Rainwater Celebrates 70 Years of Service
Reflecting on Our Company Beginnings and Lasting Values
2026 marks Rainwater Construction Company’s 70th anniversary, and as we look forward to the start of another successful decade of service, we’re also looking back, reflecting on what has made us a commercial construction mainstay, and recommitting to the values that our founder, Cecil Rainwater, established all those years ago. As we revisit the projects, the people, the challenges, and the changes that have marked our way, we feel a deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve our community and a collective enthusiasm as we continue to honor the legacy of excellence that has brought us this far.
When Cecil Rainwater founded the Rainwater Construction Company back in 1956, he set out to build an organization that delivered the highest-quality commercial construction in Atlanta. With a relationships-first business philosophy, a dedicated crew, and a partnership with one of the best PEMB manufacturers in the world, he accomplished that goal and, with it, built a company that has withstood the test of time. From recessions and interest rate hikes, to changes in technology, increased permitting complexity, and supply chain volatility, Rainwater has seen it all and endured it all – twice.
We’ve grown from serving the Atlanta-Metro area to meeting the needs of building owners across the US. As we’ve grown, our project profile has evolved in size and complexity, and through it all, our commitment to quality, relationships, and integrity has never wavered.
Rainwater Construction: 70 Year Anniversary
70 Years
Seven decades of excellence in commercial construction.
1956
Building the future.
Our Code
Resilience · Adaptability · Craftsmanship
Butler Builder®
Appointed in 1958. Maintained that designation for more than six decades.
Stability
Steady, values-driven leadership across generations.
Continuity
Long-tenured employees preserve institutional knowledge.
Loyalty
Repeat customers have built Rainwater’s reputation.
What’s Next
Growth, innovation, and strong partnerships for the next generation.
A Legacy of Excellence
Resilience, Adaptability & Craftsmanship
For 70 years, Rainwater Construction’s legacy has been shaped by the steady leadership of those who guided the company through every era of change. From generation to generation, leaders have carried forward the same commitment to resilience in hard times, adaptability in new markets, and craftsmanship in every project—ensuring that values were never left behind as the company moved forward. That continuity of leadership is the thread that connects Rainwater’s past to its future.
Leadership Through the Years
Cecil Rainwater, 1956-1991
Ben Rainwater, 1991-2021
Steven Hudgins, 2021-Present
Quality Buildings Through Longstanding Partnerships
A Butler Builder Since 1958
Rainwater’s appointment as a Butler Builder in 1958 marked a turning point—formalizing a partnership rooted in precision engineering, trusted performance, and long-term value for clients. For more than six decades, that designation has stood as a testament to Rainwater’s dedication to building smarter, stronger, and better—era after era. To-date, Rainwater Construction has erected more than 50 million square feet of Butler PEMBs.
Rainwater Construction & Butler Buildings
A RetrospectiveRainwater Appointed as a Butler Builder
Cecil Rainwater Begins Serving on the Butler Advisory Council and Serves Until 1966
Cecil Rainwater Named to the Butler Falcon Club
Rainwater Construction Named Butler Manufacturing Number One Volume Builder, North America
Rainwater Construction Named Butler Manufacturing Number One Volume Builder, Southern Region
Rainwater Construction Named Butler Manufacturing Number One Volume Builder, Southern Region
Rainwater Construction Named Butler Number One Volume Builder of the Year, Southern Region
Rainwater Construction Named Butler Number One Volume Builder of the Year, Southern Region
Rainwater Construction Named Butler Number One Volume Builder of the Year, Southern Region
Ben Rainwater Begins Serving on the Butler Advisory Council and Serves Until 1996
Ben Rainwater Named to the Butler Falcon Club
Ben Rainwater Begins Serving for the Second Time on the Butler Advisory Council and Serves Until 2009
Rainwater Construction Receives Butler Manufacturing Seventy Million Award
Rainwater Construction Named Butler Manufacturing Builder of the Year, Southeast Region
Rainwater Construction Receives Butler High-Performance Builder Award
Rainwater Construction Receives Butler High-Performance Builder Award
Rainwater Construction Receives Butler Manufacturing Seventy-Five Million Award
Rainwater Construction Receives Butler Manufacturing Eighty Million Award
Rainwater Construction Receives Butler Manufacturing Eighty-Five Million Award
Rainwater Construction Receives Butler High-Performance Builder Award
Rainwater Construction Receives Butler Manufacturing Ninety Million Award
Rainwater Construction Receives Butler High-Performance Builder Award
Quality Buildings Through Longstanding Partnerships
A History of Long-Standing Relationships
The heart of Rainwater Construction’s 70-year legacy is not just what has been built, but who has built it—and who has trusted Rainwater to build for them. Generations of dedicated employees have provided the steady hands and institutional knowledge that kept the company strong through every season of change. Alongside them, long-standing clients and repeat partners have helped shape Rainwater’s portfolio and reputation, returning project after project because they value relationships as much as results.
Together, these enduring connections tell the truest story of Rainwater Construction: a company where loyalty runs deep, trust is earned over time, and success has always been measured in partnerships that last.
Our People
Ora Nation, 1957-2025
James Arnold, 1979-2025
Darrell Phillips, 1990-2025
Eddie West, 1982-Present
Our Clients
SWIFT ATLANTA
8 Projects, Totaling 250K+ SF
AHC HARDWOOD GROUP
90+ Projects, 1M+ SF
CARROLL DANIEL CONSTRUCTION
5 Projects, Totaling 700K+ SF
Looking Forward to Another 70 Years of Growth and Success
Rainwater Construction’s success is defined not only by what has been built, but by what continues to be built—strong teams, lasting partnerships, and a future grounded in trust. The leadership, employees, and clients who shaped the company’s past remain the same forces driving its next chapter. With a foundation of relationships and a mindset focused on progress, Rainwater moves forward ready to meet new challenges, embrace new opportunities, and continue building what matters most for generations to come.
Find out more about the Rainwater leadership team
Stay up to date on the latest Rainwater Construction news and event – follow us on LinkedIn!
