Company History


 

Orlando-based R. C. Stevens Construction Company is one of Florida's oldest and most experienced construction leaders.  Founded in 1926 by builder/architect Raymond C. Stevens, the company has earned wide recognition as a Construction Manager, Design/Builder, General Contractor, and Program Manager specializing in Process & Manufacturing Plants, Healthcare Facilities, Financial institutions, and Commercial Projects.  Owner, Tim Keating and past owner David J. Smith have a commitment to excellence through honesty and integrity, which is why clients continue to have R. C. Stevens design and build for them.  An originator of the Design/Build process, Ray Stevens was the first builder in Orlando to offer design services--initially for fine homes and later for commercial/industrial projects.  During those early years, he earned high respect for his integrity, innovation and keen sense of quality.

In the 1920's and 1930's, Stevens designed and built fresh fruit packing houses for citrus barons Chester and Jack Fosgate, Dr. P. Phillips, and the Gentile Brothers Companies.  In 1931, W.T. Miller and Raymond C. Stevens began a partnership and formed Miller Stevens Construction Co., which provided general building and construction work, ice making and refrigerating machinery, all types of refrigerating rooms, and cork and shaving insulating.  In 1934, Stevens joined in partnership with local builder Howard Keihl and built numerous residential and commercial/industrial buildings.  In 1935, Stevens received his Architectural Degree and promptly designed one of Orlando's purest Art Deco residences at 537 Highland Street.

Stevens' first commercial design/build projects, in 1936, were for the Orlando Utilities Commission, Hughes Electrical Co., and The Sentinel Star.  The company also designed and built the first Coca-Cola bottling plant in Central Florida in 1938.  With new partner George Sipple in 1939, R. C. Stevens entered the healthcare market, building Orange General (Memorial) Hospital's Nursing School in 1940 and Orlando Memorial Hospital's expansion in 1948.  Joined in 1952 by his son Allyn, Ray Stevens' excellent business relationships with the Fosgates and Ben Hill Griffin resulted in major design/build work in the citrus canning industry--including the first commercially-operating citrus concentrate plant for Vacuum Foods, acquired by Minute Maid and later Coca-Cola Foods.

After joining with architect Henry Walton in 1962, Ray Stevens designed and built hundreds of healthcare, commercial and industrial projects throughout the 1960's and 1970's.  Under the capable leadership of his son, J. Allyn Stevens, the company built on its time-honored heritage of providing quality, cost-effective projects for its clients.  Notably, during the 1990's, the company served as Design/Build Construction Manager for U.S. Sugar Corp.'s $42 million Southern Gardens facility--Florida's first, entirely new citrus processing plant since the early 70's.

Today, Tim Keating and Dave Smith have a commitment to excellence through honesty and integrity, which is why clients continue to have R. C. Stevens design and build for them.  Dave Smith, with the company since 1971, was named President in 1993 and Tim Keating, who joined the company in 1984, was named Vice President.  Both are University of Florida Graduates with degrees in Building Construction and were part of a carefully planned succession instituted by J. Allyn Stevens. Since that time, In 2007, Tim Keating has taken over the reigns as President as R. C. Stevens moves into a new chapter of Ownership.

Taking Clients from Concept to Completion

Services
	Program Management
	Owner Representation
	Design/Build Construction
	Construction Management
Pre-Construction Services:
	Conceptual Estimating
	Site Planning
	Feasibility Studies
	Constructability Analysis
	Scheduling
Design/Build Services:
	Single-Source Accountability
	Value Management
	"Fast-Track" Design and Construction
	New Construction & Renovation
	Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP)
Construction Services:
	Construction Management
	Quality Management Process
	Project Specific Safety Program
	On-time Completion
Financial Strength:
	Bonding for R. C. Stevens Construction Co. is provided by Zurich Financial Services Group (Best's Rating: A, XV).