Van Hoose Construction

Better by Design

Oklahoma’s Design Build Leader Since1980

With 1,200 projects and $2.3 billion in work, Van Hoose Construction has been a leading force in Oklahoma’s building landscape for 46 years. During this time, the firm has earned a solid reputation for excellence and integrity, bringing a relationship-driven approach to every project.

Founded in 1980 by Jim Van Hoose, the company has grown into a dynamic player in the region’s construction industry, with a legacy that spans three generations. Jim’s son, Jeff Van Hoose, joined the firm in 1986 and has spent the last four decades guiding its steady growth from $1 million to $125 million a year in volume.

Now, the next generation is helping to carry the story forward, as Jeff’s daughter, Sydney Coon, and his son, Griffin Van Hoose, have both taken on leadership roles in the company. Together, the Van Hoose family continues to position the organization for the future.

More Than Just a Builder

At its core, Van Hoose Construction is a design-build, full-service general contractor. “All of our work is negotiated, and we absolutely set ourselves apart from our competition by being a trusted advisor,” Jeff explains, noting that helping clients think through the long-term financial impact of a project is just as important as delivering the finished building itself. “I discuss payback, tax credits, and bonus depreciation,” he continues. “The real cost of the building occurs after the occupation certificate. Life cycle cost is a critical component to every project.”

Van Hoose Construction is also known for exceptional employee retention, with many team members building entire careers within the organization. “People never leave here until they retire,” Jeff notes. “We’ve had a lot of employees who have been here for a very long time.” Profit sharing, 401k matching, and a bonus pool all contribute to a culture where people feel valued and invested in successful outcomes for the company.

Ahead of the Curve

Looking back over 46 years, Van Hoose Construction has demonstrated a keen ability to anticipate market cycles, something Jeff attributes to luck. “We seem to always be at the right place at the right time,” he remarks. “When churches were very popular to build, I was in with the right architects, and that led to multiple church projects in the Oklahoma Metro area.”

The same pattern followed with grocery stores, and later, call centers. “I had just built a couple of grocery stores ahead of that curve, so I quickly became the grocery store guy.

Back when call centers were huge in Oklahoma, I happened to be in with the developer who was bringing call centers. We built almost every Call Center in Oklahoma,” recalls Jeff, naming Sprint, AT&T, Cox Communications, Williams-Sonoma, and Assurant. “The list just went on and on, and it was always being ahead of the curve and being at the right place at the right time,” he says.

More recently, that initiative has extended to Class A concrete tilt panel warehouses in partnership with developer Dick Tanenbaum. Jeff recounts, “I built one for him, and I really performed well, and now we’ve done three and a half million square feet of concrete tilt panel together.”

That relationship has now opened the door to a new phase: multifamily development. A $50 million office-to-residential conversion in downtown Oklahoma City was the first project in partnership with Tanenbaum. The 265-unit redevelopment, “The Harlow,” required careful attention to historical preservation while gutting and replacing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and navigating historic tax credits and local TIF funding.

Now a 106-unit, 12-story project is underway, along with three additional conversions totaling roughly 300 units. “It’s looking like right now, in the pipeline, we’ve got about 1500 units of multifamily to build,” reports Jeff. The Harlow project won “Best of the Best” at the Oklahoma AGC awards banquet.

“We are eager for the large amount of multi-family work on the horizon,” he adds.

Innovation That Drives Return.

One of Van Hoose’s strengths is its expertise in geothermal HVAC systems. Jeff immersed himself in geothermal in 2005, studying tax credits, bonus depreciation, and long-term payback structures. “I’ve converted 96 percent of the buildings that I’ve built since 2005 to geothermal,” he relays.

“I’ve installed 2000 systems. I just completed one of the largest geothermal buildings in the country. It’s 1.5 million square feet, climate-controlled, and it’s all geothermal.

