San Diego’s Bayside Fire Station Number 2 is among the projects completed by Barnhart-Reese Construction Inc. Photo courtesy of Barnhart-Reese Construction Inc.
It took several years for Barnhart-Reese to establish itself after it was formed in 2008. That included reclaiming the Barnhart name.
When Doug Barnhart sold his original company to the Texas-based Balfour Beatty Construction Co., Barnhart said part of the deal was that he couldn’t use his name in any new company he formed, and that he couldn’t compete directly with Barnhart Balfour Beatty for five years.
Instead, the legacy company was initially called J. Reese Construction Inc. — the “J” was a nod to Tami and West’s older son.
When the prohibition on using the Barnhart name, expired J. Reese Construction was renamed Barnhart-Reese Construction, with Barnhart as chairman, Tami as president and West as CEO.
Barnhart-Reese has completed or is working on several major projects, including a new wastewater purification system at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, a cancer center at Sharp Chula Vista Hospital that bears Barnhart’s name, and the Bayside Fire Station Number 2 for the city of San Diego.
Medical treatment equipment in a Chula Vista cancer treatment center built by Barnhart-Reese Construction. Photo courtesy of Barnhart-Reese Construction Inc.
“I couldn’t ask for a more cooperative contractor,” said Daniel Kay, principal engineer with Civic San Diego, which was the developer on the fire station.
“All of the projects that Civic San Diego does have to go through a public bid, so I’m stuck with the lowest bidder. Fortunately, they were the low bidder on this project,” Kay said. “They did a really good job and the project was a success in my mind.”
Professional Recognition
One of Barnhart-Reese’s projects — the Skyline Hills Branch Library in Paradise Hills – was named one of the best construction projects for 2017 by the Associated General Contractors of America.
The company also has several ongoing projects with the Navy, including the $8.1 million renovation of the historic Building 158 at Naval Base Point Loma, the $12.6 million renovation of two barracks buildings at Naval Air Station North Island and the $7 million renovation of two buildings at Naval Base San Diego.
