Webb builds on reputation of integrity, efficiency

Small Business Spotlight for The Memphis Daily News

Sept. 7, 2013

Long before the county and city would cleave their school systems, Shelby County Schools saw unprecedented growth as more and more residents filled the neighborhoods that seemed to appear overnight like springtime daffodils.

There were a lot of families filling those homes and their children needed schools, and many of those schools were built by one contractor: Webb Building Corp. On the company’s website, a testimonial from then-school superintendent James B. Mitchell Jr., refers to the team at Webb as “outstanding.”

Founded in 1985 by Bailey “Budd” Webb and Jerry Tucker, now retired, the contractor adheres to three principles: knowledge of the construction business, integrity, and the perseverance and determination to succeed.

Webb Building Corp., founded in 1985, has built a reputation as a school contractor, with 50 schools under its belt.

(photo: Memphis News/Andrew J. Breig)

Webb is a competitive bid general contractor, yet has built on its reputation of integrity and efficiency to the extent that it has been “handed the reputation as a school contractor,” said Bobby Sturgeon, vice president of operations for Webb. “We typically specialized, or have been fortunate to do numerous amounts of Shelby County, Memphis City and Desoto County schools. We’ve probably completed 50 schools since the company has been in business.”

“They’ve been very successful in that arena,” said Juan Self, principal ofSelf Tucker Architects Inc., who has worked with Webb on several educational facilities, including Bolton High School. “It was a very good experience, very positive. They were always professional, certainly I think their superintendents are really just excellent at what they do in anticipating issues and making sure their projects are delivered on time.”

In addition to schools, they have been responsible for projects such as a new municipal building in Jackson, Tenn., work on Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Shelby County Jail Annex, The Orpheum Theatre expansion and renovation, and the Germantown Community Library.

Webb has put its footprint on some high-profile buildings, to say the least. At the time of its construction, the $38 million Arlington High School was the largest high school in the state. Renaissance Group was the architecture firm for that school, as well as Southwind High School, and the two have just completed construction on the new Collierville Middle School . . . (read more)