The
year was 1962. John F. Kennedy was president. The population of Utah, according to the census, was around 900,000. The Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Single for the year was “Stranger on the Shore” by Acker Bilk. Gas was 28 cents per gallon. And Dustin Gramoll’s grandfather, Robert, along with Harry Clyde, founded Gramoll Construction. The company operated out of Robert’s home office in North Salt Lake until they constructed their first offices in 1973.
Fast forward to today. Dustin Gramoll is the third-generation President of the well-regarded construction company, now headquartered in offices constructed in 2019—still in North Salt Lake. Dustin is a 2011 University of Utah graduate with a degree in Business Administration. He has been with the firm since 2003, filling every role from cleanup to estimating and from site superintendent to project management. He’s taking the reins from his father and company CEO, Jim Gramoll, the company President for 30 years. Dustin is in good company. His older brother, Sean, is a Vice President at Gramoll Construction and is focused on project management and estimating.
Through his 30 years leading Gramoll Construction, Jim made a significant mark in the Utah construction industry. He was Chairman of the AGC of Utah, currently serves on the AGC of America National Board of Governors, and continues to serve on the AGC of Utah's Board of Directors. In 2017, Jim was presented with the Eric W. Ryberg Award—the highest honor from the AGC, presented each year at the annual convention to "one person whose outstanding service to the general contracting industry of Utah is exemplary."
"Jim has represented the AGC of Utah on a national level for many years, and he's known nationwide. He has friends from California to Washington, D.C. That is a testament to how people view Jim and his company. He's willing to be involved. He's not afraid to pitch in and serve,” said Rich Thorn, President/CEO of AGC of Utah.
Gramoll Construction provides CM/GC, design/build, value-based bid, and pre-construction services with most of its work for repeat clients. In recent years, Gramoll Construction has focused on commercial and institutional projects including numerous projects at the University of Utah, Utah State University, and others from DFCM.
But how does a local construction company evolve from a two-man operation to one that routinely excels at projects in the $50-million range?
The company has built its reputation on doing “whatever it takes,” according to Vice President Mark Bodell, who joined Gramoll in 2007. “We specialize in complex buildings—and we give them the attention they need for them to be successful. Our clients know that we are focused on their job and not pulled in different directions.”
Jim remembers what was then a massive job for Gramoll—a three-story addition to the downtown Salt Lake City Mountain Bell Data Processing Center. The $22-million project (valued at $71 million today) propelled Gramoll into the spotlight and in line for other large projects like the Materiel Test Facility at Dugway Proving Ground and later the Wilkinson Center addition/renovation at BYU.
While Gramoll continued to do work for Mountain Bell, the company was steadily developing a reputation for reliability and honesty. AGC’s Thorn elaborates, “Gramoll Construction is one of the finest companies in the construction industry in the state. They have always had great integrity and pride in their craftsmanship. They have been able to develop and maintain a diverse client base because of their honesty and consistent reliability.”
That has been clear enough, as Gramoll continued its success with each opportunity, expanding its network and clientele. In 2000, Gramoll was selected for the University of Utah Cowles Building restoration/addition and seismic upgrade. Through the 18-month project, they developed a good relationship with both the University of Utah and DFCM.
This relationship stemmed from Gramoll’s exceptional performance on the job and lined up perfectly with the new DFCM value-based selection guidelines. “The new DFCM value-based selection process was a good fit for us, and we got on board very early,” Jim recalls.
“This was a welcome change from bidding jobs where the industry expected contractors to be tough guys while negotiating with the owners and architects,” Jim explained. “That’s not how we like to do business. General contractors can provide a great deal of value during the preconstruction process. We like to assist the design team with constructability reviews and material selection input, along with budgeting and scheduling. This works well when the owner hires the architect and contractor as a team. In a CM/GC arrangement, the project becomes the focus. That’s our attitude and how we work. We can create value, feel good about our work and make the owner happy.”
With a stable team of employees—most with tenure of 15 years or more—Gramoll Construction keeps a consistent volume of work that keeps the team and their longstanding subcontractors busy. Most of their work comes through referrals and relationships developed over three generations of Gramolls.
“When Dad started the company, no one knew him. He had to create a reputation,” Jim recalls. “When I started, doors were opened, and our reputation was established. I trust that as Dustin continues to lead the firm, that reputation will endure along with our time-valued relationships with clients, subs, and vendors.”
Looking ahead, Dustin says, “I am grateful that I have the opportunity to keep moving Gramoll Construction forward and building on the already outstanding reputation we have in the industry. Bob and Jim have both left lasting legacies and large shoes to fill.
“Our people are what make Gramoll successful, and we are grateful to all our employees for the hard work and dedication they put into each project. We will continue to grow and adapt to the ever-changing market, and I look forward to the next 30 years of continuing to build on what both my grandfather and father have accomplished.”
