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Lockwood Design & Construction Co.
An Emphasis on Ethics and Reliability
By Jim Tomey

If a company's goal is to develop a reputation as reliable and ethical, the management team and employees must embrace those qualities. At Lockwood Design & Construction Co. of Milton, they do.

As highly regarded as those qualities are, in today's market it takes more. For Lockwood, "more" means "diversity." They provide, through various services, many reasons for a future homeowner to look their way. Some call it a one-stop design and construction company- and for a very good reason.  

Although they work with area architects, 85 to 99 percent of the homes they build are designed in-house on state-of-the-art Computer Aided Drafting and Design Software. They can furnish their clients with three-dimensional, computer-generated floor plans and provide a virtual three-dimensional walk through the structure's  interior- an exclusive that customers really appreciate.

While most of the homes they build are primary residence, about a quarter are second/beach homes; mix in commercial buildings and renovations, and Lockwood Design & Construction Co. has a wide range of expertise.

The company has a 17,000-square-foot shop where large portions of a project can be constructed, then transported to the site. This saves time and money, and results in a superior product, and makes some difficult parts of the construction far more manageable.

Homeowners often come to Lockwood with problems that usually aren't addressed by most builders. The Milton firm offers storage facilities and even rental housing, the latter much appreciated if a family has recently sold their home and must relocate until the new home is built.

That's Lockwood Design & Construction Co. at a glance. But this many-faceted Sussex County company didn't happen overnight.

In 1972 Don H. started the business by commercially designing buildings. A year later the company began constructing the buildings it designed. Don A., the oldest Lockwood son, seemed destined to be part of the building trades when, at eight, he helped the cleanup crew. He gradually worked into other areas, such as framing, trimming and masonry, until he had a well-rounded education in the fine art of building. His formal education includes a degree from the University of Delaware. In 1993, he became general manager.


Darin Lockwood, an Embry-Riddle graduate, used his computer and drafting skills to form Meridian Engineering, a division that provides engineering services for the Lockwood building teams.

The Lockwood family is evident in other areas, too. Kerry, Don A.'s wife, an accounting graduate of the University of Delaware, is the business manager. She brought a solid knowledge of real estate and accounting to the company. Rebecca, Darin's wife, is a graduate of Wilmington College, and manages the office. Founder Don H. Lockwood manages many of the company's remodeling and special projects.

"All employees are like part of the family," Don A. Lockwood adds, with more than a hint of pride. They, along with the Lockwood family, are the spark that brings special meaning to the high standards of ethics and reliability.

The standards are why many parts of the building process are done in-house, Don A. says. "It gives us more control in scheduling and quality control," he says, and allows the company to handle projects from start to finish, including customer tile and hardwood flooring, kitchens, and other elements. Their subcontractors are chosen with extra care, and have built a long-term relationship; they're an extension of the Lockwood company family.

"Custom home" means many different things to different people, and Lockwood's showroom contains samples of the latest advances in today's home building. It's a large, comfortable place where homeowners can consult with the experts, confident that their dreams will come true, whether that dream is enjoying an airy beach home or playing in an indoor squash court…at home.

But ultimately, people, Don A. says, are they key to a successfully completed custom home. Customer satisfaction is highest on his agenda, and Lockwood Design & Construction Co. maintains a flexible attitude toward owner's changes. Post-construction services are a must, and the firm quickly attends to any warranted item.