“We haven’t just helped build Nashville—we’ve grown up with it.”
In a city that’s constantly growing and changing, few names in Nashville construction carry the history like Crain Construction. Founded in 1933 in the middle of the Great Depression, Crain has weathered every economic high and low, helping to shape the Nashville skyline while staying grounded in the same core values that started it all: doing the right thing, approaching each job with knowledge and passion, and advocating for the success of our clients in everything we do.
After more than nine decades and thousands of projects, we’ve learned a lot about what it takes to build something that lasts. While the tools and technology have changed, one thing has always stayed the same: trust is the foundation of everything we do.
What 90+ Years in Construction Taught Us About Building Trust
Here are a few principles we’ve learned over the years that have shaped our commitment to building structures and relationships that last:
1. Trust Is Earned, Not Promised
In an industry where every project is a complex collaboration of people, plans, and moving parts, trust doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through consistency and follow-through.
“Saying we’ll take care of you isn’t enough. Doing it is what counts.” This is a phrase that has reverberated through our hallways for decades.
It’s why at Crain, we don’t just say we’ll deliver—we prove it. We take time to listen, communicate transparently, and follow through on what we say we’ll do.
That commitment is one reason why more than 85% of our work comes from repeat customers. Developers and owners know that when they hire Crain, they’re partnering with a team that will stand by them from day one and continue to care long after the official ribbon-cutting.
As Robert Schaedle, President of Chartwell Hospitality, said, “I like to work with people who are truth-tellers and fact-finders. You never have any doubts with the Crain team that you’re getting the full story, and you can take that to the bank.”
2. History Creates Perspective
When potential clients visit our office, there’s always a moment of surprise when they learn we built the very building they’re standing in, back in the late 1950s. It’s a small but powerful reminder of our longevity and legacy in Nashville.
We’ve been around long enough to have built projects that we now help renovate or adapt for new use. That perspective gives our team a unique understanding of the city’s evolution and of what it takes to design, plan, and construct with both durability and adaptability in mind.
Our history also serves as a reminder that longevity in this business doesn’t come from chasing trends or cutting corners. It comes from staying true to your values and continually earning your clients’ trust, project after project.
3. Relationships Make the Difference
Commercial construction is often viewed as a technical business. But at its core, it’s a people business. From developers and architects to subcontractors and city officials, every successful project is built on strong, honest relationships.
That belief runs deep at Crain, and it drives every decision we make.
Internally, that same trust extends to our team. As longtime Project Manager Jeff Kurzhal puts it:
“The support is there when needed, but there is trust that you are capable of doing the job you were hired to do and accountability within the team that you are performing at your best.”
That culture of trust and accountability translates directly to how we work with clients. Every member of our team, from preconstruction to project management, is empowered to do what’s right for the client and for the project. It’s how we’ve maintained long-standing partnerships with developers like Chartwell Hospitality, Southeast Venture, and H.G. Hill Realty.
4. Taking the Long View
In construction and in business, short-term gains rarely build long-term success. At Crain, we’ve learned to take the long view. Whether it’s planning a complex multi-phase project or navigating economic uncertainty, we approach each decision with an eye toward sustainability, reliability, and relationships.
We’ve seen firsthand how putting people over profit leads to stronger projects and repeat partnerships. Our goal has never been to be the biggest construction firm in Tennessee; it’s to be the most trusted.
A Legacy Built on Trust
Ninety years in business doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of showing up every day, doing what you say you’ll do, and putting people first: clients, partners, and employees alike.
This commitment built Crain’s legacy in Nashville, and it’s what continues to drive us today as we look ahead to the next century of building together.
If you’re looking for a general contractor who values relationships as much as results, let’s build something lasting together.
