2022

Happy 15th Anniversary Terra Construction!

​

In 2022 we celebrated our successes by throwing a 15th Anniversary Open House. While the open house was meant to celebrate our history, our staff, our families, our trade partners and our clients… in 2022 we all had so much more to celebrate. Terra Construction and our staff had worked together through the past 18 months and delivered some amazing projects during one of the most challenging times in our world's history.

​

Some events to celebrate in 2022:

• Voted again as 2022 MSPBJ "Best Places to Work" by our employees

• Project awards for A-Side Public House and UMN Lab School-CDC Unified Building Project

• Employee Promotions!

• New Team Terra members

• Project starts at Minnesota Academy of the Deaf, Viking Engineering, City of Bloomington Fire Station #4, ISD 728 and others

• Grand Openings at Carleton College, City of Rogers Splash Pad, Elk River Fire Station #3, Mississippi Crossings and GovDocs

• New projects in 2023 for Carleton College, House of Hope, ISD 728, University of Minnesota, St. Kate’s and the City of Apple Valley

• 15 Years of success!

​

Congratulations to us!

​

​

2021

When you think of words to describe a period of time, 2021’s word would be “Recognition.” Terra Construction’s staff were recognized for personal achievements, our projects were recognized by various organizations as “Best in Class” and our firm received the General Contractor of the Year award again from the Minnesota Subcontractor Association. Most importantly, our employees acknowledged through their Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal surveys that Terra is a “Best Places to Work.” Pretty cool to be recognized as a Best Place to Work during a pandemic!

 

We had our first “face-to-face” get together in a long time for an Employee Recognition Event for all Terra employees. It seemed like it had been forever since we could do this? We also had two (2) retirements from Terra. Employees Kevin Smith and Mike Ellingson were recognized for their contributions to our success. #TeamTerra also found time to donate and contribute to those less fortunate again in 2021 by continuing our #COYC, volunteering at source https://sourcemn.org/ and improving as a team in a new work environment.

 

Kudos to #TeamTerra

​

​

2020

March 16, 2020 will go down in history. This was the day we had our 1st COVID planning meeting with our staff and sent office staff home to work remotely for an extended period of time if they could. Field personnel were asked to work within the COVID policies of the clients we were working for and masks, hand sanitizers and social distancing were the new normal. Little did we know that this would extend for 18+ months with many more meetings and multiple changes to our COVID Preparedness Plan. Some projects were postponed, some projects were cancelled and most projects proceeded with provisions or masking, social distancing and managing construction schedules and deliveries. Terra even added staff and secured a number of new projects during this time. We are very fortunate to have such a great team!

​

​

2019

2019 was a year of Growth, Change and Recognition

 

Terra continues to grow! We secured new projects on three (3) Minnesota State campuses while work began at Bemidji State University’s Academic Learning Center. Our commitment to pursuing opportunities at the University of Minnesota led to three (3) new projects on their Morris campus and the award of the Lab School – Child Development Center Addition and Renovation on the Twin Cities campus. We also realized new opportunities in our Public Safety, Healthcare, Tenant Interiors and Worship market segments. Terra completed the New Hope Police Station & City Hall, Hennepin Healthcare’s Brooklyn Park Clinic & Pharmacy, Kiewit’s Minneapolis office and Westbridge Church. Terra also added four (4) staff members to Team Terra in 2019.

 

Change is good! After 13 successful years with Terra, our long time Office Manager and Accountant, Ron Stricker, retired and we welcomed his son, Ryan Stricker, to the team to fill his role. It was fun to watch Ron and Ryan work together for the three (3) months leading up to Ron’s retirement. Terra’s past and future successes are due to Ron’s 13-year commitment and we cannot thank him enough!

 

It’s fun to be recognized! Terra was awarded the MCA Government Construction Project of the Year for St. Cloud State University's Eastman Hall Renovation, enjoyed team events at Top Golf and Brit’s Pub and participated in another Feed My Starving Children event. Terra was recognized by the Minneapolis – St. Paul Business Journal on their Annual List for Largest General Contractors. It was our first time on the list at #29.

​

​

2018

At the first of the year we welcomed new partner, Jason Whiting, to our ownership team. As an employee for five years, Jason provided Terra with a steady hand related to improving our processes in both project management and safety. In an effort to reflect our new leadership and promoting consistency in our brand, Terra General Contractors became Terra Construction. This subtle change will reflect our organizations mission and core values of fostering open communication, collaboration, honesty, and respect in pursuit of well-built relationships.

​

2017

This was a year that we saw our experience and perseverance pay dividends. Terra’s work for Hennepin Healthcare's (formerly Hennepin County Medical Center) Psychiatry Department and their Crisis Residence that was constructed in South Minneapolis allowed us to become involved in many mental health facility expansions and renovations. Our services provided for ISD 728 led us to be considered and selected for the two-year Salk Middle School renovation. The College of Saint Benedict selected us to construct their new athletic complex in St. Joseph, MN. With the results of these successes, we added staff for our internal accounting and administrative services. 

​

2016

We experienced internal growth in 2016. Longtime employee, Ben Newlin, became a partner. Ben had been with the firm since 2008 and as a leader he was recognized for his commitment to the culture and growth of the organization. Terra is fortunate to have loyal staff that have collaborated internally and externally to support this growth. Terra expanded and remodeled our offices in Rogers, MN and leased warehouse space for our shop operations, tools and equipment storage in Plymouth, MN. This additional location provided our field staff with a flexible location closer to the urban core.

