Building in Community
by Jenn Rein
At Elevated Builders in Park City, owner George “Geordy” Bishop works diligently to ensure that each client’s expectations are met by curating the resources that are needed to make each build a success. This is not just reflected in the home itself, but often also in familiarizing a homeowner with the community where they will be planting their roots.
“The make of our business is predicated on being involved from the very beginning. The model begins with a client having a dream and finding a trusted resource who is a gateway to Park City. Part of our experience in this builder-centric model is to be engaged early, before the architect is chosen or any of the other subcontractors.”
–George “Geordy” Bishop, Owner, Elevated Builders
Creating a Legacy Home
Elevated Builders specializes in high-end legacy residential builds that are specific to the Park City area. Although some activity might stretch into Salt Lake City and adjacent Wasatch County, the connections that have been nurtured in Park City are what define a specialized approach. “The make of our business is predicated on being involved from the very beginning. The model begins with a client having a dream and finding a trusted resource who is a gateway to Park City. Part of our experience in this builder-centric model is to be engaged early, before the architect is chosen or any of the other subcontractors,” he explains.
As a liaison to Park City, it’s important to align project stakeholders with client expectations. These are architects, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, and others who will understand the program of the project. Once introductions are made, and the vision is shared, a project will be ready to launch. Being involved from the very inception of the idea might even involve helping a client to choose a piece of property. All of this effort comes from a very loyalty-driven philosophy that is held by Bishop. “We are hand-selecting the best craftspeople in their particular fields for this work, and the benefit of these partnerships can be seen in the final product,” he says.
Many times, the structures created by Elevated will be legacy homes that are handed down to members of a family over time. It’s important to understand what a family expects of the surrounding environment, and how the Rocky Mountain outdoor lifestyle will integrate into their plans. This requires the utmost transparency in communication and being willing to embrace familiarity from the beginning of the project to the end.
“My experience as a commercial builder and developer has prepared me to align the clients and help them navigate the process.”
–George “Geordy” Bishop
The Process of Discovery
“My role in the business is really to be the client advocate and construction consultant all the way through the process,” Bishop says. “My experience as a commercial builder and developer has prepared me to align the clients and help them navigate the process.” This could mean, for example, presenting a cost benefit analysis between choosing a $200K stainless steel hot tub, or installing a $30K drop-in hot tub. Choices abound during the planning process and speaking to those choices with honesty makes a world of difference. When a client is seeking to build a retreat that will last for generations of enjoyment, the selections that are made need to be on point with the design vision and client-directed program.
This boutique firm specializes in large-scale builds that bring high-end custom design into the fold. Expectations must be understood between builder and client in order to meet the demands of the vision. Some of this might have to do with how involved the property owner needs to be throughout the process. It could be a matter of them stepping away for two years and allowing the work to unfold from a distance, while another client might prefer a more “high touch” experience. The team at Elevated has witnessed both approaches and is ready to accommodate whatever is needed.
In this vein, no matter how involved a client needs to be, it’s important for a standard of communication to be set very early on in the process. This is another of Geordy Bishop’s specialties. With a deep professional background that has served to shape his skill set, he is unwilling to compromise the value of nurtured relationships. This is evident not just with his clientele, but with the crucial roles of the project stakeholders as well.
“You arrive at the end of a project in a million different ways. But there is a tried and true programmatic method that is established after you consult with a client and understand the expectations. If the expectation is ‘design, price, and build,’ then that is the model for the entire effort. At that point it is unlikely a project will go sideways unless there is a breakdown in communication and expectations are mismanaged.”
–George “Geordy” Bishop, Owner, Elevated Builders
Forming a Cohesive Team
Identifying the expertise that will help a project reach its full potential means sourcing talent that might not necessarily be local to Park City. One of the Elevated Builders design partnerships comes out of Bozeman, Montana, in the form of Design 5 Landscape Architecture. With the help of Principal Troy Sherer and his team, the outdoor living space that surrounds a home will meet the expectations of the homeowner and the construction team that is dedicated to pulling it all together.
“Collectively as a team, we need to be very good at communicating. We bring in experts who work to this standard, even if they may not be local,” says Bishop. Design 5 just happens to be one of those firms. They are recognized for their excellence on a regular basis, whether it be through the City of Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board or the U.S. Green Building Council. Bringing this high standard into a project means everyone involved wins, and that expectations are met with best practices that have been well established.
“You arrive at the end of a project in a million different ways,” Bishop explains. “But there is a tried and true programmatic method that is established after you consult with a client and understand the expectations. If the expectation is ‘design, price, and build,’ then that is the model for the entire effort. At that point it is unlikely a project will go sideways unless there is a breakdown in communication and expectations are mismanaged.” With the involvement of Elevated Builders, a deep understanding of what is needed tends to be reflected in team selection. These are dependable project and trade partnerships, as well as suppliers, who possess proven success records. Bishop would not have it any other way.
“We are constantly trying to keep up with the trajectory of where Park City is going, not where it’s been.”
–George “Geordy” Bishop, Owner, Elevated Builders
Working Big with a Small Business
Attention to detail can be lost with larger outfits who are trying to accomplish more. And although the projects that are taken on by Elevated Builders tend to be significant, one of the advantages for a client is that this is still a small business endeavor. Despite his background in commercial builds, Bishop has no intention of veering away from the personal touch that defines residential building. This focus requires that he and his team stay abreast of the changes that have fed the industry over the past ten years, especially in the West where excessive growth is feeding a demand that is unprecedented.
Ensuring that new standards in framing, steel erection, and even concrete placement are met allows the property owner to feel confident that their builder selection is not only sound, but also that their home will stand the test of time. Any client who is fortunate enough to have Elevated Builders on their side will easily discover that there is also tangible passion behind the effort.
“We are constantly trying to keep up with the trajectory of where Park City is going, not where it’s been,” says Geordy Bishop. His deep knowledge of the community itself, combined with an approach that prioritizes a family feel within his own team, differentiates Elevated Builders from other businesses. For those who have a dream in mind, this forward-thinking business owner is not only ready to accommodate, he is also willing to go the distance to ensure that his clients are comfortable with the process.
