What Emmerson Construction does

Emmerson Construction Inc. is a privately held West Coast-based general contractor and construction manager founded in 2000 by Charles Schmid and headquartered in Carlsbad, California (California CSLB #775773). The firm specializes in affordable multifamily housing, mixed-use developments, senior housing, special-needs housing, inclusionary housing, and the renovation/rehabilitation of existing multifamily buildings. Typical project structures consist of reinforced or post-tensioned concrete slabs with wood frame construction and stucco exteriors, with several completed projects featuring podium decks. Emmerson's developments exceed Title 24 efficiency standards and over a dozen projects have been certified LEED Gold or Platinum.

The company generates revenue through two streams: project-based general contracting contracts (delivered as one-time project engagements) and fee-based construction management services providing project oversight, budget and schedule review, and quality assurance. Customers include property developers, housing authorities, and municipal entities across California, secured through direct engagement and competitive bidding. Notable delivered projects include Mercado del Barrio (five-story mixed-use, 92 affordable apartments with 48,000 SF retail), Alpha Square ($47 million, 203 micro-apartment units for low-income households under the Housing First approach), Westminster Manor ($12.5 million renovation of a 152-unit senior building), Duetta and Volta at Millenia (210 affordable apartments in Chula Vista), and Trolley Park Terrace ($22 million, 54,939 SF). Project scale ranges from rural 80-unit developments to urban projects exceeding 200 units.

Emmerson operates as a privately held company with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity. The 36-person team is led by President Charles Schmid (founder, supervised 6,000+ West Coast units), Senior Director of Construction Allen Eads (27+ years San Diego multifamily experience, oversaw $863.5 million in construction value across 2,749 affordable housing units at Emmerson), and Director of Construction Rob Campbell (33+ years mid- and high-rise experience from JPI, Ledcor, Swinerton, and Roel). The firm was recognized as the 2025 San Diego BIA General Contractor of the Year and holds additional awards including California APA Award of Excellence, BIA ICON Awards, and San Diego Housing Federation Ruby Awards. Strategic partners include architect Joseph Wong Design Associates and nonprofit Urban Corps of San Diego.

Name

Emmerson Construction

Legal name

Emmerson Construction, Inc.

Website

https://emmersonconstruction.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Emmerson Construction is a privately held West Coast general contractor founded in 2000, specializing in affordable multifamily housing, mixed-use developments, senior and special-needs housing. The Carlsbad, California firm serves property developers, housing authorities, and municipalities across California through project-based general contracting and construction management services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. General Contracting Services: Traditional general contracting for residential and mixed-use development projects. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts where Emmerson serves as the primary contractor responsible for delivering completed construction projects on time and on budget.
2. Construction Management Services: Fee-based construction management services providing project oversight, budget and schedule review, and quality assurance for clients who prefer to manage their own general contractors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Emmerson Construction is a West Coast-based construction services company that delivers general contracting and construction management for residential and mixed-use developments, with a specialization in affordable multifamily housing. Projects range from rural 80-unit developments to urban projects exceeding 200 units, and include new construction, mixed-use buildings with podium decks, and renovation/rehabilitation of existing multifamily properties. The company's developments exceed Title 24 efficiency standards, with over a dozen projects certified LEED Gold or Platinum.

