Augustus Construction

ABOUT AUGUSTUS

Since 1984, Augustus Construction has built fine custom homes, major renovations, additions and restorations, community and commercial buildings on the outer Cape.

We’re here because we think this is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The Outer Cape rests on a glacial moraine laid down during the last ice age, about 25,000 years ago. The glacier also gouged out the many fresh water ponds and kettle holes which have made good swimming, boating, and fishing for generations of Cape Codders and visitors. The high dunes, wide stretches of green salt marshes, streams, rivers, islands and natural harbors, the woods of pine and oak, beach roses and wild blueberries, the sound of wind and sea, all offer a restorative return to nature. Oysters, quahogs, lobsters and scallops, stripers, fluke and bluefish feed us as they did native peoples for thousands of years. The towns and villages, with their mixture of independent and iconoclastic natives and adventuresome wash-a-shores, make for an accepting, welcoming community.

It is the vision at Augustus Construction to be the best custom building firm on the Outer Cape. We accomplish this mission with an uncommon commitment to quality and master workmanship; honest, clear communication with our clients; and a dedicated, skilled, and loyal team of employees. We want the quality and character of working with Augustus Construction to be the basis of our “word of mouth” referrals by satisfied clients, architects and designers, vendors and subcontractors, real estate associates, and our many friends in the Outer Cape community.

At Augustus, we believe that any successful project grows from quality collaboration between builder and client and architect.

We work hard at creating long-lasting and respectful relationships with our clients. Many of our clients return to us as their living needs change.

It is our goal to provide the best service, the highest quality workmanship and materials, and a level of professionalism uncommon in the home-building industry. We know from experience that quality construction does not have to add cost to a project. In fact, development of the best solution will often result in cost savings to the owner.

We hire the best people we can find, then challenge and inspire them to become even better.

We like the idea of creating dwellings that last for generations and become repositories for family tradition, as well as exploring the most advanced building methods and materials. We counsel out clients regarding energy efficiency, non-toxic materials and technologies, communications networking, and structural elements important to both preservation and environmentally sensitive habitation.

We are committed to contributing to the preservation of the abiding sense of community on the Outer Cape, the institutions and traditions and conditions that make this part of the world unique, beautiful, extraordinarily creative, respectful, neighborly, and peaceful. We support our communities through charitable giving and social involvement.

Great building takes the collective imagination and know-how of a skilled, motivated team, with diverse skills, working together. Each project brings its own unique challenges; we’re still in the business of building because we enjoy those challenges.

Meet some of the great folks you’ll be working with in your project with Augustus.

John Hopkins likely came with the building gene in his DNA. Augustus Construction is named to honor his maternal grandfather Augustus Mayo who was a draftsman and a carpenter on Nantucket and Monomoy Island. “Gus” was the son of Joseph Mayo, a surf man and lighthouse keeper known for his heroism as a member of the Life Saving Service out of Chatham station. John’s paternal grandfather, Charles Harold Hopkins, was an MIT trained architect who practiced in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Riverside County, CA, designing hospitals, hotels and residences.

John has been in the construction trades for 35 years. He started as a “lumper” in 1969, just back from his tour in Vietnam, and over the years worked up to running his own company. First established in Watertown in 1980, Augustus Construction moved to the Outer Cape in 1985.

John is integrally involved in developing corporate strategies, planning future growth, and overseeing managerial operations of Augustus; yet his commitment to working closely with each client remains his first priority.

John grew up on Nantucket and knows the sand and wind and water and weather of coastal Cape Cod, one of the toughest building environments in the world. His construction management embodies his sensitivity to the opportunities and challenges of this beautiful and demanding locale.

John’s earned reputation for honesty and integrity is important, and goes hand in hand with his skills as a master builder and a seasoned manager. He is familiar with the increasingly challenging local regulatory environment.

His inspired and able leadership of Augustus Construction is central to long-term company stability, the finest quality product, and a rewarding building experience for the client.

