Q&A with Build Group’s Southern California President, Andrew Clark, on trends that its Special Work Group, now in its 5th Year, is seeing

Q. First, can you introduce us to Build Group, its commercial construction capabilities, and the projects you are involved in?

A. Build Group is a privately owned general contractor, construction manager, and design/builder founded in 2007 in the San Francisco Bay Area and later expanded to Southern California. We are true builders, engaging in nearly every market sector, client type, and delivery method. We execute ground-up core and shell, tenant improvements, and special projects, as well as portions of jobs led by other reputable commercial general contractors, where we leverage our self-performing capabilities in structural concrete, shoring & formwork, wood, exterior skin systems, drywall & insulation, and flooring & cabinetry. Most importantly, we advocate for our owners.

Q. Tell us about Build Group’s Special Work Group and its experience within this sector.

A. For many years, Build Group’s projects leaned heavily towards large, ground-up city-centric commercial buildings. Five years ago, we strategically decided to dedicate our Southern California offices to “Special Work,” and allocated resources to grow our specialization in high-quality marquee tenant improvement (TI) projects within luxury retail and hospitality.

What began with the Special Work Group out of the Southern California office, has now helped grow our TI project footprint across Build Group’s other established regions; expanding our Bay Area work to Napa, for example, and our Seattle work to projects all over the greater Pacific Northwest.

Q. What are some of the TI/ Special Work Group projects that Build Group has led in the Los Angeles area?

A. Recent projects that Build Group has completed include:

• W Hotel, Hollywood
• 1 Hotel, West Hollywood
• Gladstones, Malibu (coming soon!)
• Uchi, West Hollywood
• Love.Life, El Segundo
• o-p-e-n Yoga, Venice

Q. What are some trends Build Group is seeing in TI work?

A. After a few somewhat quiet years in the luxury retail space, as far as brand refreshes and store re-openings are concerned, Build Group is currently in a very exciting stage. Recent M&A activity has supercharged an already competitive market, as ultra-high-end luxury retailers are looking to bring their stores current and chic, doubling down to sharpen their distinctiveness.

In our partnerships with these brands, through the pre-construction and schematic pricing planning, we are seeing a prioritization of quality and realized vision over value engineering. Luxury brands are becoming less austere. Disappearing are the blank white uniform store looks, and returning are palettes in mineral shades and materials – golds, blacks, bronze.

Q. What market trends do you foresee within the Luxury Retail and Hospitality categories for 2025?

A. In addition to this more “fearless” approach in luxury retail, Build Group’s Hospitality partners are also refreshing their brands and use of space. The trend is to make spaces more comfortable and user-friendly, with design elements encouraging people to spend more time in their common areas. This includes more services such as coffee bars, cafes, additional room for soft seated gatherings, and honoring windows, views, and natural light.

Q. Do you see TI approaches that are unique to Los Angeles?

A. Beverly Hills specifically is booming in this era of revitalization. Brands aren’t taking for granted that their locations are an obvious destination in Southern California and are making moves to stay relevant in a crowded market.

Businesses outside California are coming in to gain a foothold in the thriving LA market. For example, we are working on some projects involving older, national restaurants that are being turned over and repositioned by international groups with new concepts, young chefs, and requests for incredible millwork that enable us to utilize new construction methodologies.

Q. Andrew, what else do you want readers to know?

A. I want to convey the deep-rooted affinity that Build Group has for this specialized and sophisticated work. Our clients have a vision, and we have the resources to bring it to life. High-end hospitality groups and luxury, five-star retailers offer a unique opportunity for Build Group to be at the tip of the spear, leveraging new materiality and methods to push the envelope of construction capabilities. Build Group has a passion for this high-end, demanding, ultra-luxury work.

Interested parties can contact Build Group Southern California at: Daniela Marin, [email protected]

About Build Group

Build Group is a privately-owned commercial general contractor, construction manager, and design/builder. The company has offices in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Idaho. Build Group executes ground-up core and shell and tenant improvement (TI) projects, as well as portions of jobs led by other reputable commercial general contractors, where they leverage their self-performing capabilities through wholly owned subsidiaries.

Build Group is structured to be nimble, employing the processes of a large corporation where appropriate, while sidestepping the complexities and bureaucratic delays often associated with larger organizations. This allows for quicker decision-making and more efficient project execution—it’s why over 80% of their projects are for repeat clients.