Member Spotlight

 

Schaus-Vorhies Contracting: Building on 40 Years of Fairfield Roots

The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Schaus-Vorhies Contracting as our September Member Spotlight.

Drive through Fairfield, and chances are you have passed a project touched by Schaus-Vorhies Contracting.

Schools, civic buildings, commercial spaces, and professional offices. Across Fairfield and throughout Southeast Iowa, Schaus-Vorhies Contracting has spent four decades helping build the places where people work, learn, gather, and do business.

This year, Schaus-Vorhies Contracting (SVC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary. It is a milestone that honors an impressive history, but perhaps more importantly, arrives as the company begins an exciting new chapter.

With a new generation of ownership stepping forward, SVC is looking toward the future while holding firmly to the values, relationships, and craftsmanship that have shaped the company since 1986.

Forty Years of Building in Southeast Iowa

Schaus-Vorhies Contracting was founded in 1986 by Gus Schaus and Roger Vorhies with the goal of building a strong commercial construction company serving Southeast Iowa.

What began as a traditional general contracting business evolved over the years into a diversified construction firm capable of taking projects from concept to completion.

Today, SVC specializes in general commercial construction, design-build projects, construction management, structural steel erection, pre-engineered metal building systems, metal wall panels and metal roofing.

While commercial and industrial construction remain at the heart of the business, the company is placing greater emphasis on design-build delivery, streamlined project management, and metal building systems, allowing clients to work with one experienced team through more phases of a project.

That versatility has become one of SVC’s greatest strengths. Rather than fitting every client into the same construction process, the company can approach projects in different ways depending on the needs, goals, and scope of the work.

  

  

A Legacy You Can See Around Fairfield

Forty years of construction leaves a visible mark on a community.

In Fairfield, SVC’s portfolio includes projects many residents interact with regularly, including the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, the Fairfield Community School District Concession Stand Restrooms & Storage Facility, Cambridge Investment Research Fairfield campus, Pilot Grove Savings Bank, multiple TrafFix Devices buildings, Cambridge Sportsplex, Agri Plastics, and Liberty Communications.

Each project is different, but together they illustrate the role a longstanding local contractor can play in a community. SVC isn't simply constructing buildings, it is helping create and improve spaces that support education, business, arts, recreation, and economic activity.

Behind those projects are also local careers. SVC employs workers from Southeast Iowa, invests in its employees and equipment, supports youth programs and volunteer activities, and works to create stable employment opportunities close to home.

   

A New Generation Takes the Lead

SVC's 40th anniversary comes at an important moment in the company's history.

After decades under its founding generation, the business has been undergoing a thoughtful transition designed to provide long-term stability while preserving the character of the company.

Steve Thornton joined SVC in 2006 and worked on major local projects, including the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. His role within the company continued to grow, and in 2019, he became a co-owner. In 2025, Thornton became sole owner.

In 2026, Project Manager and Estimator Austin Atwood joined the ownership team, adding another step to SVC's planned transition into its next generation of leadership.

The goal isn't to reinvent Schaus-Vorhies Contracting.

Instead, the new leadership is building on the foundation already in place, investing in people, technology, equipment, and expanded design-build capabilities while maintaining the relationships and reputation developed over the previous four decades.

It is a balance of continuity and forward momentum: respecting what made SVC successful while preparing the company for what construction will look like in the years ahead.

Persevering Through Change

Reaching 40 years in business doesn't happen without navigating difficult seasons.

Like others in the construction industry, the company also faced dramatic steel price fluctuations during COVID, projects being placed on hold, and an ongoing challenge of finding qualified crew members.

Rather than remaining dependent on one type of work, SVC adapted.

The company diversified the projects it pursued, became creative in responding to changing demand, and saw existing employees step into new responsibilities when they were needed most.

That willingness to adapt while continuing to move forward reflects the core values SVC identified in its Member Spotlight application: safety first, honesty and integrity, reliability, respect for everyone, nurturing personal growth, and doing what they say they are going to do.

  

Investing in the People Behind the Projects

Construction may be measured in square footage, steel, concrete, and completed buildings, but SVC places equal importance on the people doing the work.

In recent years, the company has invested in upgraded facilities, vehicles, equipment, and tools. Those investments help crews work more efficiently and safely while also improving the experience and results delivered to customers.

Employee development is also part of the company's core values. That commitment has become especially important as longtime employees retire and others step into expanded roles.

Recognition Built Over Time

SVC's longevity and body of work have also earned recognition within the construction industry.

The company has been recognized as a CECO Top 25 Builder and as a member of the CECO 1 Million Club.

Those achievements reflect both the volume of work completed and SVC's expertise with pre-engineered metal building systems, an area that continues to play an important role in the company's future.

That expertise can be seen in one of SVC's current projects: a 60,000-square-foot building for TrafFix Devices. SVC is serving as the general contractor while also providing and erecting the CECO pre-engineered metal building for the project.

It's a fitting example of how the company's different capabilities can come together under one roof.

Building the Next 40 Years

Four decades after SVC began in Fairfield, they remain firmly rooted as one of the premier commercial construction companies in Southeast Iowa.

The names and faces leading the business are evolving. Technology and construction methods continue to change. The types and scale of projects have expanded, but the foundation remains remarkably consistent.

Safety. Integrity. Reliability. Strong relationships. Investment in employees. And a commitment to doing what you say you're going to do.

SVC's 40th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the buildings and relationships created since 1986. But it is equally an opportunity to look ahead.

With a new generation of leadership, continued investment in its workforce and capabilities, and deep roots in the community it calls home, Schaus-Vorhies Contracting isn't simply celebrating 40 years of building.

They're building toward the next 40.

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Fast Facts: Schaus-Vorhies Contracting

Founded: 1986
Founders: Gus Schaus and Roger Vorhies
Current Ownership: Steve Thornton and Austin Atwood
Service Area: Fairfield, Southeast Iowa, and the surrounding region
Services: General commercial construction, design-build, construction management, structural steel erection, pre-engineered metal building systems, and wood framing
Industry Recognition: CECO Top 25 Builder and CECO 1 Million Club
Milestone: Celebrating 40 years in business

Built in Fairfield

SVC's work can be found throughout the community, including:

• Fairfield Arts & Convention Center
• Fairfield Community School District Concession Stand Restrooms & Storage Facility
• Cambridge Investment Research Campus
• Pilot Grove Savings Bank
• Multiple TrafFix Devices buildings
• Cambridge Sportsplex
• Agri Plastics
• Liberty Communications

These projects represent just part of four decades spent helping create, expand, and improve the spaces that serve Fairfield's businesses, schools, organizations, and residents.

Contact Schaus-Vorhies Contracting

Whether planning a commercial construction project, exploring design-build options, or looking for expertise in structural steel or pre-engineered metal building systems, connect with the Schaus-Vorhies Contracting team to learn more.

Address:
2407 W Burlington Ave
Fairfield, IA 52556

Phone:
641-472-8539

Website:
svciowa.com

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