Modern Day Master Builder
Kinsley Construction, Inc. puts trust, quality first
When it comes to construction, Kinsley Construction, Inc. considers itself a modern day master builder. “The concept of a master builder comes from ancient Greece. In those times, the master builder was a single person who took complete ownership for the design and construction of a project—from start to finish,” says Vice President Steven Schrum. “At Kinsley, we assume full responsibility for a project. We put ourselves in the owner’s seat and do what it takes to get the job done and get it done right.”
Headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, Kinsley has assumed ownership on quite a number of projects. In 55 years of business, they have completed nearly 14,500 projects across the U.S., with 70 percent of those projects for repeat clients. The nationally recognized firm has earned accolades for its work from groups that include the Associated Builders and Contractors and the U.S. Green Building Council. With three generations of the Kinsley family at the helm, the company has ranked among the top family-owned-and-operated businesses, as well as the #1 General Contractor by the Central Penn Business Journal.
“Clients trust us, knowing we have the expertise and the know-how to deliver on our commitments,” Schrum says. “Construction is what we do each and every day. We understand the needs of the designers and engineers. We understand project challenges, and we understand the owners’ goals. We do the best job we can and take pride in our work.”
With over 1,300 field and office employees, Kinsley has additional offices in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania; Timonium and Hagerstown, Maryland; and Herndon, Virginia. In addition to building construction, Kinsley also offers steel fabrication and erection, materials, highway and bridge, site work and industrial services. The firm serves a wide variety of markets, including education, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, multifamily housing, office, retail and commercial, community and cultural, distribution and senior living.
Family Values
Founded by Robert A. Kinsley in 1963, the firm began as a subcontractor in the concrete trade. Within two years, Kinsley expanded its offerings to include site work, paving and utility installation services. As Kinsley continued to grow, the company entered the general contracting market in the 1970s. “Though we have relationships with a large subcontractor base, the company has always retained our own tradespeople, and we continue to self-perform on many project tasks,” Schrum says.
While founder Bob Kinsley remains involved in all aspects of the company, Kinsley is managed by the family’s second generation. “Bob’s five sons grew up with the company. He passed on his traditions and values, and all five sons serve in leadership roles today,” Schrum says. A total of 15 members of the family work in the company.
In-house Resources, Turnkey Solutions
“We have experienced crews, modern equipment and we stay up to date on current technologies,” he says. “Our strength lies in these in-house resources, which allow us to provide turnkey solutions.” In the field of building construction, Kinsley consistently ranks among the top local, regional and national firms. “Engineering News-Record named us among the top 400 contractors in the nation and the top 20 contractors in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our reach across the region is extensive,” Schrum says. The company is a favorite among readers of the Central Penn Business Journal, topping the list as Best General Contractor for Construction and Design in the publication’s 2018 reader rankings.
High-Profile Projects
Across all its divisions, Kinsley manages about $575 million in projects each year. The company has completed high-profile assignments across the region, including the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and renovations to the $30 million revitalization of the historic Yorktowne Hotel in York, Pennsylvania. In a public-private partnership with the U.S. National Park Service, Kinsley built a new 139,000-square-foot facility that houses the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Within Baltimore, Kinsley is finishing work on the McHenry Row Development mixed-use project, which includes three office buildings, a hotel, parking garage and three apartment buildings with retail space. “With this adaptive reuse project, we converted a manufacturing plant into a high-value mixed-use space,” Schrum says.
The company will soon begin work on a major student housing project near Towson University, a 500,000-square-foot, 13-story building and two-story parking garage. “With the parking garage, the structure will be 15 stories tall,” Schrum says. “We’ve been providing preconstruction services on this project for years, and it will be exciting to begin construction. It’s the tallest project Kinsley has ever done in Baltimore and is a testament to the level of trust the developer has in our company.”
Taking Ownership
Schrum explains that Kinsley takes a very hands-on approach to projects. “Whether we’re working as the general contractor or subcontractor, we take ownership of our responsibilities and are transparent and honest in everything we do,” he says. With an extensive network of in-house experts, the company has an open-door policy. “Every employee is welcome to call on anyone within the company when needed—even Bob Kinsley is available to help. This is a very supportive environment. We work collaboratively behind the scenes to solve problems and deliver quality work.”
The company puts a great deal of trust in its employees. “Our superintendents are ‘field executives.’ We empower employees to make decisions and do what they’re hired to do,” Schrum says.
The company not only provides competitive compensation packages, but also offers opportunities for continuing education. “Employees are encouraged to grow their career through training at our Education Central, college classes, virtual courses and more. In 2019, we will roll out our Master Builder Academy—a custom, employee-driven training program. We invest in making sure our people are the best of the best,” Schrum says.
In addition to its design and construction services, Kinsley is also active in philanthropic work and community involvement. Employees personally volunteer for and support nearly 100 local organizations and nonprofits.
Safety Leader
Kinsley is not only a leader in its industry, but also a leader in safety. “We’ve had a safety department in place for years and make regular visits in the field to ensure employees adhere to our strict safety standards,” Schrum says. Employees are encouraged to stop the job if they observe an unsafe behavior. “We have a very good safety record because we invest in keeping employees safe. It’s part of our culture,” he says. Recently, Kinsley’s safety department was awarded the Raffles Insurance Ltd. Pacesetter Award and an employee was named Risk Control Manager of the Year.
“As a master builder, quality and safety always come first. We deliver projects with a sense of urgency and produce results that our clients are proud of,” Schrum says.