From humble beginnings, S. Falck Nielsen launched a construction company that would later become one of San Diego’s greatest.
S. Falck Nielsen was born in Fredrikstad, Norway as the son of a contractor. He graduated from Oslo University in 1926 with a degree in construction engineering. He later emigrated across Canada and down the West Coast, eventually making his home in San Diego. Nielsen began his career there as a project manager building Balboa Park for the Pacific Expo.
Architects and clients quickly recognized Nielsen as a fine craftsman with profit-making talents. He had the diplomacy to maintain strong friendships with business associates as well as respected and advanced the role of the job superintendent to plan, expedite, and coordinate with subcontractors and suppliers. Although Nielsen was an advisor on job plans, schedules, and troubleshooting, he deferred to the superintendent to make the final decision – he trusted his team to make the right calls. To date, Nielsen Construction Company has performed many outstanding projects throughout the Southwest, including various projects at UC San Diego, Sea World, and Downtown San Diego.
Under S. Falck Nielsen’s leadership, Nielsen Construction grew to become one of San Diego’s most respected and trusted builders. Nielsen worked alongside some of San Diego’s great visionaries in building some of the cities iconic landmarks: UCSD Geisel Library, Sea World (and expansions), the Civic Center, and the first residential high rise in Downtown SD, the Meridian. This legacy included a commitment to philanthropy and giving back to the communities of San Diego.
Today, the family name and legacy live on in Nielsen Construction California, a reincarnation of the original Nielsen Construction Company. The new company was reborn in 2003 with D. Nielsen Pollock, the namesake grandson of S. Falck Nielsen, at its head. Pollock and the Senior Staff of Nielsen Construction California share more than 200 years of collective estimating, construction management, and building experience in Southern California. Nielsen Construction California is honored to operate from this foundation as it builds the next generation of projects.