R.D. Olson Construction, Inc.
R.D. Olson Construction is a privately held, Irvine-based boutique general contractor founded in 1979, providing ground-up construction, renovation, adaptive reuse, and design-build services across hospitality, multifamily, senior living, affordable housing, higher education, and commercial sectors in California, Hawaii, and the Western United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersIrvine, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. does
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. is a privately held, boutique general contractor founded in 1979 by Bob Olson and headquartered in Irvine, California. The firm provides end-to-end construction services spanning pre-construction planning, project management, ground-up construction, renovation, adaptive reuse, design-build delivery, and post-construction transition. Its work is organized horizontally across multiple sectors: hospitality (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Montage, Howard Johnson), multifamily and affordable housing (MBK Living, Related Properties, Meta Housing, Bridge Housing, Affirmed Housing), senior living (Oakmont, Clearwater Living, Atria), higher education (Chapman University, California Baptist University), and commercial/restaurant construction (Morton's, California Pizza Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory). The company operates primarily in California with a long-standing Hawaii office (open since 1990) and broader Western U.S. reach.
The firm is led by a second-generation executive team under CEO/President Bill Wilhelm, who has been with the company for over 30 years; founder Robert D. Olson serves as Chairman of the Board. Supporting leadership includes a CFO, COO, CTO, multiple VPs of Construction & Project Management, and dedicated Business Development and HR directors. R.D. Olson has completed over 1,000 projects, $3 billion in cumulative construction work (as of 2018), and maintains 77% repeat-customer annual volume and 12-year average employee tenure, supported by an internal R.D. Olson University training program with 68 courses. The firm has received consecutive ENR Top 400 Contractor and Best Places to Work (Orange County Business Journal) recognitions.
Revenue is generated through project-based general contracting fees—custom-quoted per engagement based on scope—across both ground-up construction and renovation/adaptive reuse. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting developers, ownership groups, and institutional clients, reinforced by participation in hospitality and commercial real estate conferences (ALIS, The Lodging Conference, Bisnow) and earned media in Forbes, Wall Street Journal, GlobeSt, and Construction Today. The firm has no disclosed M&A activity, no external funding, and no proprietary technology platform; it remains family/management-owned with no parent company.
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- R.D. Olson Construction, Inc.
- Legal name
- R.D. Olson Construction, Inc.
- Website
- https://rdolson.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- R.D. Olson Construction is a privately held, Irvine-based boutique general contractor founded in 1979, providing ground-up construction, renovation, adaptive reuse, and design-build services across hospitality, multifamily, senior living, affordable housing, higher education, and commercial sectors in California, Hawaii, and the Western United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Construction Services
- NAICS
- Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (23622), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Office & Corporate Building Construction (IMAFACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Renovation, Remodeling & Tenant Improvements (General Contracting) (IMAFAAAE), Construction Management (Agency/Owner’s Rep) (IMAFAAAC)
Keywords
Where R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Irvine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- General Contracting Services: R.D. Olson generates revenue through project-based construction fees for general contracting services. The company provides end-to-end construction services including pre-construction, construction, and post-construction phases. Revenue is generated from both new ground-up construction projects and renovation/adaptive reuse projects across hospitality, multifamily, senior living, affordable housing, higher education, and commercial sectors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels13 records
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
R.D. Olson Construction provides general contracting and construction management services — including pre-construction planning, construction execution, and post-construction transition — for new ground-up builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects. The firm serves enterprise clients in hospitality, multifamily, senior living, affordable housing, higher education, commercial, and office sectors using both Design-Build and traditional delivery methods.
Product overview
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. is a boutique general contracting firm offering comprehensive construction services across multiple sectors. The company operates as a single unified service offering organized by project type, including Commercial Construction, Affordable Housing, Senior Living, Office Construction, Multifamily Housing, Hospitality Construction, Higher Education Construction, and Design-Build delivery. Their end-to-end services span the entire project lifecycle from pre-construction planning through project management, construction execution, and post-construction transition. The company is particularly noted for hospitality construction expertise with iconic projects for major hotel brands, while also diversifying into multi-family, senior living, and affordable housing sectors. Their boutique model emphasizes selective project engagement, dedicated teams, and collaboration with trusted subcontractor partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hospitality Construction Ground-up hotel and resort construction, including select-service, full-service, and extended-stay properties across major brands (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Montage), as well as adaptive reuse of office buildings into hotels. Targeted at hotel brand owners, developers, and ownership groups needing a contractor with brand-standard execution and multi-property experience.
- Multifamily Housing Construction Construction of multi-unit residential buildings including market-rate apartments, condominiums, and mixed-use developments. Targeted at multifamily developers (MBK Living, Related Properties, Meta Housing) needing a California-experienced contractor for mid- and high-rise residential programs.
- Senior Living Construction Construction of senior living communities including assisted living facilities, memory care units, independent living residences, and continuing care retirement communities. Targeted at senior living operators (Oakmont, Atria Senior Living, Clearwater Living) needing a contractor with healthcare-adjacent facility experience.
- Affordable Housing Construction Construction of affordable housing developments including supportive housing, low-income residential projects, and mixed-income communities. Targeted at affordable housing developers and sponsors (Bridge Housing, Affirmed Housing, Meta Housing) needing California-affordable-experienced contractors.
- Higher Education Construction Construction services for universities and colleges including academic buildings, residence halls, museums, and cultural facilities. Targeted at higher education institutions (Chapman University, California Baptist University) needing campus-experienced contractors.
