Johnson-Laux Construction returns to Winter Garden roots

After calling the Orlando area near Florida Mall home for many years, Johnson-Laux Construction is returning to its Winter Garden roots.

The construction-management firm specializes in the health care, aviation, government, commercial, retail, hospitality, education and industrial-manufacturing industries. From job-order and general contracting to construction management, the company has the capabilities to undertake a range of services, including both renovations and brand-new construction.

Now, the company is gearing up for a big move as it relocates its headquarters to a 20,000-square-foot building in Winter Garden.

“We founded the company in 2000, and our very first office was in Winter Garden,” Vice President Kevin Johnson said. “As we outgrew those small offices in Winter Garden, we moved closer to Orlando and have been there ever since. A couple of years ago, I wanted to get back to the west side of town, so we found this property and purchased it, started design and permitting, and now we’re under construction.” 

“(It’s good), time-wise, for our staff and ease of getting to the highway,” said Tony Ashmore, a Johnson-Laux project manager. “This lends to that, plus it’s back to the root of our development of Johnson-Laux. It’s exciting to be back there.”

Johnson said the company began with mostly health care and government construction, but as it grew, the staff ventured into new construction and renovation in the hospitality, education and aviation industries, among others. In February, it will begin its first grocery-store renovation project for Aldi.

“I’ve lived on that side of town since 1999,” Johnson said. “It’s a great location in the sense of the great proximity to the Turnpike, (State Road) 429 and East-West Expressway.”

Construction on the company’s new headquarters is underway, and Johnson and Ashmore hope to move in by late April. Although it is a 20,000-square-foot building, Johnson said the company will only utilize between 8,000 and 10,000 square feet. The other portion will be leased out to a tenant or two.

“We love to see the traffic; we love to see the growth,” Johnson said. “We’ve always loved Winter Garden. We want to be a part of it. Winter Garden is worth the investment to purchase and own our building and continue our growth.”