Construction firm owner Chris Rapczynski has been in the construction community for decades, and his company, Sleeping Dog Properties (SDP), has now been featured in multiple publications. Their most recent mention in General Contractor Magazine was for snagging one of eight coveted slots in the Best General Contractor category. For Rapczynski, it was an honor for him to be recognized by this well respected trade magazine. See why, out of the 40+firms, the publication singled him out for his work  and how it couldn’t come at a better time.

Discipline, Quality, Compassion

The business model of Sleeping Dog Properties has been honed over the years by Chris Rapczynski, and it’s one that works for both his clients and his employees. By putting the customer first, he’s also able to show his staff how valued they are. Of all of the contributing factors to his success, he says that it’s the discipline that matters.

Showing up on time, meeting deadlines, consistent quality control, proactive communication: these are more than just promises made before a client signs a contract. For the team, these are standard benefits of every job. The other major component of his business model includes creativity, which happens to be one of Rapczynski’s specialities. If there’s a unforseen condition that arises (which is pretty much a given on a construction site), he looks for ways to solve it — without cutting corners, adding costs, or delaying completion.

Two of his biggest projects, a high-rise penthouse in Boston’s Millennium Tower and a 4,000 square foot medical facility, prove that his model can be applied to both small and major projects alike. Equally likely to take on a small half bath remodel as a flagship retail store, SDP’s specialties run the gamut. Their recent listing in General Contractors Magazine comes at a time when the company is getting ready to expand to the Lakes Region in New Hampshire and Cape Cod.

Boston is a competitive area for contractors, but more than that, it’s something of a closed circle market. For Rapczynski’s part, he took the time to absorb and study not only the traditional architecture of the city but also the modern structures as well. Sleeping Dog Properties started as a solo-venture condo flipping operation. Today, the team takes on major residential renovations, commercial projects, and single-family custom-homes.

As the president and founder, Chris has learned how to manage his projects. Throughout it all, he tries not to think about what the competition is doing. Running a business isn’t always a linear operation, it’s a matter of constant evolution and flexibility so you can keep up with an ever-changing market.

Awards And Recognitions

Sleeping Dog Properties has received a number of awards, including four from Best of Houzz and two from the Boston Society of Architects (for Design and Accessibility). The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Safety also gave the company an award for accessibility. In addition to General Contractors Magazine, SDP has been on the cover of Interiors magazine and featured in The Boston Globe.

Chris Rapczynski is proud to have contributed to the landscape of Cambridge over the course of his storied career, particularly when you factor in the unique characteristics of Boston. The mix of historical buildings and modern interpretations gives contractors a lot of food for thought. How can the essence of the city be preserved without sacrificing modern comforts? How can modern aesthetics be introduced into some of the oldest neighborhoods of the city? Rapczynski has taken the time to think through these complex questions and his answers have delighted clients for decades now.

General contracting has a lot of room for creativity, and this was probably best illustrated during the pandemic. Because Chris Rapczynski of Sleeping Dog Properties is always looking for how he can help others, he’s built up an extensive network in his industry. Between his contacts and his ability to think fast on the job, he fared much better than many of his counterparts when the supply chain all but shut down. It’s an illustration of his acumen, and a strong symbol of his sustainability.