Building a Strong Digital Foundation for MJ Hughes Construction
About the Client
Founded in 1996, MJ Hughes Construction is a heavy civil contractor known for precision, safety, and integrity across the Pacific Northwest. Their teams deliver complex work—highways, dams, rail, marine, and fish passage projects—while staying grounded in a people-first culture. The company wanted a website that reflected both sides of who they are: a proven builder of major infrastructure and a values-driven organization where careers can grow.
The Challenge
The previous website didn’t match the caliber of the company or the scale of its work. It lacked visual impact, clear messaging, and a coherent path for different audiences. As MJ Hughes continued to expand, they needed a website that would:
- Showcase projects with credible photography and context.
- Communicate mission, vision, and core values—not only outcomes.
- Attract outstanding employees
- Make navigation effortless for clients, trade partners, and job seekers.
- Provide a dependable, maintainable system for ongoing updates.
Our Approach
We designed and developed a custom WordPress website that balances impact with clarity. The build focused on three pillars:
- Visual credibility: Full-screen video, strong photography, and intentional hierarchy to communicate scale and competence.
- Storytelling: Prominent space for mission, values, and the company’s belief in people—alongside project accomplishments.
- Usability and longevity: Clear navigation, fast page loads, and a content model that makes updates straightforward for editors.
First Impressions: Video + Photography
The homepage opens with immersive, full-width video of work in the field. From there, large, authentic photography leads the eye through the page. Images are given room to breathe, captions are concise, and the overall layout is designed for quick scanning without sacrificing detail.
Clear Paths for Different Audiences
We structured navigation around the three groups that use the site most:
- Clients: Direct links to Project categories and contact details.
- Trade Partners: Dedicated content emphasizing collaboration and standards.
- Job Seekers: A Careers hub that communicates what it’s like to work at MJ Hughes and surfaces current openings.
Who We Are: Mission, Vision, and Values
Many construction websites focus only on finished structures. MJ Hughes insisted on something different: a site that speaks to the company’s purpose and the way it treats people. The “Who We Are” section highlights their mission and vision and expands on three core values—People, Integrity, and Excellence.
- People: Growth, respect, and shared success are spelled out in plain language.
- Integrity: Safety, responsibility, and follow-through are positioned as non-negotiables.
- Excellence: Continuous improvement and accountability are tied directly to project outcomes.
This framing helps prospective clients understand the company behind the work—and helps candidates see themselves as part of the team.
Projects: Depth, Breadth, and Context
The Projects area is organized into clear categories—Highway, Dam, Rail, Marine, Fish Passage, and Special Projects—so visitors can quickly find relevant examples. Each project page pairs photos with a concise narrative that covers the challenge, approach, and result without jargon. The goal is to tell a true story of problem-solving, not just list specifications.
Careers: A Realistic Picture of the Work
Recruiting is more effective when candidates understand the culture and expectations. The Careers page sets that tone. It outlines what employees can expect—communication, growth opportunities, feedback, and an unwavering commitment to safety—then presents current openings with clear titles, locations, departments, and employment types.
- Expandable benefit and value statements keep the page scannable.
- Search and filter controls help candidates find the right role faster.
- Calls to action are consistent and easy to follow.
Design System & Readability
The design uses strong typographic hierarchy, spacious layouts, and restrained color accents to keep copy readable against photography. Buttons, links, and interactive elements are consistent from page to page, supporting an intuitive experience for first-time visitors.
- Headings and subheads: Crafted for scannability and plain-English clarity.
- Accessible contrasts: Dark-over-light and light-over-dark treatments maintain legibility for text and overlays.
- Consistent CTAs: “Join Our Team” and “Contact Us” appear in predictable, helpful places.
Performance, Reliability, and Editing Workflow
Behind the scenes, the site is tuned for fast loading and reliable uptime. Media is optimized, templates are lean, and caching is configured to keep pages responsive. In the editor experience, custom fields and content blocks make it simple to add projects, update photography, and refresh copy without breaking layouts.
Content Strategy: More Than a Brochure
Every page was written and arranged to serve a purpose. Instead of long, generic paragraphs, the copy is concise and concrete. Headlines are written to answer likely questions (“Who We Are,” “Projects,” “Careers,” “Trade Partners,” “Contact”), and supporting text adds just enough depth to invite action without slowing readers down.
Ongoing Support & Partnership
For MJ Hughes, the website is a living tool that grows alongside the company. We continue to manage the site—keeping it secure, updated, and fresh with new content as their story evolves. From adding new projects and photography to keeping the Careers section current, we work in the background to ensure the website reflects the momentum of the business.
Outcomes
- Stronger first impression: Video and photography communicate capability in seconds.
- Clearer story: Mission, vision, and values are front and center—alongside project achievements.
- Better recruiting tool: A careers hub that speaks directly to candidates and makes applying straightforward.
- Organized project library: Category structure and consistent templates make it easy for visitors to find relevant work—and for editors to add more.
- Dependable platform: A stable WordPress build that’s easy to update and maintain over time.
What This Means for Similar Organizations
Construction firms, engineering groups, and other project-driven organizations often face the same problem: lots of impressive work, but a website that underplays it. The MJ Hughes project shows how a site can present large-scale capabilities while communicating culture and purpose. When those two threads are woven together—work and values—visitors understand not only what you build, but why you’re trusted to build it.
In Their Words, In Their Work
Spend a few minutes on the site and the theme becomes clear: people, integrity, excellence. It shows up in the way content is written, in the care taken with photography, and in the steady invitations to learn more, partner up, or join the team. The website stands out because it feels like MJ Hughes—direct, disciplined, and focused on building what matters.
Final Note
Our goal was to create a website that does justice to the work and the people behind it. The finished product is easy to read, simple to navigate, and confident in tone—designed to serve clients, trade partners, and job seekers today, and flexible enough to grow with MJ Hughes tomorrow.
