Nabholz Construction
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction, Commercial General Contracting, Construction Management |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Founder | R. D. "Bob" Nabholz |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Connecticut |
Key people | Mary Laurie (Sustainability position) |
| Products | Commercial construction and project management solutions |
Nabholz Construction functions as a commercial general contractor and construction management company, serving markets in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Connecticut.
Overview
Providing a range of specialized service teams and delivery methods, Nabholz delivers extensive construction and project management solutions across diverse building sectors.
By 2006, Nabholz had secured the position of the third-largest commercial contractor within Arkansas.
History
The company was established in 1949 by R. D. "Bob" Nabholz, initially focusing on residential construction before expanding into commercial projects. It operated as a family-run enterprise with significant involvement from Bob and his brothers Ed, Tom, and Charles. In 1951, an internal millwork facility was created, followed by formal incorporation in Arkansas in 1955.
Nabholz achieved its first $1 million contract in 1959 for the Arkansas Children's Colony. Two years later, in 1961, Charles Nabholz launched Conark Builders to specialize in pre-engineered metal structures, initially catering to medical clinics before broadening into larger commercial builds; this entity was incorporated in 1962.
During the early 1970s, the firm introduced apprenticeship programs for carpentry and bricklaying—now recognized as Nabholz University—the inaugural contractor-sponsored apprenticeships approved by the U.S. Department of Labor in Arkansas. To date, Nabholz University has graduated over 100 journeyman carpenters.
By the mid-1970s, Nabholz adopted a merit shop approach to general contracting, establishing a reputation built on ethical practices and strong client partnerships. Since 1986, it has consistently appeared on the Engineering News-Record Top 400 Building Contractors list, attaining the #100 spot in 2022.
The decade of the 1990s saw substantial expansion: surpassing $100 million in revenue by 1990; extending operations into Northwest Arkansas and Oklahoma; launching Nabholz Client Service; founding Northwest Excavation and Nabholz Industrial Services in 1993; and entering new markets including Missouri (1996), Kansas (2004), and Northeast Arkansas (2005).
Nabholz University
Established in 1973, Nabholz University was Arkansas' pioneering non-union accredited carpentry apprenticeship program and currently oversees all training initiatives for Nabholz Construction.
Green Initiative
Nabholz became a member of the U.S. Green Building Council in 2002 and achieved a ranking of #90 on ENR magazine's Top Green Contractors list in 2008. The company created a dedicated sustainability position in 2007—currently held by Mary Laurie—to lead its environmental building programs.