Wright Brothers – The Building Co.
Wright Brothers – The Building Company began in 1956 as a humble operation managed by two Idaho brothers. The company is incorporated with the present owners, Bob Wright, Joe Rausch, Terry Hayden and Terri Wright, and has grown to become a midsized construction management and general contracting operation. Today, Wright Brothers specializes in the construction of public buildings, retail space, green structures and multifamily housing.
Over the last 55 years, the company has evolved substantially. Once focused exclusively on projects in Idaho, the Wright Brothers portfolio now includes projects in Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.
According to Bob Wright, president of Wright Brothers, the company’s evolution over the years is mirrored by some substantial changes in the construction industry. “The industry has evolved from being trade-oriented to being more business-oriented,” he says. “And technology is the cornerstone of this evolution.”
Wright recalls when project bids were tabulated with adding machines, daily field reports were hand-written, schedules were drawn on graphs and architects didn’t rely on computer-aided drafting (CAD). “We’ve come a long way since those days,” he says. “Over the years, Wright Brothers has always been one of the first companies to implement new technology as it became available in our industry. We’ve always been on the leading-edge of technology. Our estimating software is top of the line; our daily field reports are computerized through state-of-the-art project management software; and CAD drawings and critical path scheduling are done by way of advanced software. It’s been an exciting evolution for us, and it’s ongoing.”
The Wright Project
Wright Brothers has a unique philosophy that it applies to every project. “Our mission is to build communities through sustainable practices,” Wright says. “We build with honesty and integrity, and we focus on safety and service. We live by our slogan: ‘Building the future with a commitment to excellence.’”
For Wright Brothers, building the future means high-performance designs. The company has been on the green side of things for decades – long before it became an industry standard. As Wright explains, the company’s dedication to building a more sustainable future comes from the top down.
“I am a LEED-accredited professional and have an MBA in sustainability,” Wright notes. “We also employ two LEED APs and five LEED Green associates. We share our expertise by mentoring other professionals in the industry through a green committee that focuses on sustainable building practices.”
Examples of Wright Brothers’ expertise in building sustainable structures include the Boise WaterShed Education Center – a community-sponsored facility that provides education programs regarding the Boise ecosystem. The company also is at work on the Idaho Velodrome and Cycling Park in Eagle, Idaho.
As Wright explains, the cycling park is being transformed from a sagebrush field to a state-of-the-art cycling area for riders of all ages. “This is a community project that involves many types of biking groups,” he adds. “We’ve used our donated services to make it happen, and it’s been fun to watch it progress.”
Wright Brothers was selected by the City of Eagle to act as construction manager for the Velodrome project. When it is completed, the park will consist of various types of bike trails, a skateboard park, an advanced training course and a no-spin gravity course.
The Wright People
Celebrating its 55th year in business, Wright Brothers is paying tribute to its most valued asset: its employees. “Our business slogan for 2011 is ‘Be the bridge, problems become opportunities when the ‘Wright’ people join together,’” Wright says.
For Wright Brothers, having the right people in various roles throughout the company has proven to be a hallmark of the operation. “A key part to our success is our employees’ extensive years of experience in all areas of construction,” he adds.
“This provides Wright Brothers with a distinct advantage and gives us the ability to produce results and meet project goals within specific time constraints.”
The company invests heavily in employee education in an effort to maintain stellar performance. “We work with an open-book philosophy when it comes to all areas of our company,” Wright notes. “We meet with department managers to develop business strategies. Together, we plan for the future based on our strengths and weaknesses. We create businesspeople. Therefore, our clients work with not only superintendents and project managers, but all-around business managers. This makes a substantial difference in the construction industry today.”
For Wright Brothers, having a successful team of vendors and subcontractors is extremely important. “Subcontractors are one of the highest priorities here at Wright Brothers, as we depend on them to convey our commitment to excellence,” he explains. “Our strong relationship with subcontractors in various cities provides a dynamic resource that benefits the needs of the client.”
Wright Brothers’ key partners include Franz Witte Landscape Contracting Inc., Treasure Valley Rock & Stucco and YMC Inc.