Here’s a company that has been able to sustain substantial growth during the down economy, nearly doubling revenue in California over the past five years and employing more than 1,000 people to become the state’s largest transportation contractor. And even as competition for every job has increased substantially, this firm has been consistently profitable. Add to that major sustainability efforts at its offices and project sites, community involvement via its annual Giving Campaign and an educational outreach program called Build-A-Bridge.

So who is this firm? No surprise, it’s Flatiron, and ENR’s regional editors recently voted it the Contractor of the Year in California.

Nominees for Contractor of the Year were judged in a variety of categories, including revenue position in the annual Top Contractors ranking, significant projects, leadership in sustainability, corporate citizenship and employee diversity.

This year, Flatiron, which has offices in Benicia, San Marcos and Chino, rose from No. 16 in the 2010 Top Contractors ranking to No. 11. Its revenues increased 15% year to year with $487 million.

We’ll have more extensive coverage of Flatiron’s accomplishments in the Aug. 1 issue of ENR California, but in the meantime, here are some brief highlights:

 

  • Recent awards include two California Transportation Foundation awards for the Interstate 5 reconstruction in Buena Park as well as for taxiway improvements at the San Diego Airport. Flatiron also won five awards from the California Department of Transportation for partnering success on five different projects throughout California. Flatiron’s California projects have also been recognized with national awards, including the Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award for the Lenihan Dam Outlet Modifications in Los Gatos.
  • Significant projects recently begun include the Presidio Parkway phase 2 in San Francisco, the BART Oakland Airport Connector, the Calaveras Dam reconstruction in Sunol and the Exposition Light Rail Transit in Los Angeles.
  • Green efforts include site recycling and waste management programs, Green Fleet designation by the Association of Equipment Management Professionals and the hiring this year of a corporate environmental officer.
  • And Flatiron recently formed a five-year strategic partnership with Bridges to Prosperity, an effort to construct at least a dozen footbridges around the world as a means of “reducing poverty due to isolation.” And the firm’s Build-A-Bridge program introduces students to the construction industry as a career option and provides scholarships to those who are interested in studying engineering in college.