Santa Monica—one of Southern California’s most desirable locations—combines the elegance of an international coastal metropolis with the laid-back feel of a California beach town. Its natural beauty, award-winning cuisine, unparalleled hotel selection, and fantastic retail options are all centered on one famous length of coastline, resulting in a truly unique seaside destination. Santa Monica is home to several prominent companies catering to the demands of locals and visitors.
If you are looking to build a home or open a business in Santa Monica, the list below includes some of the best construction companies working in the area. These firms were selected for their industry experience, backgrounds, and affiliations.
W.E. O’Neil Construction
909 N Pacific Coast Highway #400, El Segundo, CA 90245
W.E. O’Neil Construction was founded in 1925 and has since grown to become an award-winning and nationally recognized industry leader. Its foundation is its people and its commitment to excellence, integrity, and responsiveness to the needs of its clients. The firm’s knowledge spans almost every commercial market sector and project delivery method, including design-build, design-assist, construction management at risk, and lump sum bid.
The O’Neil name has become equated with quality professional construction services, owing to four generations of family leadership and almost 100 years of experience. Its exceptional work was featured by multiple publications in 2021 alone, including Business Wire, Long Beach Business Journal, The Porterville Recorder, and The Business Journal.
Brian Ramsay currently leads the firm as its CEO. He has diverse management experience in the construction field, including being a Project Engineer, Project Manager, Estimator, and Project Executive. Mr. Ramsay oversaw the successful launch of a new subsidiary office in Denver in 1999 and was then promoted to President of the California office in 2003 before rising through the ranks as CEO in 2014.
MATT Construction
9814 Norwalk Boulevard, Suite 100, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Established in 1991, Matt Construction is a family and employee-owned general contracting firm that has built some of the most iconic landmarks in the western states. It provides studios and estate homes as well as adaptive reuse, life sciences, historical renovations, seismic upgrade, performing arts, multifamily and mixed-use, hospitality and retail, and sports and athletics facilities. Its success is attributed to its partnership with clients and architects, excellent craftsmanship, and unparalleled customer service.
Steve Matt is the co-founder of Matt Construction, along with Paul and Al Matt. Steve has helped formulate the company’s vision and growth. He manages all areas of estimating, procurement, scheduling, and construction on a wide range of products. Steve earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and is a member of various professional organizations.
Pankow Builders
199 S Los Robles Avenue, Suite 300, Pasadena, CA 91101
Pankow Builders has served clients since 1963 by providing innovative problem-solving, technical experience, and building innovation. The firm is a frontrunner in design-build and integrated project delivery, offering design-build, design-assist, general contracting, and tenant improvement services. The firm also serves complex projects in occupied facilities.
Representing the largest project in its 50-year history, Pankow Builders completed construction of the $275 million five-star luxury Montage Hotel Beverly Hills. Under the supervision of Scott Anderson as CEO and Dave Eichten as president, it uses new construction tools, processes, and technologies. That tech includes Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), BIM planning and execution, virtual design and construction, LEAN delivery, and alternative energy solutions. The firm’s work has been featured in The Business Journals, Construction Drive, and ENR.
Alonzo Construction Inc.
11556 Barman Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230
Alonzo Construction was launched in 1985 by Ernesto Alonzo. It specializes in custom residential and commercial construction and has provided those kinds of projects all over Southern California. In addition to general contracting, the firm also provides preconstruction, construction management, and design-build services.
Alonzo Construction works closely with talented, well-known architects, designers, and decorators, bringing their vision to life with high-quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Its projects feature a variety of architectural styles, from traditional to contemporary. The studio also performs residential preservation work, matching every original architectural detail and reinforcing existing structures to meet today’s building codes. Many of Alonzo Construction’s projects have been prominently featured in several magazines and books, including The Food Issue, Kitchen & Baths, Los Angeles Times Magazine, and US Architecture.
SweisKloss
1424 4th Street, Suite 501, Santa Monica, CA 90401
SweisKloss organically integrates divergent elements into the built environment to create spaces that nurture body and soul. It is a full-service boutique firm in Santa Monica, California, specializing in building design, interior design, and construction.
Whether it is a custom home, a renovation, or a commercial office design, SwisKloss’ goal is to transform every space into a place of belonging. Under the co-ownership of Jeff Kloss and Abeer Sweis, this committed, dynamic team is fueled by the spirit of collaboration and the dreams of its clients. Since the studio believes every project, site, and person is unique and deserving of the firm’s utmost attention, each step of the design-construct process is thoughtfully examined and artfully executed to celebrate the individuality of its clients. This holistic approach—in which the company’s team works synergistically from conception through completion—allows every project to achieve its true potential.
Shawn Nelson Builders
124 Center Street, 1st Floor, El Segundo, CA 90245
A home is where you make memories, and Shawn Nelson Builders believes the building process should be a part of those memories. The firm’s mission is to build a home that is elegant in its execution and endures the test of time. The firm prioritizes the client’s involvement in the experience, ensuring they are always informed and assured of value without sacrificing quality.
Shawn Nelson Builders has built and remodeled homes in Los Angeles since 2003. It has developed high-end custom homes for two decades and still runs under the ownership of Shawn Nelson. He holds a degree in construction management from California State University and has been in the business for 28 years.
Shawn Nelson Builders was the 2022 Gold List Honoree in the Home Builder category as named by Luxe Interiors + Design. Some of its work has also been featured by Architectural Digest, Tuscan Style, Los Angeles Magazine, and Montecito Journal.
SPAZIO LA
10620 W Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Spazio LA was founded in 2005 and provides management, construction, and design services. It focuses on providing excellent craftsmanship and attends to every detail. Its architects, interior designers, builders, and project managers work together to exceed clients’ expectations. It assists in every stage of a project, from the architectural and planning stages to the custom-made finishes and the decor. Its team is experienced in new construction, room additions, and exterior remodeling.
Spazio LA is an award-winning design and build company based in Los Angeles. Its main principal, Essi Safdie, is a multi-awarded designer whose background includes sculpting, painting, and designing high-fashion jewelry lines. His previous experience has showcased his enormous talent for exterior and interior design.
With over 12 years of experience in the industry, the company’s work has been recognized by various groups. The firm was picked as one of the Best General Contractor Companies in Glendale by the GC Magazine in 2021.
Progressive Builders, Inc
7445 Topanga Canyon Boulevard #220, Canoga Park, CA 91303
Progressive Builders is a Los Angeles-based firm that has worked in the home building and renovation field for the past decade. The firm’s mission is to satisfy all its clients with its kitchen and bathroom remodeling, room additions, conversions, roofing, solar energy installation, general remodeling, and ADU construction. Many of the firm’s customers now come from recommendations and referrals; the firm points to that fact as evidence that it is fulfilling its mission.
Progressive Builders runs under the leadership of Lilach Platkevitz as CEO. Under her watch, the company uses only up-to-date equipment. The firm’s high-quality products, taken straight from the manufacturers, allow the team to decrease its prices without compromising quality.
Gleicher Associates
415 S Topanga Canyon Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Topanga, CA 90290
Since 1983, Gleicher Associates has been engaged in building exceptional homes. It specializes in pre-construction services, design-build and design-assist deliveries, general construction services, seismic upgrades, renovations, LEED certification, entitlement, and development management. Bert Gleiche is the studio’s owner, and under his watch, Gleicher Associates proudly holds affiliations with the U.S. Green Building Council and the LEED Environmental Protection Agency.
One of the firm’s defining qualities is that it encourages cooperation and collaboration among its team players. On client-owned projects, the firm aims to get the architects and designers, the contractor, and the owners on the same construction team to work together to build the project as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
