H.G. Reynolds Company Inc.

H.G. Reynolds Company Inc. (HGR) is a leading contractor in the Southeast, specializing in both general contracting and construction management at risk services for commercial, religious and academic institutions.

Harry Graham Reynolds founded HGR in 1948 as a general contractor in Greenwood, S.C., with his early projects consisting of schools, gymnasiums and hospitals. When Harry retired in 1986 he passed HGR along to his two sons, Leland and Jeffrey. The brothers have expanded the business significantly since taking joint ownership and HGR now operates out of two locations, in Aiken, S.C., and Henderson, N.C.

The HGR team works in cooperation with clients from start to finish on projects, offering experienced assistance from preconstruction engineering and planning through commissioning. Over the last 64 years, HGR has established relationships with a network of subcontractors boasting expertise in several trades and specialties. During construction, these subcontractors come into play as valuable team members working collectively to meet schedules and exceed expectations of quality.

“We try to utilize the same subcontractors as much as possible,” says Jeffrey, president of HGR. These contractors and tradesmen have proven themselves over the year to not only HGR, but also to the family company’s clients. “We know they’ll come through for us on time,” Jeffrey elaborates. The group of subcontractors is expanding, but HGR is selective. “We bond larger subcontractors to make sure they’re financially stable,” Jeffrey says. “It’s an important part of maintaining repeat business.”

Project Portfolio

HGR is currently working on a two-phase project at Hampton County North District Middle School. “Basically we’re building a new structure behind an existing 1940s building that the students still need to use,” Jeffrey explains. “We’ll be moving the students into the new building and then tearing down the old classroom and administration building. We’re moving them in December 2012.”

Working as the general contractor on projects at schools is a pretty common occurrence for Jeffrey and his team, and he says, “This has not been a very challenging project aside from working so closely to the building that is still in operation.”

Jeffrey says HGR has done many projects that were similar to the middle school construction with a similar scope of work. “We usually self-perform concrete work, foundations and slabs,” he says. “This is a load bearing masonry job. We’re doing block walls, bar joists, decking. It’s simple construction. There’s nothing really elaborate going on.”

His team performs the concrete and masonry work in house and subcontracts out most of the major trades, including steel erection HVAC, plumbing and electrical. “If we can control the concrete and the masonry, we can get them up and out in a hurry,” Jeffrey says. “It gives the other trades a little more time to complete their work.”

The team recently finished up a project at Waccamaw High School, constructing a new auditorium and media center. The project was finished just before students returned in the fall and HGR adhered to a tight schedule in order to deliver a finished product in time for the new school year. Other recent projects include a two-story, 365,000-square foot high school for Colleton County, a Career and Technology Center for Pickens County and the construction of the new Pritchardville Elementary School.

Maintaining Momentum

Construction in the region has taken a beating throughout the recession, but HGR has been able to keep up with the competition despite a tightening market and shrinking margins. “Our revenue has gone down over the last three years,” Jeffrey explains, “But we’ve started making money again. We’re getting by.” Volume is down 50 percent for the company, and Jeffrey says the margins are smaller, too. He and the team have been aggressive, sending in more bids than ever, which he says has paid off.

HGR also has a reputation to uphold, and no matter how small the margins. “For our owners, we deliver on time and meet their expectations,” explains Jeffrey. He has been working in the family business since his summers in high school, and he and his brother have both been around the business for many years. The brothers stand by a set of both company and family values that honor deals and prioritize long-term relationships with clients. They each have two children working for HGR to whom they have passed along a tradition of honest work.

The team at HGR offers 60 years of experience, in addition to leading construction services for every phase of a project. From design to commission, Jeffrey and his team are available and knowledgeable and work well with architects, planners and subcontractors to complete a project of any size on time and to the specifications of the owner. H. G. Reynolds Company Inc. is growing steadily in the Carolinas and will continue to offer quality work on a competitive scale to clients in the Southeast.