Bordeaux Construction
An Award-Winning Family Business
A family-owned and operated business since its founding in 1977, Bordeaux Construction has endured and grown by embracing new technology while maintaining its legacy as a family business and a community member, according to president and third-generation leader Blair Bordeaux.
Founders Joe and Agnes Bordeaux established the business initially and brought sons David and Tom Bordeaux on board in 1987. Grandson Blair Bordeaux now serves as president, with Ben Warren serving as vice president.
The Fort Fisher Visitors Center in Kure Beach, NC, is an award-winning two-story facility that replaced the old center with much needed updates for the more than one million annual visitors to Fort Fisher. The fort was designated a North Carolina National Historic Landmark in 1961.
Headquartered in the Raleigh area, Bordeaux Construction builds projects across North Carolina, with the capital area’s rapid growth helping to fuel the company’s opportunities. Bordeaux’s primary focus has been on public projects, including municipal and state buildings, schools, jails, and higher education buildings. For their efforts, the company received the 2025 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) National Excellence in Construction Award for the Fort Fisher Visitor Center project and the ABC National Health and Safety Excellence Award for Excellence in Safety.
Blair brims with enthusiasm when he speaks of the Fort Fisher project at Kure Beach, which involved the construction of a two-story visitor center to replace an older structure. “It was a really cool project,” he says. Fort Fisher was a Confederate earthwork during the Civil War, and later a World War II airstrip. Some of the Civil War-era bunkers had been bulldozed or damaged, and part of the project involved restoring them.
“There is so much history there,” Blair adds, noting that a battalion of female pilots flew from the airstrip in World War II. “Their role was to tow banners that were used as target practice,” he said.
 | Blair Bordeaux, Bordeaux Construction President |
Blair describes Bordeaux’s role in projects as that of a “construction manager,” working alongside the client throughout the entire process. Sometimes, Bordeaux professionals assist with site acquisition and analysis, helping to plan the project and determine the most efficient approach.
“What sets us apart is our focus on technology,” Blair says. “It has changed more in the last seven years than it did in the previous 40 years.” They can now build virtual buildings during the pre-construction phase, streamlining the construction process. “We focus on how we can build a better building,” Blair adds.
After completing construction, Bordeaux Construction provides facilities management to help the client transition from the construction phase to active use of the building.
Other projects include the Durham County Youth Home, the Maritime Museum Education Center, and the Randolph County Jail. Blair is interested in sustainable construction, and pointed to Northside Elementary School, which features solar panels and a green roof among other environmentally favorable features. The Durham County Youth Home is another project that features solar and geothermal energy.
The Fuller Magnet Elementary School is a modern, state-of-the-art educational facility in Raleigh. The two-story facility is 107,000 square feet that includes: classrooms, shared learning commons, a media center, art and music room, a dance studio, and a multi-purpose room that serves as a cafeteria, gym, and stage.
Blair says that the company previously banked with a national bank but switched to TowneBank during the Covid pandemic. He felt a particular need at that time for a local bank that could offer him face-to-face, personal interaction.
“TowneBank suited our needs well because, while they were big enough to handle large business accounts, the bankers could provide a personal and local connection. It’s a much better fit for us than a national bank,” Blair says.
Preston Mahan, senior vice president and commercial banker, works with Blair and others at Bordeaux Construction. “I am impressed by Bordeaux’s standing in the community and their tenure and longevity as a company. It is a pleasure to partner with them.”
For more information, visit BordeauxConstruction.com.