Company Profile

Barry's Profile

A Unique Perspective...

A strong sense of tradition, heritage and history give Barry Swenson a unique insight into San Jose, including the unique needs of an ever-growing Silicon Valley. A third-generation builder, Barry draws on a history of construction expertise that enables him to offer the best solutions for San Jose's construction industry. Barry grew up in San Jose, and his experiences and love for the city have flavored his firm's passion for quality construction. This passion is infectious, and has helped contribute to the growth of his firm, Barry Swenson Builder.

Starting in 1958 (with the building of the San Jose City Hall on Hedding Street) and continuing into the seventies, Barry helped contribute to the huge building boom that made San Jose one of the nation's fastest growing cities. Barry Swenson Builder was created in 1977, and has since expanded to become one of the Silcon Valley's most recognized names in construction. The company provides the highest quality service (with a cost-effective approach) for a wide variety of project types, including multi-family residential, office, hospitality, medical, senior living, industrial, research and development, retail, mixed-use and historical renovation.

As a native of San Jose, Barry has a unique relationship with community leaders, financial institutions, and real estate developers. These relationships enable him to create successful projects by structuring innovative partnerships and joint ventures, with all parties working together for the best possible solution.

Variety

Barry's long time experience in the San Jose area has led to his company's involvement in an unusual array of projects and specialty tenants. "We probably do a greater spectrum of work than some of our larger competitors." says Swenson. This spectrum includes historic rehabilitation projects and high-rise residential buildings, both of which are passions for Barry.

Barry has had a role in some of the most attractive buildings in San Jose, and these also happen to be some of the greatest historical renovation projects in the area. Blending disparate elements into a harmonious structure is a challenge that Barry is able to easily meet with his love of history and heritage. His revitalization masterpieces include the Security Building, Bella Mia, Letitia, the Clayton Building and the DeAnza Hotel.

Barry's vision also includes high-rise residential buildings for San Jose. "High-density housing close to public transit is the only way to avoid hour-plus commutes and highways lacing through more and more of what should remain farmland" says Barry. Barry Swenson Builder is leading the charge into the high-rise future of San Jose, with seven projects in some stage of development. Vendome Place is an example; the 10-story development promises to revolutionize the city's downtown with its intelligent integration of accommodation, transportation and community.

The Right Team

Barry understands the importance of the people on the ground. As President and CEO, Swenson takes an active role in the development of projects and provides insight and guidance for each project team. From project managers and engineers to site superintendents, Barry's team are hands-on builders with the technical expertise, integrity and quality of work that gets the job done right. Constant communication ensures that all members of the team are working in the same direction, increasing productivity and efficiency.

"Our number one goal is always to have happy clients" says Barry. That goal begins with the team. "My grandfather always said to hire smart people, and we've got the greatest bunch of people anywhere, and that goes for all of our departments from construction to the accounting office."

Barry Swenson Builder

Building Today's Skylines...

Barry Swenson Builder draws on three generations of expertise to bring quality, diversity and functional creativity to the construction projects of today. These core values help us successfully incorporate a broad spectrum of services into our projects. From Contracting and Turn-key Development, to Design-Build and all aspects of Project Management, Barry Swenson Builder is building today's skylines, and planning for the skylines of tomorrow.

Creating Memorable Spaces

Barry Swenson Builder specializes in Design Build projects. We are unique in that our firm's Construction and Development capabilities are supplemented by an Architectural division. This gives us the ability to provide a full range of land planning, building design and construction documents for a wide variety of building types. Our creative staff of architects and designers works quickly and efficiently through complex building programs to achieve high quality and lasting designs. We specialize in creating elegant, efficient designs and memorable places.

Staying Ahead of Industry Trends

As the world's technology center, the Silicon Valley stands on the cutting edge of innovation and development. Similarly, Barry Swenson Builder's forward-thinking team sets the pace in the continually changing world of building construction. Construction has evolved from hammer and nails, brick and mortar, to computer-aided design and scheduling, scientific seismic advances, and innovative materials. Our innovative team combines 75 years of experience with today's technology to ensure the best possible solution and service for every project.

Meeting Your Specific Need

Barry Swenson Builder places a strong emphasis on ensuring that our services meet the specific needs of each venture. Every client has a specific set of parameters unique to their situation; we collaborate continuously with our clients to determine the exact scope of the services needed. Some projects require a turnkey approach, which includes financing, design, leasing, construction, ownership, and management. Other projects may require only components of these services, such as pre-development activities or construction management. Whatever the scope of the project, Barry Swenson Builder works closely with each client to discover and meet their exact need.

Long-Term Management Relationships

Barry Swenson Builder believes the long-term success of a project depends on the Project Management of that property, long after construction is completed. Our extended dedication to the building, the tenants, the grounds, and the owners is the key to maintaining a project’s value and financial stability. Our management success with over 100 properties in several states relies on our long term service, tenant satisfaction, and financial soundness.

Financial Stability

Green Valley Corporation, d.b.a. Barry Swenson Builder, has been a successful part of Silicon Valley since its beginning in 1961. Long-term relationships with numerous lenders including Wells Fargo Bank, Union Bank, and Tokai Bank of California, give Barry Swenson Builder the capability to finance projects of nearly any size. From construction loans, lines of credit, and substantial bonding capacity, we have numerous resources to meet a project’s financial requirement.

For additional information, please contact Lee Ann Woodard, Controller, at (408) 287-0246. We are pleased to share any financial information you may need, but please keep in mind that this information is confidential.