Hardaway Construction Corp.

When L. Hall Hardaway, Sr. decided to start his construction company at the age of 18 in 1924, he had already been on his own working various construction jobs for several years. Because of his youth, he had to receive a special court order removing the "Disability of Infancy" so he could enter into legal contracts and perform other actions necessary to doing business as an adult. His sole employee was a carpenter, with whom he began his first project, a $3,500 home in Nashville. During the early years Hall, Sr. built over a thousand homes throughout Tennessee and Alabama. Everything then was done by hand and everyone in the crew worked on every aspect of construction. They drew plans for a house on pieces of cardboard that came in shirt packages, they used a team of mules pulling a scraper to dig out basements, and stone foundations were cut by hand. L.H. Hardaway, Sr. said that the hardest time for him was weekends. He couldn't wait to get back to work on Monday.

What started as a small home builder grew to a large commercial builder that after 85 years remains Nashville's oldest, and one of the largest construction firms in Tennessee. In 1950, HARDAWAY Construction Co. started a commercial division that built schools and other commercial buildings. Learning the business from the ground up, L.H. Hardaway, Jr. performed a variety of jobs for the company after school and during summers starting in the seventh grade. Hall, Jr. was determined to learn everything his father knew about the construction industry, and was committed to continue his father's legacy. Following in his fathers footsteps, Hall, Jr. joined the firm in 1956 as a construction superintendent after receiving his degree in Engineering from Vanderbilt University. He worked his way up through the ranks of the firm serving in various management roles focusing on the commercial side of the business and took over the reins as President of HARDAWAY from his father in 1975.

In 1959, the commercial and residential construction sectors were split into HARDAWAY Construction Co. and Cumberland Builders, Inc. Cumberland Builders, which is run by Cathy Hardaway, daughter of Hall, Jr., developed many residential subdivisions, was Nashville's first builder of condominiums, and remains a prominent home builder today.

Many years of success followed as the company steadily grew completing projects of all scopes of work including commercial, educational, public, hospitality, multi-family, retail, religious, criminal justice, recreational, and healthcare. Family leadership of HARDAWAY passed to the third generation, Stan Hardaway, son of Hall, Jr., who joined the firm as a Project Manager in 1985 after earning a degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Stan was a construction Project Manager for three years and continued his duties as Vice President of Business Development until 1998 when he assumed the role of President in which he still holds today.

HARDAWAY Construction founder L. Hall Hardaway, Sr. passed away just shy of his 83rd birthday in 1986. His life was construction, family and serving the community, and to this day his son and grandson have carried on the HARDAWAY legacy. HARDAWAY has a long history of civic and community involvement supporting and serving countless organizations in the Greater Nashville area such as many Christian foundations and churches, schools and universities, and many non-profits.

HARDAWAY's legacy is long, and we are proud to have served the Southeast for more than 85 years. HARDAWAY's projects have been built through teamwork, and our relationships have been built on trust. HARDAWAY has relied on our reputation of superior problem solving skills, our veteran team of highly educated, dedicated and well trained professionals, accurate competitive estimates, and timely execution of projects, We bring an unmatched combination of knowledge, skill, experience, customer commitment and service to every job ensuring the client a positive construction experience.

Our construction contracts have ranged from the modest to the mammoth, and include nearly every type of construction from a small church addition to our unprecedented 20 year relationship with Gaylord Opryland Hotel completing four phases since its initial construction in 1975. As the years have passed and projects have changed, one thing remains constant, the foundation of our success has been based on our beliefs and our relationships. We owe our clients the highest quality work, completed in a timely manner and at a fair and honest price.

From the first home that HARDAWAY built in 1924 on Shelton Avenue, to the historic restoration of the Metro Courthouse, the values in which HARDAWAY Construction Corp. were built upon remain tried, true and tested. Meeting the demands of an ever-evolving industry has required something more than a family history rich in construction experience. It has taken our determination to truly partner with clients, our commitment to continually improve every part of the construction process, and our proven track record.

It's difficult to encapsulate a legacy of over 85 years. It may rest in the skyline of Nashville or in other communities across the Southeast where HARDAWAY cranes reach skyward. Maybe it's in the ability to survive and grow as a family-owned business in an era of conglomerates, or in the way HARDAWAY has fostered loyalty among generations of employees. One thing is certain: the HARDAWAY legacy can be found in its spirit of excellence, of giving and growing into the 21st century, and its continued commitment to our core values.