In the competitive world of commercial construction, St. Francisville-based Maginnis Construction Company stands out both as a regional player and as a small business with an abiding commitment to community.
“We really enjoy delivering quality work throughout the southeast, but especially in our home town,” says firm founder Stuart Maginnis. “When you run into your friends, neighbors and clients wherever you go, it’s important to be able to stand behind your work.”
Stuart launched the firm in 2011, and since then, Maginnis Construction has grown to become a multi-disciplinary operation with local and national clients. With support from BSF, Stuart purchased and renovated office space on Commerce Street, which now houses his 12-employee enterprise. The firm has completed numerous high-profile projects throughout the region while also serving as a disaster relief provider and construction contractor for AT&T.
In St. Francisville, Maginnis Construction has been behind several projects that reflect the energy afoot in the community. The team helped transform the St. Francisville Inn, the prominent endeavor of celebrity designer Brandon Branch and his husband, and business partner, Jim Johnston. Recently completed, the Inn offers four-star accommodations, including 11 luxury guest rooms, an opulent bar, and a restored swimming pool and courtyard.
The firm also renovated Professional Square, a shopping development located on Commerce Street near Highway 61 which houses The Vintage Hive. Combining a “farmhouse chic” retail store with a DIY workshop space, The Vintage Hive has become a community hub for creatives to connect.
Another firm project is the St. Francisville Animal Medical Center, a 4,300 square-foot state-of-the-art facility with veterinary services, boarding and doggie day care. Stuart, his wife, Brooke, a local pediatrician, and their four children took their English Pointer, Barron, to the Animal Medical Center when the pooch was bitten by a venomous snake. Barron, we’re happy to report, made a full recovery.
While Maginnis Construction has seen steady growth over the past nine plus years, their progress hasn’t been without significant hard work, Stuart says, even in the face of personal challenges. In 2013, Stuart was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that can cause nerve inflammation and paralysis. Stuart’s 18-month journey to recovery began with learning how to walk again, and culminated in completing not just one, but several, triathlons.
“It was a testament to our business’s stability that I was out for so long, and we were able to continue producing great work,” Stuart says. “We have an unbelievable team and tremendous relationships with our clients.”
Stuart says his illness helped reinforce life’s most important priorities, including the value of family, friends, and community. As a result, the firm enjoys supporting many local philanthropies and civic initiatives, including Arts for All, West Feliciana Parish Schools, the Knights of Columbus, Bella Bowman Foundation, Old Benevolent Society in St. Francisville, support of first responders, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
“It really changed my perspective and made clear what’s important in life,” Stuart says. “Success is not just about making money, but about being part of a community."
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