Javier Jimenez, the brand ambassador on the home page of Building Resources’ website, is a Foreman who has worked in construction for 25 years. Also a husband and father, an immigrant and taxpayer, he is an example of the people the company hires and cultivates.

The Thompson Autism Center is an upfit of a 20,000-square-foot shell building. Colorful, soothing murals are an important part of the design.

At Building Resources, the focus is on all the people who are part of the project process. “We champion the people who build,” says Juan Banos, CEO of the firm based in Los Angeles County.

Take Javier Jimenez, whose smiling face is on the homepage of Building Resources’ website, buildingresources.com. Jimenez is a Foreman who has worked in building construction for 25 years, a period of much growth and change, Juan explains. Every day he works hard to provide excellence in construction, but he is also a father and husband, a son, an immigrant and a taxpayer. He is an example of the employees Building Resources hires and cultivates.

In the broader context, Building Resources also celebrates the importance of the building industry’s role in society. “It goes without notice, working behind the scenes,” Juan says. But those who build things are responsible for so much of the world: where business functions, where babies are born, where people go to be healed, where the science is developed to send people into space.

Building Resources’ projects focus mostly on health care, but also extend to industrial, manufacturing, education, government, hospitality and entertainment. “We say we build things that matter,” Juan says, “and everything matters.”

The art of building construction is nearly as old as the human race. “We used to build with rocks, now we build to code,” Juan says.

A Passion for Making Careers

Building Resources is passionate about improving the lives of its 143 employees. The company hires those who excel at what they do, and it makes sure its employees have year-round employment. “To us, it’s a major social responsibility,” Juan says. “It’s why we do what we do.”

The company offers “all things building,” Juan explains, striving to be experts in many phases of the industry. The company maintains divisions in design, construction, facilities, energy and technology. Every building trade or vendor fits into one of those categories, he says. The company will work with both building owners and general contractors. Building Resources has a strong local presence in Los Angeles, with other offices in San Diego, Arizona, Missouri, Texas and North Carolina.

Roots in Parents’ American Dream

Building Resources established its roots in 1985, when Ramon Banos Sr., an immigrant from Spain, and his wife, Gricelda Banos, who resettled in the U.S. from Mexico, began the first company, BR Building. They did well, with a few employees. Juan Banos and his siblings grew up with that family business atmosphere. In 2009, the family both lost their father and bankrupted the first business.

“I didn’t want to do that work. I thought it was just construction,” Juan says. Then he realized the major contribution the building industry makes to the global economy, the billions spent each year on construction and the millions of people employed by that industry. In 2009, the business was “totally broke. We needed a new brand identity,” he says. At that point, it was just the three brothers in the firm, so they called it BR & Sons Co. from 2009-2015. Then sister Vanessa decided to join them. They considered going back to BR & Co., but potential customers weren’t sure what they did. Finally, they settled on Building Resources, which they believe more clearly expresses what the firm does.

“We market our services and emphasize our core values,” Juan says. “The people here know they are part of a growing and evolving business. Our philosophy is: If you’re not changing and evolving, you are not growing.” Building Resources’ leadership and team members are not afraid to bring in new processes or systems to build capacity or make the work more efficient.

Leveraging Technology

An example of new processes involves the technology the firm has adopted. “The biggest value-add is the coming together of technology and construction,” Juan says. “We leverage technology to make our projects better.” The company uses Procore construction and project management software as the heartbeat of its operation. It wirelessly connects all parties involved in a project, enhancing communication and logistics.

Another technology innovation is the Matterport Pro2 3D camera, which can create a virtual walk-through of a building project for a client. A team will go through and scan the building every week or two weeks so that the owner and managers can monitor construction progress. “It has been especially useful during COVID,” Juan reports.

Focus on Health Care

A recent project was the Thompson Autism Center at Children’s Health of Orange County. It was built on a rigid schedule with a tight budget, an upfit of a 20,000-square-foot shell building. Juan said it is the first of its kind on the West Coast. Children will be diagnosed and treated in a center specifically designed to meet their needs, with input from patients, physicians and nurses.

Among the design details are soft, calming colors; small alcoves in the walls that give anxious children a place to hide out; rounded corners and shapes; and exam rooms with two doors allowing team members to rotate through so that the child and family can stay in one place.

Another project built from the ground up is inSite Digestive Health Care Glendora. The facility is one of multiple California offices of the large gastroenterology physician group, with more than 60 providers. The facility offers testing and its team performs clinical research.

In the food and beverage market, Building Resources converted a concession stand into a restaurant for Big A Burger at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, home of the Los Angeles Angels, as well as worked on La Rotisserie restaurant on the third-base field level at the stadium.

In the past year, Building Resources added an energy division to help clients modernize infrastructure, reduce operating costs and promote sustainability. The energy services incorporate full turnkey energy solutions that include HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), lighting, solar, fuel cells and smart building integration.

The firm has two programs that give back to the community. Building Hope works with people that need construction, not just want it. BR Kids (The Little Builders) is an educational program that teaches children about the world of building.

The company’s slogan is “Let’s build something together.” That includes building a lasting relationship with its clients and the communities the team serves.

Building Resources has its roots in the success of an immigrant’s American dream: a vision that allows his proud legacy to live on.