​

2015

Terra’s offices located in Rogers, MN continued to provide easy access to all of our clients. More than ever, our office location provided easy access for the work we would start to complete this year for Independent School District (ISD) 728 (Rogers, Elk River, Otsego & Zimmerman). Terra was selected for multiple projects for ISD 728’s $98M Bond Referendum that included Rogers High School's 3rd Wing Addition and Auditorium, Rogers Elementary School remodel and multiple other ISD 728 projects. Repeat clients Carleton College and Minnesota State (formerly MnSCU) selected Terra for projects on campuses in Northfield, Bemidji and Saint Cloud, MN.

​

2014

A year of FIRSTS. Market expansion and market growth were going to be important for Terra as we continued to expand. Terra secured our first significant healthcare project for Hennepin Healthcare (formerly Hennepin County Medical Center), a medical clinic in downtown Minneapolis. The City of Maplewood’s Fire & Police Department South Station was Terra’s first public safety project and the first building using Minnesota’s Green Building initiative. We completed our first project in the city of Moorhead for Minnesota State University-Moorhead and were awarded our first significant Historic Renovation/Restoration on Scoville Hall at Carleton College.

​

2013

Terra was steadily growing, adding new employees and clients to the mix. Our first two University of Minnesota projects were completed. This was the same year that we met our friends at Krista Tippett Public Productions - The OnBeing Project. Upon the project’s completion we held a joint holiday event. We started working in the 701 Building for CBRE and Hennepin County.

​

2012

It is critical to the success of any company to be asked to complete more work for the same client. Metro Mold & Design hired Terra multiple times this year. The Animal Humane Society contracted with Terra again for the Kindest Cut project in Golden Valley, MN. Cretex Companies hired Terra for their new concrete pipe plant in Hawley, MN and Minnesota State (formerly MnSCU) selected Terra for the Minnesota West Community & Technical College's Worthington Fieldhouse and Saint Cloud State University’s East-West Shoemaker Hall Renovations. In addition, we continued to see revenue growth in Tenant Interiors.

​

2011

Terra’s long-term relationship with Carleton College was established this year. Carleton awarded Terra a difficult elevator and link addition to Burton and Davis Halls. Carleton’s Facility Director, Steve Spehn, asked Tom Brown, “Are you sure you want this to be your first project at Carleton?” Tom’s response was “Absolutely!” and the project managed by Tom and Mitch Hueman showed Carleton our commitment.

​

2010

With a renewed energy, Terra was able to gain traction in two significant markets, Tenant Interiors and Higher Education. Our first significant interiors project was for SRF Consulting and Carlson Real Estate. Minnesota State (formerly MnSCU) selected us for St. Cloud State University's North Shoemaker Hall Renovation. Additional projects this year were for the Animal Humane Society, Anchor Bank, Schawk and RBC.

​

2009

Working through the end of the recession, Terra’s accountant hired us to remodel their offices. We continued to consult on national aviation sound insulation projects and completed our first historic restoration at the Mound Pump House. New clients, Metro Transit, Carleton College, Minnesota State (formerly MnSCU), Delta Airlines and the Metropolitan Airports Commission provided Terra the spark they needed.

​

2008

During a time of uncertainty in the construction industry, Terra was able to secure construction consulting work on Airport Noise Mitigation projects around the country. This along with contracts from Century College and Southwest Minnesota State University steadied the firm during the 2007-2009 recession that impacted construction opportunities throughout the country.

​

2007

Tom Brown acquired majority interest in the company in July 2007. With a new name, Terra General Contractors, we were well grounded and becoming better known in the industry. Significant projects started/completed this year were for Union Congregational Church, Cretex Companies, EDCO, Anna’s Bananas and Fremont Place.

​

Tom Brown compliments Jon Pate of Pate Bonding for supporting Terra during our infancy. “Jon provided Terra with $4.5M in bonding capacity based mainly on our personal relationship and understanding that we would carefully manage our risks,”  says Tom Brown. “Today Pate Bonding is our bonding agent and we are loyal to those who put their trust in us. We come to work each day with that same attitude and we value the trust that our clients have placed in us.”   

​

2005

Tom Brown was hired to manage the construction and development company after spending the first 18 years of his career working in the Twin Cities construction industry. The site improvements for the Great River Centre of Otsego in cooperation with Ryan Companies' new Target store was the most significant project of the year.

​

2004

Christian Commercial, Inc. (General Contractor) and Terra Development, Inc. (Development Company) were started by some local entrepreneurs. The first project was the development and construction of our current office building in Rogers, MN.

​

​

Terra’s success is due to the efforts of our past and present employees. We strongly believe our employees are our greatest asset. We make an effort to engage all of our staff in the decision making process within our organization. The results from this create reliable and more effective communication and overall satisfaction for our employees and our clients. Our foundation is built on honesty, integrity and trust.

​

Our accomplishments are also impacted by our service providers. These include subcontractors, suppliers of material and equipment, and the design community. Our business model is such that we are only as effective as each project team member and the successes we have are shared amongst our project partners.

​

The partners of Terra believe our story will continue to be told for years to come.

​

​