Product overview

Emmerson Construction is a West Coast-based construction services company offering a unified set of construction services centered on residential and mixed-use development. The company's core offerings include new construction of multifamily affordable housing (including senior, inclusionary, and special-needs housing), mixed-use developments with retail components, and renovation/rehabilitation of existing buildings. The company also offers construction management services as an add-on for clients seeking project oversight, budget/schedule review, and quality assurance. Projects span from rural 80-unit developments to urban projects exceeding 200 units. Key completed projects include Mercado del Barrio (five-story mixed-use with 92 affordable apartments and 48,000 SF retail), Alpha Square (203 micro-apartment units, $47 million), Westminster Manor (152-unit senior renovation, $12.5 million), Duetta and Volta at Millenia (210 affordable apartments), and Trolley Park Terrace (54,939 SF, $22 million).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Construction Services Construction services for residential developments including single-family, multifamily, and mixed-use residential components, with specialization in affordable housing. Designed for property developers and housing authorities seeking reliable contractors for residential projects.
• Mixed-Use Development Construction Construction of five-story mixed-use developments combining residential units with ground-floor retail and commercial space, including podium deck construction and structured parking. Designed for developers building projects that integrate affordable residential with retail and commercial components.
• Affordable Multifamily Housing Construction Specialized construction of affordable multifamily housing including senior housing, inclusionary housing, and special-needs housing with experience across multiple project types and sizes. Designed for affordable housing developers and housing authorities serving seniors, families, and special needs populations.
• Construction Management Services Project oversight, budget and schedule review, and quality assurance services for clients interested in construction management without direct builder engagement. Designed for clients who prefer to manage their own general contractors while relying on Emmerson for oversight and quality assurance.
• Renovation and Rehabilitation Services Renovation and major rehabilitation of existing multifamily buildings including interior/exterior renovations, mechanical/electrical/plumbing upgrades, and energy efficiency improvements. Designed for owners of aging multifamily properties seeking renovation as a lower-cost alternative to new construction.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% more energy efficient after renovation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Urban Corps of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmmerson partnered with Urban Corps of San Diego youth program for the Mercado del Barrio project. The partnership provided work and training opportunities for underserved youth in the construction industry, demonstrating Emmerson's commitment to community development beyond traditional construction services.
• Joseph Wong Design AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning architect Joseph Wong Design Associates is Emmerson's design partner for Duetta and Volta at Millenia, two five-story buildings offering 210 affordable apartments. This represents Emmerson's most recent collaboration with the firm, continuing a relationship on significant affordable housing developments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Woda Cooper Companies: Nationally focused affordable housing developer and contractor operating primarily in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, with growing West Coast activity. Comparable as a specialist in affordable housing construction, but smaller in California footprint.

Regional players

• Hoffman Construction Company: Pacific Northwest-based general contractor with multifamily and mixed-use experience, primarily serving Oregon and Washington. Comparable as a West Coast regional GC, but does not directly compete in the same Southern California territory.

Direct peers

• Nibbi Brothers General Contractors: Bay Area general contractor specializing in multifamily residential, affordable housing, and community-serving developments. Directly comparable in segment focus on affordable multifamily construction on the West Coast.
• Webcor: Webcor (now part of Obayashi) is a major California general contractor with extensive multifamily residential and mixed-use experience, including affordable housing developments. Directly comparable in product offering, geography, and customer base.
• Swinerton: Swinerton is one of the largest West Coast-based general contractors with deep multifamily and affordable housing practices; Director of Construction Rob Campbell previously worked there. Directly comparable in geography, segment focus, and project types.
• Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company: California-based general contractor with a strong multifamily residential and mixed-use portfolio serving developers across the West Coast. Comparable scale and segment focus, with significant overlap on affordable and market-rate multifamily projects.
• C.W. Driver Companies: California-based general contractor delivering multifamily residential, mixed-use, and commercial projects with comparable building types (podium, wood-frame over concrete) to Emmerson's core work. Geographic and segment overlap is high.
• Bernards Builders: Southern California general contractor with significant multifamily, affordable housing, and mixed-use development experience. Comparable in regional focus, project types, and customer base of housing developers and public agencies.

Broad incumbents

• Turner Construction Company: One of the largest U.S. general contractors with extensive multifamily, affordable housing, and mixed-use project experience nationwide. Comparable in core capability, but operates at vastly greater scale and broader portfolio.
• DPR Construction: National, large-scale general contractor with strong West Coast presence across multifamily, commercial, healthcare, and life sciences. Comparable in delivering complex California projects, though not specialized in affordable housing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emmersonconstruction

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Emmerson Construction