- Commercial Construction General commercial construction services for retail, restaurant, and mixed-use commercial properties. Targeted at commercial property owners, restaurant chains (Morton's, California Pizza Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory), and developers needing general contracting for retail and commercial build-outs.
- Office Construction Construction services for commercial office buildings and corporate facilities. Targeted at corporate owners, REITs, and developers building or converting office properties.
- Design-Build Delivery Integrated design and construction services under a single contract, combining architecture and construction delivery for streamlined project execution. Targeted at clients seeking a single point of accountability from design through construction.
- Pre-Construction Services Thorough needs assessment, cost estimation, constructability review, and project planning prior to construction, designed to minimize surprises, manage budgets, and optimize project outcomes. Targeted at owner/developer clients engaging R.D. Olson prior to construction start.
- Construction & Project Management Dedicated construction execution and project management services including proactive preparation, hurdle resolution, schedule control, and quality management throughout the construction process. Targeted at owner/developer clients during active construction.
- Post-Construction Services Seamless transition services ensuring all client expectations are met upon project completion, including closeout documentation, punch list resolution, and handover. Targeted at owner/developer clients at project completion.
Quantifiable outcome
- 77% of annual volume comes from repeat customers
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use R.D. Olson Construction, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered project-level, core and repeat.
- KTGY Architecture + Planningproject-levelArchitecture and planning firm partnered on Bolsa Row mixed-use development project in Westminster's Little Saigon District
- Cole Martinez Curtisproject-levelInterior designer partnered on Bolsa Row project
- VCA Structural Engineeringproject-levelStructural engineering partner on Bolsa Row project
- MJS Landscape Architectureproject-levelLandscape architecture partner on Bolsa Row project
- Clearwater LivingcoreSenior living developer client and partner on multiple senior living projects including Vistas at Glendora
- AO (Architecture Firm)project-levelArchitecture firm partnered with on Vistas at Glendora senior living project
- Klang & Associatesproject-levelInterior designer on Vistas at Glendora senior living project
- WATGrepeatArchitecture firm partnered on multiple projects including Lido House boutique hotel in Newport Beach
- Wimberly InteriorsrepeatInterior design partner on Lido House project
- Lido House, LLCproject-levelClient/developer for Lido House, Autograph Collection boutique hotel project
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- DPR Construction: California-rooted, now national commercial GC operating across hospitality, multifamily, healthcare, and advanced technology. Larger and broader than R.D. Olson, but directly competes for the same Western U.S. hotel and multifamily RFPs.
- Balfour Beatty Construction: Large diversified general contractor with active multifamily, hospitality, and higher education practices in California and the Western U.S. Direct competitor for the larger pursuits within R.D. Olson's pipeline.
- Suffolk Construction: Large national general contractor with a strong hospitality and multifamily book and a growing West Coast presence. Represents the tech-enabled, scaled-incumbent model R.D. Olson competes against on larger or schedule-complex pursuits.
- Clark Construction Group: Large national general contractor active in hospitality, multifamily, and institutional building. Competes with R.D. Olson on mid- to large-scale Western U.S. projects where developer clients evaluate boutique vs. large-firm capacity trade-offs.
- Turner Construction Company: One of the largest U.S. general contractors with significant hospitality, higher education, and commercial building practices. Represents the scaled-incumbent alternative that R.D. Olson competes against on larger owner pursuits.
Direct peers
- Webcor Builders: California-based commercial general contractor with strong multifamily, hospitality, and institutional building practices. Comparable to R.D. Olson in regional footprint, vertical mix, and reputation for mid- to large-scale ground-up construction in the Western U.S.
- Swinerton Builders: California-headquartered commercial general contractor with comparable size, geographic footprint (Western U.S.), and deep hospitality and multifamily portfolio. Closest comparable to R.D. Olson's boutique, region-anchored model serving the same developer and brand clients.
- Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction: California-headquartered general contractor with a comparable mix of hospitality, multifamily, higher education, and commercial office projects. Similar size and selective-project culture make it one of the closest direct comparables to R.D. Olson.
- Pavarini Northgate (McGovern): Boutique commercial interior and base-building GC with strong luxury hospitality focus. Closely comparable positioning to R.D. Olson in selective project pursuit and branded-hotel expertise, though principally operating in the New York metro.
Regional players
- Oltmans Construction Co. Southern California-based commercial general contractor with comparable size and a multifamily, senior living, and commercial project mix. A relevant regional peer for assessing R.D. Olson's local market share and execution profile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceR.D. Olson Construction, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about R.D. Olson Construction, Inc.
What does R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. do?
R.D. Olson Construction provides general contracting and construction management services — including pre-construction planning, construction execution, and post-construction transition — for new ground-up builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects. The firm serves enterprise clients in hospitality, multifamily, senior living, affordable housing, higher education, commercial, and office sectors using both Design-Build and traditional delivery methods.
Is R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. a public or private company?
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. founded?
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. based?
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. is headquartered in Irvine, United States, in the North America region.
How does R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: general Contracting Services.
Who are R.D. Olson Construction, Inc.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are DPR Construction, Balfour Beatty Construction, Suffolk Construction, Clark Construction Group and Turner Construction Company. Direct peers are Webcor Builders, Swinerton Builders, Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction and Pavarini Northgate (McGovern). Oltmans Construction Co. is listed as a regional player.
Does R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for R.D. Olson Construction, Inc..
What industry is R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. in?
R.D. Olson Construction, Inc.'s product category is Commercial Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFACAA, Office & Corporate Building Construction, with a secondary code of IMAFAAAE, Renovation, Remodeling & Tenant Improvements (General Contracting). Its NAICS code is 23622 and its SIC code is 1540.