About
Now in our sixth decade, P&C Construction continues to focus on building relationships, adapting to industry changes and market demands, and fostering a philosophy among employees that encourages collaboration, agile thinking, and strategic problem solving.
P&C Construction started in 1961, when Raymond Pettyjohn, an experienced carpentry foreman, and Don Campbell, a civil engineer with Timber Structures Inc., came together with a shared vision: to bring the finest work, collaboration and oversight to every job. In 1963, James Gillilan, also from Timber Structures Inc., joined the new company. Soon, P&C experienced a huge jumpstart for growth, starting with our relationship with Georgia-Pacific. This relationship found us building Georgia-Pacific warehouses in the states of Washington, Montana and Florida, with one of our three principals on site for much of the work at each location.
Building a relationship was key in the 25-year affiliation between P&C and prominent Portland developer Bill Naito. After working on smaller projects for Naito in the '70s and '80s, including in Northwest Portland’s revitalized Old Town section, P&C was called on for one of the city’s most ambitious projects: the renovation of Montgomery Park, which, at 1 million square feet, remains one of the city's largest buildings.
Another early relationship was with the Sisters of Providence, who oversee hospitals and clinics throughout Portland, including Providence Medical Center. A series of ambitious renovations and new construction projects for the hospital started in the late '70s, and continued for the next two decades.
Through the ‘80s and ‘90s, P&C continued to develop our expertise in restoring historic buildings. Among high profile projects included Albers Mill, which had been a working mill and manufacturing operation for decades; seismic upgrades and restoration to the Governor Hotel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; moving the Simon Benson House from downtown Portland to the campus of Portland State University, then carefully recreating its fine woodwork; and providing Portland’s historic Galleria with essential upgrades to transform the building into a desirable retail location.
During this era of bringing new life to historic places, P&C Construction went through a transition as well. Dale Campbell, President and son of original owner Don Campbell, and Larry Koester, Vice President, took over ownership in 1988. Dale had been with the company since first working in the field at a young age, and both were experienced project managers. They guided the company through 2004.
P&C has always invested deeply in the surrounding region, working with local groups and area businesses from the start. The company built the original Portland Ronald McDonald House, one of the country's first such facilities that house the families of ill children being treated at Portland hospitals. The project became a favorite of the entire P&C community, including carpenters and laborers, who volunteered weekend time to help build the facility. P&C also built Shepherd's Door, a 45,000 square-foot women and children's shelter affiliated with the Portland Rescue Mission, and helped spearhead the overall effort by collaborating with local non-profit groups to gather donations and in-kind contributions.
Concrete Tilt-Up has become one of the preferred construction methods for may types of buildings. P&C employs this method with great success in projects where timing, cost containment, and lower operating costs must be balanced with aesthetics, durability, and architectural vision. One such project was the $27 million, 135,000 square-feet Vernonia School. This new two-story building, completed in 2012, is certified LEED Platinum, and provides a superior educational facility that replaces the previous school that had been affected by flooding a few years earlier.
In 2005, Steve Malany, Steve Anderson and Bruce Heintz took over ownership. They were joined in 2015 by Brian Shoemaker. Under their direction, P&C continues to expand our expertise and horizons in private and public sectors. P&C continues to focus on building a more diverse workforce through our ongoing internship and apprenticeship programs, along with outreach to minority subcontractors and suppliers. As well as embracing new technology and sustainable construction methods.