Universal Construction
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1931
- HeadquartersLees Summit, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Universal Construction firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Universal Construction
- Legal name
- Universal Construction Company, Inc.
- Website
- https://universalconstruction.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1931
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Universal Construction industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Construction Services
- NAICS
- Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (23622)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- New School Construction (Greenfield Builds) (EDAEABAA), Specialty Education Facilities Construction (Labs, STEM, CTE Shops, Arts, Athletics) (EDAEABAI), Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD), Retail & Mixed-Use Commercial Construction (IMAFACAB)
Keywords
Where Universal Construction is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lees Summit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Universal Construction business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Construction Management Services: Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) and Construction Management Agency (CMA) services where Universal acts as construction manager providing full range of services. In CMAR, the construction manager holds construction contracts and assumes general contractor risks. In CMA, the construction manager acts as owner's agent with contracts held directly with owner.
- General Contracting Services: Traditional general contracting where company undertakes responsibility for performance of work through their own means and methods, providing and controlling labor, material and equipment. Owner may elect to negotiate contract or hard bid after completion of drawings and specifications.
- On-Call Services: Long-term on-call agreements with school districts and facility owners for maintenance, repairs, capital improvements, emergency response, and long-range facility planning. Provides maintenance and repair services, bond projects and major improvements, and long-range planning services.
- Preconstruction Services: Planning phase services including cost estimating, budgeting, constructability reviews, value engineering, phasing and staging, bid procurement, and bid analysis. These services help owners make informed decisions early and reduce risk before construction begins.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing for construction management and general contracting services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Universal Construction product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Universal Construction provides construction management and general contracting services for K-12 school districts, municipalities, healthcare facilities, financial institutions, and faith-based organizations across Kansas and Missouri. Core delivery methods include Construction Management at Risk (CMAR), Construction Management Agency (CMA), and traditional General Contracting, supported by Preconstruction Services (estimating, budgeting, value engineering) and an On-Call Services program covering maintenance, bond projects, and long-range facility planning.
Product overview
Universal Construction is a fifth-generation family-owned construction management firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of construction services across Kansas and Missouri. The core service offering consists of Construction Management (both at Risk and Agency delivery methods) and General Contracting, supported by dedicated Preconstruction Services that help clients plan, budget, and prepare before construction begins. The company's differentiated offering includes On-Call Services—a three-module program providing Maintenance and Repair (Preserve), Bond Projects and Major Improvements (Progress), and Long-Range Planning (Plan) capabilities. These services are designed primarily for educational institutions, municipalities, churches, and community organizations, with a strong focus on K-12 education construction and public sector facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Construction Management at Risk (CMAR)
- Construction Management Agency (CMA)
- General Contracting
- Preconstruction Services
- On-Call Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 0.92% average final cost variance over 20 years - demonstrating exceptional budget accuracy and cost control
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Universal Construction
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Universal Construction technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Universal Construction partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Greenbush Purchasing CooperativecoreUniversal Construction is an approved vendor through the Greenbush Purchasing Cooperative, providing schools, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations streamlined access to Construction Management, General Contracting, and facility improvement services through a competitively awarded cooperative purchasing contract. Eligible organizations can reduce procurement time while maintaining purchasing compliance requirements.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Universal Construction competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- McCarthy Building Companies: Large national employee-owned general contractor and CM firm with deep healthcare, education, and public-sector practices. Competes for major institutional projects of the type Universal delivers (hospitals, schools, civic facilities), though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Walsh Construction: Family-owned national general contractor with strong education and healthcare practices across the Midwest and nationally. Competes for school district bond programs and institutional construction management contracts similar to Universal's offerings, at larger scale and broader geography.
- Gilbane Building Company: Family-owned national CM firm with one of the strongest K-12 and higher education construction practices in the U.S. Directly competes for school district bond programs and education-related construction management work, leveraging similar relationship-driven approach at much larger scale.
- Mortenson Construction: Major national CM/general contractor with substantial healthcare and education practices, including K-12 work. Competes for large institutional construction projects with delivery models (CMAR, design-build) similar to Universal's offerings, though at significantly larger scale.
- Turner Construction Company: Largest commercial construction manager in the U.S., with growing education and healthcare practices. Competes for large-scale institutional projects similar to those Universal delivers, though Turner's national footprint and volume far exceed Universal's regional focus.
- Messer/Balfour Beatty Construction: Regional CM firm (now part of Balfour Beatty) operating in Midwest markets including significant K-12, healthcare, and government construction. Competes directly with Universal in Missouri/Kansas for school district and public sector work, operating at larger scale.
Regional players
- Burns & McDonnell: Kansas City-headquartered engineering, architecture, and construction firm with significant public-sector and critical facilities work. Competes for municipal, government, and institutional projects in Kansas/Missouri, though more weighted to engineering/design-build than construction management.
Direct peers
- JE Dunn Construction: Headquartered in Kansas City, MO with a 90+ year history, JE Dunn is a direct competitor in commercial, healthcare, education, and government construction across the Midwest. Operates as a general contractor and construction manager at similar scale to Universal, serving overlapping institutional clients in Kansas and Missouri.
- Barton Malow Company: Employee-owned construction firm with strong K-12 education and community-focused building practices across the Midwest and nationally. Competes for school district construction management contracts and operates similar on-call/long-term engagement models with educational clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Universal Construction social profiles
Digital presenceUniversal Construction financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Universal Construction leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Universal Construction funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Universal Construction 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 Universal Construction
What does Universal Construction do?
Universal Construction provides construction management and general contracting services for K-12 school districts, municipalities, healthcare facilities, financial institutions, and faith-based organizations across Kansas and Missouri. Core delivery methods include Construction Management at Risk (CMAR), Construction Management Agency (CMA), and traditional General Contracting, supported by Preconstruction Services (estimating, budgeting, value engineering) and an On-Call Services program covering maintenance, bond projects, and long-range facility planning.
Is Universal Construction a public or private company?
Universal Construction is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Universal Construction founded?
Universal Construction was founded in 1931. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Universal Construction based?
Universal Construction is headquartered in Lees Summit, United States, in the North America region.
How does Universal Construction make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Construction Management Services are the primary driver. The others are general Contracting Services, on-Call Services and preconstruction Services.
Who are Universal Construction's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are McCarthy Building Companies, Walsh Construction, Gilbane Building Company, Mortenson Construction, Turner Construction Company and Messer/Balfour Beatty Construction. Burns & McDonnell is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are JE Dunn Construction and Barton Malow Company.
Does Universal Construction have an API?
No public API is recorded for Universal Construction.
What industry is Universal Construction in?
Universal Construction's product category is Commercial Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAAAG, Public Works General Contracting, with a secondary code of EDAEABAA, New School Construction (Greenfield Builds). Its NAICS code is 2362 and its SIC code is 1540.