Not all signatures are made with a pen or a paintbrush – though Morley Builders may have used both utensils when it was making plans to put its mark in the City of Santa Monica. Instead, the Santa Monica-based general contractor relies upon a shed of construction tools to establish its presence to the world – and at least one set of such tools have already helped build the Shore Hotel on Ocean Avenue.
Soon, another set of tools will help restore a once-proud icon in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, a venue that hosted several premiere music concerts and even the Academy Awards in its heyday.
Other Santa Monica projects on Morley Builders’ resume include: a parking project; commercial and retail projects on Santa Monica Boulevard and Arizona Place; a design-build project for Santa Monica Main Public Library; and, expansion of the Big Blue Bus maintenance facility.
Through it all, Morley Builders is playing a significant role in rebuilding the way residents, business owners, visitors, and tourists alike view Santa Monica as an iconic destination.
Tom Neary, Morley Builders vice president of business development, said the company has been honored to be a partner on so many wonderful projects within Santa Monica.
“We consider this our home and we deeply value the many clients with whom we have collaborated with over our nearly 65-year history,” Neary said. “As such we are proud to participate in the projects that shape our wonderful hometown – from iconic civic structures like the Santa Monica Main Public Library to the new Shore Hotel, the numerous multi-family housing projects, office buildings, parking structures, and seismic upgrade projects which shape Santa Monica’s landscape and enhance its quality of life.”
Indeed, Morley Builders has been in business for more than 60 years now, and the contractor aims to have each of its projects to have long-lasting life for at least another 60 years.
While Santa Monica serves both as company headquarters and beneficiary its long-term vision of innovate, integral, and sustainable construction, Morley Builders has also been attached to key development projects with several notable venues across Southern California, including the Getty Villa, Hollywood Bowl, Warner Brothers, City of Hope, UCLA, USC, City Halls for Los Angeles and Pasadena, Home Depot Center, and Petco Park.
In securing projects both in Santa Monica and throughout Southern California, Neary said Morley Builders has established itself as a reputable contractor responsible for delivering projects that are expected to remain intact for decades.
Santa Monica benefits from such a reputation and expectation, both in terms of the city serving as the home of Morley Builders’ company base and as the company’s playground for top-flight building.
Neary said Morley Builders was proud of the reputation it has built during the past 65 years.
“That reputation is based on our company focus on collaboration, innovation, and integrity,” Neary said. “Essentially, Morley takes a long-term perspective on every project and client it encounters. We truly believe in treating everyone as we would like to be treated, and that is rooted in professionalism and mutuality.”
Established in 1947, Morley Builders initially entered the construction business during the post-World War II suburban boom experienced in Southern California. Starting with a few single family homes in Pacoima, Lakewood, and Whittier, founder Morley Benjamin expanded the company to take on larger projects such as commercial buildings, television studios, and large apartment complexes.
In the 1980s, Morley Benjamin’s son, Mark Benjamin, took over and, along with Bert Lewitt, helped shape Morley Builders into what it is today.
Neary said the company has evolved in many ways.
“However, the foundation upon which Morley Builders was created is still is as strong as ever,” he said. “Morley Benjamin, our founder, recognized that trust and integrity were paramount to success. Our building strategies, technologies, and tools may have changed significantly over the years, but those simple tenants of superior customer service and high-quality workmanship have remained the same.”
He added Morley Builders has grown both as a homegrown Santa Monica company and as a general contractor leader across the greater Southern California area.
“Just as Southern California has evolved, Morley’s projects have also become more complex and sophisticated,” he said. “There is definitely satisfaction in knowing that we’ve been on the cutting edge of this evolutionary trend as it pertains to commercial construction. Building Information Modeling is just one of the latest technologies that is changing the face of our industry, and we are proud to say that Morley utilizes this state-of-the-art tool in many of our projects. We have also openly embraced the concepts of LEED design and green construction practices, two vitally important building trends that are here to stay. You don’t have to look far to see Morley’s green-building work in action.”
Morley Builders is located at 2901 28th Street, Suite 100. For more information, call 310.399.1600 or visit www.morleybuilders.com.
