After years of traveling in the building industry and being away from his family, Tom Jurgens wanted to do something that would keep him closer to home to watch his kids grow up.
“I had been in the industry for many years, I saw practices that I didn’t agree with, and I thought I could make a difference,” said Tom. “I made the decision to start my own company.”
The entrepreneur launched Raeco Builders in Parker in 2009, which is named after his children, Raelin and Cole.
Originally utilizing his relationships with subcontractors to meet the area’s needs, Raeco Builders soon evolved and grew into more employees with the ability to provide more self-performance in order to deliver the quality customers had come to expect.
“All projects follow our proven process of Consultation, Design, Customer Approval, Manufacturing, Construction, and Completion,” described Tom.
The company is now located in Sioux Falls and is known as one of the top design-build construction companies in the state, specializing in customized steel buildings.
“We meet with potential clients that have a dream/vision in mind and see it through to the end,” explained Tom. “Raeco has taken many projects from a napkin drawing to reality. We listen to their needs and wants, ask questions to determine what they’re going to use the building for, future growth plans, etc.”
A project highlight was Ideal Tent & Event Rentals located in Tea. The company specializes in large tent rentals along with other party details, and also provides custom event planning and design services.
Ideal’s owner, Blake Dede, felt they outgrew their space in 2019 and chose Raeco Builders to partner on the project for a new “home.” Dede knew he wanted a metal building to support the interior structure, but didn’t want a conventional look that could come with a metal building.
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“Our goal was to create a coastal/Cape Cod aesthetic, and marry that with custom exterior lighting that would make us stand out to the passing interstate and in-town traffic,” said Dede. “We also knew we would need to meet the neighborhood covenants, and achieve all of this with the skeleton of a metal building.”
Raeco did just that and also got creative with the interior, featuring a custom warehouse, showroom, and design room.
“WE GET TO KNOW THE PROJECT INSIDE AND OUT.”
TOM JURGENS
Another project that stands out is Trussbilt in Huron.
“It was a unique build involving the placement of overhead cranes, as well as navigating land constraints to meet their expansion needs,” recalled Tom.
Raeco Builders just finished a build in Beresford for Sioux Corporation. This was a unique project because the company was able to tie into their existing building, aiming to not disrupt their day-to-day operations.
“I’m truly a fan of everything we have built,” said Tom. “No two projects have ever been the same; there is always a component of the project that makes it special. This is what drives my passion for delivering on our commitment to our customers.”
“OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR REPUTATION AND DELIVER FOR OUR CLIENTS.”
TOM JURGENS
Currently, they’re working on a project in Brandon, making steady progress on a preengineered commercial build (pictured). As it’s an investment property, Raeco Builders has the ability to work closely on colors, layouts, and the overall design.
“The Brandon project is a fun one for us,” said Tom. “The customer is both a friend and a company in the industry we have worked with for years.”
While the team enjoys being creative with their designs, they also make sure to be realistic with the needs of customers and their budgets.
“For most customers/businesses, this building is a major part of their livelihood,” said Tom. “We are transparent and upfront with them on the costs and budgets to give them a realistic overview of the project. It’s not in our philosophy to price it low to get the job, only to charge them more once we are under contract.”
On top of their projects, what excites the president and founder of Raeco Builders is the team itself.
“We have a team that lives our values and is committed to delivering for our customers and our company,” he said. “It’s just so fun to witness and be a part of.”
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