Pacatte Construction Co. Inc.

Pacatte Construction Co. Inc. (PCI) continues to thrive by remaining flexible, yet focused. Jim and Rosemarie Pacatte founded the company in 1980 as a commercial general contracting firm specializing in tilt-up concrete construction. As market forces changed the company adjusted, adding additional capabilities in design-build construction, metal building system installation and establishing relationships with a broad range of commercial enterprises. Throughout the company’s history PCI has put quality and customer service above all else, delivering an end-result that is both functional and finely crafted.

“It’s about staying quick, efficient and affordable without sacrificing customer service,” admits Jimmie Hagle, COO of PCI and the Pacatte’s son-in-law. Hagle joined PCI over 25 years ago when it was still a union-affiliated company; he worked his way up the ranks as a union carpenter before ascending to foreman and later field superintendent.

Hagle is proud to be part of PCI, and appreciates the atmosphere that the Pacatte’s have established. Though Jim Pacatte has retired, his passion for the company lives on through an established trio. Pacatte passed on ownership to his son, Doug, as well as his daughter, Danielle Pacatte-Hagle, alongside Hagle, ensuring PCI retains its close-knit, family-oriented appeal.

Adjusting, Evolving

PCI headquarters are located in Santa Rosa, Calif., giving the company the ability to work in both Sonoma and Napa counties. Naturally the commercial contracting operation has had its fair share of work in the booming wine and agricultural industries, and PCI has also completed projects for retail clients, churches, aircraft hangars, industrial warehousing, restaurants and even the local waste disposal authority.

At one point PCI worked regularly within a 100-mile radius of headquarters, but the company’s strong reputation in the local community has helped bring that focus down in recent years. Hagle estimates that PCI targeted projects within a 30-mile radius of headquarters as of 2012, with the lion’s share of work located within just five to 10 miles. “Roughly 50 percent of the buildings in our immediate area are empty, so we have focused primarily on tenant improvement projects as businesses relocate,” adds Hagle.

The team at PCI even had the honor of constructing a 282,000-square foot wine storage facility for Allied Domecq PLC. The client is a U.K.-based company specializing in the operation of spirits, wine and quick-service restaurant businesses. The facility was the largest wine storage facility in Sonoma County at the time, according to Hagle.

“When Jim first started the company he was one of the only ones in the region using concrete tilt-up construction techniques,” expands Hagle. “That was our specialty up until five years ago, when we started working with a lot of insulated precast concrete panels to meet the new requirements of Title 24.”

Title 24, otherwise known as the California Buildings Standard Code, sets requirements for the construction industry to encourage energy efficiency in construction. California published the first code in 1978 and has continued to update the requirements as technologies advance, in hopes of improving the state’s energy efficiency.

PCI still maintains the capabilities to build with tilt-up concrete panels, but the team of 15 also provides its expertise to traditional wood frame structures and prefabricated metal building systems. “We self-perform about 25 percent of every project,” estimates Hagle.

The core PCI team fluctuates between 15 and 20 employees. The team provides numerous services that include metal stud framing, drywall hanging, carpentry, cabinetry, foundation work and all interior finishes with in-house labor.

Evidence of Excellence

The company is on the smaller side, but that is just how the company prefers it. PCI has been able to make its mark on the local architecture, building three G&C Auto Body shops, which tend to look nothing like a standard auto body repair shop. “The buildings are kind of a big deal around here because they’re very elaborate,” expands Hagle. PCI had the good fortune to build the latest one in its old stomping ground of Windsor, Calif., where PCI headquarters were located for much of the company’s history.

The building itself provides 10,000 square feet of space with five auto body repair bays and two spray booths. True to G&C Auto Body standards, the building disguises its purpose with architectural details like an expansive, covered front porch, a stucco-like exterior and a terracotta-tiled roof, which give the building more of a Spanish-feel.

PCI chronicled the construction of the building through the company blog, which also serves as a platform for PCI to showcase the exceptional craftsmanship of its employees and associated companies. Several posts detail the work PCI provided to the MacPhail Family Winery in Healdsburg, Calif., in 2008, including one post explaining how the client requested a custom sliding barn door like the ones in use at the swanky Healdsburg Hotel nearby. Not only was PCI able to deliver a door that mimicked the high-end design, but also the owner requested the door be stained instead of painted to highlight the crew’s impeccable craftsmanship.

In the next few years Hagle considers PCI’s future to be a question of when, not if. “Because of the relationships we continue to uphold with the local developers, I think we’re poised to have more work than we can handle when things turn around,” opines Hagle. Until then the PCI team will continue to deliver the fine craftsmanship and attentive customer service that the Pacatte name represents, ensuring Pacatte Construction Co. Inc. stands for excellence in commercial construction for years to come.