Structural efficiency is another standout area. In recent years, the company has embraced a steel system known as LogistX, produced by Butler Manufacturing, a division of BlueScope. As a Butler dealer since 1996, Van Hoose Construction has exclusive access to certain product lines, including the LogistX Truss PurlinXT joist system.

“One of the things that we’re really fighting in this industry is cost, and I’m always on the team of my client, so I have to figure out ways to stay competitive, and keep my client competitive,” Jeff acknowledges. “And one of the ways that I’m doing that in a big way is with LogistX.”

The advantages are measurable. On the 1.5 million square foot Locke Supply project, the LogistX system reduced steel weight by approximately one million pounds compared to conventional alternatives. “Steel is sold by the pound. So, this is very cost-effective, and it’s a better system,” he says.

Aesthetically, the galvanized joists paired with a prefinished white deck have created an unexpected benefit. “It’s attractive and clean, and it is setting a new standard for Class A distribution facilities,” Jeff describes. The Locke Supply project was recognized as the AGC Industrial Project of the Year.

“It looks so good that our clients are asking how much it would cost to paint the inside of the concrete tilt panel walls, because now they want white walls and this white ceiling with this galvanized joist. For the first time in my career, we’re starting to paint the inside of warehouses.”

Investments in Technology, Equipment, and Efficiency

As the tilt panel volume increased, it became clear that it was time to invest in people and equipment. With this in mind, Van Hoose Construction purchased a 360-ton crawler crane, followed by a 360-ton all-terrain crane.

Griffin expands, “We have our own fleet, our own operators, and our own concrete tilt panel and steel erection crews. When you have your own crane and your own crews, you can save your client money, and you can control the schedule.”

Technology adoption at Van Hoose Construction is equally purposeful. The firm uses drones frequently, especially when accessing difficult areas safely and efficiently. Griffin conveys, “We have a very high-quality drone, and we have a commercial pilot’s license to ensure we are operating legally.”

Artificial intelligence is also part of the day-to-day. “It’s very helpful. I use AI as many references. It saves time and offers a nice perspective on how to accomplish tasks.”

On the operations side, Sydney shares, “We’ve been a Procore partner for several years now, and we are upgrading our accounting software to the Sage platform. With that integration, we’re looking forward to streamlining our project data from month to month.”

She says a  third platform, KPA, supports safety management, adding, “Between safety project management and accounting, those really keep our team together.”

Community Roots and Crucial Partners

With deep ties to the community of Oklahoma City, Jeff serves as president of the board at Trinity Christian School, sits on the board of BancFirst, and was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt as a commissioner for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. In 2016, he co-founded the Oklahoma City Commercial Developers Association, which has grown from a handful of members to 70 developers.

As for local partnerships, Van Hoose Construction maintains strong working relationships with H&H Plumbing, Delco Electric, Control Fire, and geothermal specialists, Comfort Works. “Those are our MEP partners that are very critical for the types of projects we’re doing,” Jeff asserts. “They’re very involved with us from the beginning, when we do a design-build project.”

The Road Ahead

Jeff says the upcoming priority for Van Hoose Construction will be hiring people to support future projects. “We are entering a phase of very large manufacturing facilities, and also getting into a 500-unit apartment complex,” he details. “Those are not easy projects, and we are going to be filling the leadership roles with new hires. We have started interviewing, and we’re very confident that we’re on the right track to find top-notch people.” Leading the charge is VP Brandon Cheney. “Brandon has become a vital part of our executive team,” Jeff highlights.

For Sydney, future success means making intentional decisions. “We’ve been so lucky and so blessed by everything that has come across our desk. To be able to keep that, we can’t count on luck,” she stresses. “Coming together with structure and intentionality, focused towards the same goal, and really driving that team towards the finish line, is what I’m excited for.”

From a $1 million startup to a $125 million industry leader, Van Hoose Construction continues to build its legacy through projects and relationships that span decades and beyond.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Van Hoose Construction

What: A leading design-build firm for 46 years

Where: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Website: www.vhcon.com