John R. "Jack" Laws

Incorporated on March 3, 1967 as Capital Metal Buildings, this family owned business continues to grow and change. Founded by John R. "Jack" Laws, and today known as Laws Construction Company, Inc., the company has evolved to become a major player in the construction industry in Mississippi and the Southeast.

Starting in Grenada, Mississippi as one of four partners in Universal Steel Buildings, Jack Laws and a partner moved to Jackson in 1967 and started Capital Metal Buildings. When his partner moved home in 1968, Jack stayed in Jackson and a few years later changed the company's name to Laws Construction Company, Inc. The original office location was on Millsaps Avenue with only a few employees. In 1975 the office moved to Wilmington Street to allow for growth and increased to about 20 employees.

In these days, Laws began to develop their reputation as a "metal building" contractor. The company became known all over the metro area and those early construction projects continue to house Metro area businesses. In 1983, the company moved again, this time to a location at 3891 I-55 South. Employment was increased again with the addition of several more employees. This location would be "home" for the next 14 years. It was during this point in the company's history that the next generation of the Laws family became involved in the business. John Laws joined his father after graduating in engineering from Vanderbilt University. The company continued to expand and began to take on other types of general construction projects.

In 1997, Laws moved to a location on Insurance Center Drive, off Lakeland Drive. Gone was the idea that Laws was just a metal building contractor and more employees had to be added to continue to help the company meet it's goals. Expanding again, in 2001, the company moved into its present location at 2508 Lakeland Drive.

Today Jack is still involved as Chairman. John serves as President and oversees all company activities.  Employment has grown and its had to, because work and revenues are up tremendously and don't show any signs of slowing. Laws is licensed in nine states (throughout the southeast), has their own concrete and steel crews, and continues to expand.

Laws has received recognition for their growth and for the quality of their projects. The company continues to be recognized by suppliers for numerous cumulative volume awards and in 1995 was ranked #58 in the top 100 Metal Building Contractors for the volume of steel purchased. Laws also believes in "safe" work sites, and receives recognition from their insurance carriers for man hours worked without lost days. Several finished construction projects have also been selected as Merit Award winners by The Associated Builders and Contractors.

Laws Construction Company also helps to "build" in another way - they believe in giving back to the community. Following their founder's example, employees are members of, and leaders in, numerous civic clubs, chambers of commerce, economic development foundations, area churches, and construction related organizations and associations.

Laws can no longer be called just a "metal building" contractor - that's a heritage they're proud of and they still build a lot of metal buildings, but today they do so much more. Joining the metal building construction work are projects using tilt-up and pre-cast concrete, block, brick and other products. After 34 years, Laws is now one of the "old line" contractors in the area and is recognized as a premier general contractor and construction management firm. The company specializes in negotiating the planning and construction of all types of industrial, commercial, and special purpose facilities.