MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS managed construction of the 19th-century-inspired St. Charles Carriage House, a three-level parking structure for the city of Black Hawk, Colorado.

Jason Golden serves as President of MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS. His 23 years of experience in the construction industry helps ensure that the company’s performance meets or exceeds clients’ expectations.

MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS thrives on complex, challenging projects. “These jobs take a tremendous amount of effort and research and are personally extremely rewarding,” says President Jason Golden.

When the company received news from the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority that its Glenwood Maintenance Facility was experiencing severe structural stabilization issues, the company jumped at the opportunity to help.

“The building was essentially ripping itself apart and almost to the point that the Transportation Authority would have to evacuate and abandon the building,” Jason says. He explains that the concrete masonry unit, which was just 10 years old, was separating from the bond beams, with gaps up to 2 inches wide. “The building was ripping apart due to the alluvial debris fan and the spread footings it was constructed on. We were brought in to do emergency design and construction.”

The company did a deep dive into the problem and teamed with subject-matter expert Fred Rutz of J.R. Harris & Company. “James was one of the structural engineering experts called in to do the emergency structural design on the Pentagon after 9/11,” Jason notes. “We needed the best structural engineer on this project.”

According to Jason, the company had only four months to design a new foundation, raise and relevel the building and reconstruct nearly every wall. As part of the repair process, MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS drove 307 compaction grout columns 100 feet deep to stabilize the foundation of the 18,600-square-foot, two-story building. “The worst part of the building had sunk 9 inches. We were able to raise the foundation 4 inches to get the building as level as could be,” Jason says. “On projects like this, I really enjoy the process of digging through code requirements and regulations and helping to steer the design team to maximize the owner’s dollars and get the job done right.”

Listening to Clients, Team Members

Headquartered in Castle Rock, Colorado, the general contractor has been getting jobs done right since 1984 for commercial customers across Colorado. In addition to tackling tough structural stabilization projects, MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS provides construction management, design-build, construction, preconstruction and consulting services for municipal, educational, multifamily, industrial, religious, aquatic, sports and recreation facilities, and tenant improvement projects.

“We’re one of the smaller general contractors in Colorado, but we pursue similarly sized projects as the larger companies,” Jason says. MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS manages between eight and 15 projects a year with a total value of $20 million. “We pride ourselves on listening to customers and taking the time to understand the goals for a project so we can make educated recommendations. Not every solution is right for every customer,” he says. “What we find is that new clients, who were once very loyal to larger general contractors, are unbelievably impressed with the service they receive from MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS.”

With a team of 32 employees, it’s all hands on deck when it comes to brainstorming solutions. “We have a vast knowledge of ideas and perspectives in the company. My dad, who will turn 70 this year, understands where things can go wrong on a project because he’s seen it all. Some of our younger employees, who are in their early 20s, come to the table with creative, energetic new ideas. We like to say that there are many ways to install a doorframe. Just because you’ve done something one way for years, doesn’t mean there isn’t another way to do it. All opinions are valued in this company.”

That collaborative approach has led to a satisfied team of employees, according to Jason. “Out of 32 employees, nearly 70% have been with us for more than a decade, some much longer. We don’t micromanage our employees. At MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS, we care about our employees and we care about our clients.”

Industry Recognition

MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS was formed 36 years ago in the small town of Castle Rock. After nearly 19 years in the construction industry, Jason’s dad, Mike, along with wife, Pam, started the company out of the couple’s basement. Mike’s first desk was a wood door balanced on top of two filing cabinets.

Though the company’s start was anything but auspicious, within two years, MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS landed its first bid project in 1986, and within a year, the company was honored with the Outstanding Contractor Award from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Omaha District. Two years later, Mike secured the company’s first $1 million project, an addition to Haxtun High School in Haxtun, Colorado. MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS has grown in the size and complexity of its projects and is known for its work along Colorado’s Front Range and at high-altitude environments, according to Jason. The company has been named the General Contractor of the Year eight times by the American Subcontractors Association of Colorado and has received other accolades and awards throughout the years.

Jason joined his father full time soon after college. Though he never imagined taking over the company, Jason soon fell in love with the work. “When I started, I was working as an assistant superintendent on fire station 151 in Castle Rock. We built the 17,700-square-foot building from the ground up. I had the opportunity to swing a hammer and actually construct,” he says. “My Australian shepherd came with me to work and would herd forklifts all day. I’m a big outdoor enthusiast. I loved working outside, and I fell in love with the building process.”

For the next nine years, Jason stayed out in the field as a superintendent. After 9/11, Mike asked Jason to return to the office as an estimator when the economy suffered a slowdown. “Our priority was to minimize layoffs, so any new projects went to our superintendents first. Later, I was able to return to the field,” Jason says.

The Importance of Planning

With 23 years of industry experience, Jason took over as President in July 2019, with Mike assuming the role of CEO. Today, Jason spends his days visiting jobs sites, troubleshooting potential issues and guiding the preconstruction process. “Before breaking ground, we typically spend four to eight months in preconstruction,” he says.

One project that required a great deal of planning was construction of an indoor compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in 2012. “This was the first indoor CNG station in 40 years,” Jason says. Because natural gas is highly explosive and the gas rises, MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS ensured the design went above and beyond in safety features. “We teamed with a CNG consultant out of British Columbia, in addition to Doug Sandridge of Concord West on the project. He helped guide the review of the code and helped us during the design process.” The fueling station features specialized sensors and deflagration vents in the event of a gas leak. “The station is blast proof on three sides, with the fourth wall containing the deflagration venting system,” Jason notes.

Helping Clients, Community

Other noteworthy projects include Avenue 8 at Mayfair, a high-end apartment complex complete with a dog park, dog-washing station and underground parking, and the Steven C. West Ice Arena in Breckenridge, which features two new rooms for coaches, two new locker rooms and restrooms, and a separate new room just for referees. At Philip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock, the company developed 60% of the park, including a new amphitheater, an upscale waterfall and events center commonly used for wedding receptions, and an adventure playground that features an eight-story, self-guided ropes course. “This project is in my backyard. It’s unbelievable how it transformed Castle Rock and has since been recognized on a national level,” he says.

Jason adds that employees take pride in their work on projects like these and appreciate the level of caring fostered at MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS. “We always strive to treat each other with respect. We want employees to love the projects they work on and to enjoy coming to work each day,” Jason says.

Employees work together on commercial projects and often on community projects as well. The company formed the Young Citizens of Philanthropy to support the Crisis Center in Littleton and participated in a charity cycling event for eight years, raising up to $10,000 each year. “This year, we’re looking at volunteer opportunities to support Volunteers of America,” Jason says.

“We have really good humans here at MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS. They are always working to do their best for clients and do their best for the community,” he adds.

“While our priority is to be profitable, we’re in this business to help people—and our team of construction professionals go the extra mile to do just that,” Jason continues. “We’re easy to work with and known as much for our quality workmanship as for our honest and ethical approach to doing business. We pride ourselves on creating relationships that last a lifetime.”