Siegy Rogers, Financial Manager
Siegy has been with Augustus Construction for twelve years, beginning as our bookkeeper and quickly becoming the heart of the business operation. She is responsible for the management of money in the firm. Billing, collecting, accounting, spending, stretching, borrowing, worrying, and celebrating it keep her busy. Her intricate knowledge of the business and activity of the company, her respectful relationships with our crew, subcontractors and vendors, and her genuine, caring interest in our clients have much to do with Augustus Construction’s reputation for superior service.

Sharon Bronsdon, Office Manager
Sharon came on board to help run the office as Siegy’s responsibilities broadened. Sharon is an amazing resource of Outer Cape knowledge. She brings an incredible ability to multi-task, managing to take care of all the diverse things that keep the office running smoothly, carry out product research, assist John and Siegy, and still maintain a much valued levity and sense of humor.

Tim Towle, Project Manager

A little bit of everything” is how Tim describes his work for Augustus.
On site he is responsible for material, job site safety, coordination of subs, client communication, crew supervision, managing the project start to finish. Tim brings a strong background in construction, with twenty-three years in carpentry, restoration, and Real Estate development before joining Augustus. He took to the building trades naturally, he says. Tim is our punch-list specialist. He can “fix anything” and really enjoys taking care of the finishing touches, the small but essential details that make for a quality end product. Tim likes the multi-ethnic character of the Augustus crew, guys from around the world who bring their culture to the mix. “Every day,” he says, “I’m teaching and learning.”

Paul has been building since 1971. From his earliest experience in shop class, he loved carpentry. Later he helped his father build a family summer cottage in Wellfleet. After 4 years in the Navy, including Vietnam from 1968-70, Paul began working in fabrication of watertight prefab structures, in excavation for another eight years, then with a large construction/development company on the Upper Cape. He says joining Augustus is the best decision he ever made. “It’s a square-shooting company that treats people right.” Paul particularly enjoys the smaller, sometimes solitary, custom jobs. He continues to find building a challenge with Augustus because “every project is different.” And he likes the idea that together the Augustus team is putting up buildings that will last “long after I’m gone.”

As soon as he got into the carpentry shop in high school, Scott knew that carpentry was what he wanted to do. He particularly enjoyed field projects in the community. He attended U Mass Dartmouth long enough to find out it wasn’t he was right, then returned to building, working with several large construction companies on both new homes and remodeling projects. Scott especially likes renovation and restoration projects. “There’s always something challenging. You never know what you’re going to find when you start dismantling the structure. Building from the ground up is more predictable.” Scott appreciates Augustus’s willingness to invest in keeping good people. He says he took a bit of a leap at Augustus when he became a project manager at 24. He knew he loved carpentry, but he didn’t know how he would like supervising. With excellent technical training, including both reading and drawing plans, and the strong skills of years of building behind him, he’s found running his projects a rewarding experience. He enjoys working with all the different people involved, from architects and subs to beginning carpenters. “I’m very, very happy with the company,” Scott says. “They’re exceptionally fair. The staff is treated very well. I like their commitment to the community. Augustus is a quality company. I love getting up and going to work in the morning.”

Mark Travers brings extensive building experience to Augustus. Before joining our management team, he served as construction foreman for four different companies, then ran his own contracting business for twelve years. Mark got his contractor’s license early in his career, but found that he much prefers the hands on construction work to the business end of building. Mark grew up in Provincetown. He remembers that as a kid he always thought the big guys with the tool kits were cool and wanted to be like them. Now the big guy enjoys standing back and seeing the results of his labor. Mark is happy to be working for Augustus. “It’s a professional outfit from top to bottom,” he says. Mark laughs when he talks about working with John. “He’s amazing,” he says. “He’s got such an eye. You can’t take any shortcuts with John.” When he’s not on site for Augustus, Mark is building his own house, playing his guitar, or making furniture.