Who we are

A century of building Utah.

Founded in 1925 by Norwegian fisherman Paul Paulsen, Paulsen Construction has built and restored Salt Lake City's landmarks for five generations.

Our mission

To deliver quality buildings for generations to come — and to restore buildings from generations past.

The Paulsen family

Five generations, one name.

1925

1925I

First Generation

Paul Paulsen

It began in 1925, when Paul Paulsen — a fisherman from Norway — founded the company on shared values and a culture of collaboration, determined to be the preferred builder in every market it served. Paul raised high-rise apartments, high-end residences, and schools across Salt Lake City, many of which still stand today.

1940's

1940'sII

Second Generation

Byron Paulsen

In the 1940s Byron Paulsen, a University of Utah civil engineer, took the helm. An inventor at heart, he founded Paulsen Engineering & Manufacturing in 1959 — one creation was a seat-recliner part used in Volkswagens — and merged it back into the company in 1974. A partner in ACME Crane Rental, he served as president of the Associated General Contractors in 1984.

1980's

1980'sIII

Third Generation

Craig Paulsen

Craig Paulsen was on job sites by the age of six. He became an expert in wastewater treatment plants, building many across the Salt Lake Valley — but his lasting passion is historical restoration, and he has almost single-handedly rebuilt Spring City, Utah. In 2017 he received Preservation Utah's Lifetime Achievement Award for historical restoration.

Today

TodayIV

Fourth Generation

John Paulsen

Nearly a century on, John Paulsen leads the company he has worked in — tool in hand — for as long as he can remember. Fair, quick with a joke, and fluent in every aspect of construction, he has struck a balance between modern technology and old-school craft, and is always looking for the next project.

Future

FutureV

Fifth Generation

The Next Century

As Paulsen Construction enters its second century of business, the fifth generation of the Paulsen family is already helping shape the company's future. Actively involved in daily operations, project management, and strategic growth, they are building on the values that have defined our company since 1925.

What we stand for