DPR Construction, one of the nation’s leading technical builders, jumps 35 slots to rank #22 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Last year was DPR’s first time on the list, ranking #57.

“It is truly the people of DPR who make this company great,” said Doug Woods, the “D” in DPR and president of DPR Construction. “Our ranking is a testament to the organization and culture we have all built together over the last 20 years that can succeed and shine despite what has been a challenging economic climate. By working together and taking care of our people, customers and trade partners, we have been able to build great things, including a great place to work.”

According to FORTUNE, the annual survey, conducted with the Great Place to Work© Institute, is the most extensive employee survey in corporate America, polling employees from companies nationwide about their company culture, credibility of management, individual respect, fairness, job satisfaction and camaraderie. Those survey results accounted for two-thirds of DPR’s score. The other third of the scoring was based on responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which included detailed questions regarding pay and benefit programs, as well as a series of open-ended questions about hiring, communication, training and diversity.

Some notable DPR elements include:

• Strong company purpose (DPR Exist to Build Great Things) and core values (Integrity, Enjoyment, Uniqueness, Ever Forward),
• Open-office environment, where everyone including company co-founders and regional managers sit in wall-less cubicles,
• Title-less business cards to allow individuals to take on multiple roles and levels of responsibility, and
• Wine bars in every office used as a central gathering place for employee celebrations.

Founded in 1990 by Doug Woods, Peter Nosler and Ron Davidowski (the D, P and R), DPR has grown to a multi-billion-dollar, national general contractor and construction manager that has built long-standing relationships with some of the world’s most admired companies. (To be exact, 22 of the top 50 companies on FORTUNE’s 2010 list of World’s Most Admired Companies are DPR customers.)

“We’re fortunate to work with great customers, some who have literally changed the world through the medicines they have discovered and manufactured, the people they’ve helped in their hospitals and medical facilities, and the breakthrough innovations they have developed,” said Woods. “A number of them have also made this year’s Best Companies list, and we’re honored to be recognized among them.”