracting company is WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council)-certified. Buch upholds the value of family, which makes the backbone of the business. All the team members, partners, and even clients are considered an extension of the Buch family. This kind of relationship they foster with each stakeholder reflects the care and integrity they bring to every project they manage. In 2018, Buch Construction won the Washington Contractor Awards.
WCS Construction, LLC
1100 New Jersey Ave. SE Suite 700, Washington, DC 20003
Regarded as the fifth most active contractor in Washington, DC, WCS Construction is committed to bringing forth its award-winning services to a wide range of commercial construction projects. Its commitment and integrity resulted in over 100 successful projects in the district, including office buildings, podiums, and high-rise residential, elderly shelter, multi-family communities, retail, and historic renovations, among many others. Being in the business for 19 years, WCS is a Certified Business Enterprise in DC and has proven to be a reputable firm in the industry, resulting in an extensive network of partners, including local subcontractors.
WCS works with its clients and consultants every step of the process, from planning, budgeting, value engineering to closeout. This approach makes sure that the project is achieved on time and beyond par the customer expectations. Its outstanding record lies in experience-based management practices and strategic planning that avoids unanticipated pitfalls, leaving its clients satisfied for a long-term relationship. Through these strategies and hard work, WCS earned multiple awards since 2010, with the ABC Metro of Washington Award of Excellence being the most recent.
Rand* Construction
1029 North Royal St., Alexandria, VA 22314
Linda Rabbitt founded rand* construction in 1989 and was one of only a few women in the industry at that time. What started as a small firm in Arlington with seven employees has now grown into a premier general contractor headquartered in the Washington DC metro region with offices in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, and Denver. rand*’s team of over 250 professional project managers, superintendents, and preconstruction professionals have come to rand* from a wide range of technical disciplines bringing years of combined experience to every project. rand* is also proud to be a certified Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
For over 30 years, rand* construction has committed to providing client-oriented, design-sensitive services and has consistently delivered projects that achieve each of their clients’ goals. rand*’s work has been recognized by regional industry organizations such as WBC, NAIOP, and ABC, with over 200 craftsmanship awards. It has also been consistently voted one of the ‘Best Places to Work’ by the Washington Business Journal and Washington Magazine for over a decade. A recent example of their work includes the new headquarters for Neustar, a leading data analytics company located in Reston, VA. This 90,000 SF project was a complete renovation of a first-generation space spanning three floors, a rooftop penthouse, and an upgrade to the connecting terrace. The company’s vast work experience has enabled it to develop strong business relationships with partners and subcontractors across the nation and trust from clients to consistently deliver high-quality work across the country.
L.F. Jennings, Inc.
407 N. Washington St. #200, Falls Church, VA 22046
One of the oldest in the general contracting industry, L.F. Jennings has been serving commercial development owners in the Mid-Atlantic Region since 1952. Its founder Lawrence Floyd Jennings was later joined by his son in 1965, which helped this Virginia-based company mature into a trusted general contractor in the DC area. These long years in the industry allowed them to grace their portfolio with successful projects. To date, over 1,500 projects have been completed, including office parks, mixed-use projects, multifamily residences, retail stores, reuse buildings, healthcare facilities, and corporate interiors. This span of experience shows their dedication and flexibility to adapt to the evolving marketplace.
Some of J.F. Lennings’ top projects in DC include Fort Totten Self-Storage, a self-storage facility designed to blend in the residential community, and Target Ivy City, a retail development. The breadth of their expertise and length of experience can work on any demands of the clients. With the firm’s mission to deliver work with the most superior quality at competitive prices, many clients are left satisfied and hire L.F. Jennings in other future projects. The firm has earned the 2021 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) award and the NAIOP DC awards in 2018 and 2019.
Martone Construction
5165 Macarthur Blvd. NW, Washington, DC 20016
For over 20 years, Martone Construction has quickly made its way to one of the top general contracting firms in the mid-Atlantic region. In DC, it has helped shape the district’s commercial landscape by building spaces for numerous corporations, non-profits, institutions, and medical companies. Dozens of those beautiful office buildings you can spot in downtown DC are the products of Martone’s years of dedication and quality performance. As a result, also, the company has strengthened its roots in the community and relationships in the industry.
Much of Martone’s projects in the DC metropolitan area are on interior renovations for corporations. Many of them have benefited from this service by having their amenities, including workspaces, lounges, and terraces, transformed into conducive, healthy, and beautiful spaces. As proof, some of these projects have received an Award of Merit for Best Interiors from NAIOP DC|MD Chapter. In 2014, Medstar Health Georgetown Pediatrics & OBGYN Suite won the Medical/Healthcare Tenant Space Over 10,000 SF Award of Excellence category.
What sets Martone apart from other competitors is its strong commitment to satisfy clients. From pre-construction planning and estimating to closeout, Martone guides bd the project team closely to deliver high-quality work on time at fair, competitive prices.
Plaza Construction
1250 I St. NW Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005
Plaza Construction is one of the foremost general contracting and construction management firms in the country. Established in 1986, the firm has gained its versatility and national presence throughout the years. Aside from its headquarters in New York, it is also present in 6 other states, including Washington, DC. This trifecta company works as an owner, developer, and builder.
Seen in its core portfolio are award-winning projects across various industries—commercial, hospitality, corporate, and residential. As proof, the One Thousand Museum project in Miami earned the Award of Excellence by CTBUH in 2020. This high-rise residential building project has also earned 6 other awards in different categories in 2019. In DC, one of its notable works is Station Place, a mixed-use commercial building that features state-of-the-art technology and abundant tenant amenities to provide productive workspaces.
Aside from its mission to create value for clients and their communities through excellence and integrity, Plaza is also committed to sustainability, safety, diversity, and philanthropic activities. The company accomplishes projects with various levels of LEED certifications in strict adherence to the EPA requirements, engages with small and socio-economically disadvantaged businesses, and supports charities such as Hope for the Warriors, Intrepid Foundation, and Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Plaza.
