Learn how Sunrise Construction of Oregon is improving the customer experience
Established in 2000, Sunrise Construction of Oregon is a full-service homebuilder benefiting from in-house interior design capabilities. In addition to its focus on luxury and custom home building, Sunrise operates a sister company with a showroom that offers lighting, tiling, hardwood, furniture, hardware and all other interior finishings, creating a genuine end-to-end experience for its clients. Modern Home Builders recently interviewed Chris Christianson, Owner, to learn more about the company’s building philosophy and what is currently keeping the team busy.
“Style-wise, we are extremely varied, building everything from ultra-modern contemporary homes to Tuscan mountain lodges. Central Oregon is a highly diverse place architecturally, and that diversity is reflected in our work. We could be simultaneously building a Southwestern home out in the desert and a lodge up in the woods near the national forest, alongside vast ranch properties. Sometimes, our builds even include golf courses, since many of our clients are in the golfing community. We do not limit ourselves to one specific style, and we enjoy working with multiple architects. For most clients, the best approach is to place them in the hands of an outside architect we know and trust, someone who can capture their own style and vision beyond our firm’s aesthetic. Then, we collaborate closely with that architect throughout the build,” he begins.
However, what sets Sunrise apart in Oregon’s homebuilding landscape goes beyond stylistic versatility. The company prides itself on the depth of experience across its team, with every member of staff having spent a significant amount of time in the industry, collectively representing over a century of hands-on expertise. That experience shapes the quality of Sunrise’s builds as well as the breadth of services it is able to offer. Sunrise handles real estate and land acquisition in partnership with a real estate company operating under the Buffalo Collective brand, helping clients secure the right plot before a plan is drawn. For clients with vacation homes, who represent a significant portion of the company’s clientele, Sunrise also provides a concierge service following the completion of a build, taking care of the property and scheduling ongoing maintenance.
“We do not consider ourselves a general contractor – we are a homebuilder, and part of being a homebuilder is taking care of the homes we build all the way through,” Chris explains. “Having in-house interior design and a dedicated design center, with everything under one roof, genuinely transforms the process for our clients. Rather than leaving them to source their tiles in one place and their hardwood in another without any guidance from somebody with an eye for interior design, we bring all of that together cohesively. We also collaborate with external interior designers on around ten percent of our builds, and they work through our design center too, which integrates seamlessly and produces a great result for everyone involved,” he enlightens.
Ranch at the Canyons
One of the firm’s most exciting current projects is a custom home located within the Ranch at the Canyons community in Terrebonne. The house was developed in collaboration with architect Ryan Markson and is expected to be completed in July. Situated at the base of Smith Rock State Park with views over the Crooked River, the home has been designed to feel deeply connected to its surroundings. Its architecture and placement within the landscape make the most of the beautiful scenery at every turn. Sunrise is also working with external interior designer Sarah Jones, based out of the Tahoe area, on the interiors for this particular project. “It is a really special build,” Chris describes. “The architecture is striking, and the way the house sits within and responds to the landscape is something we are very proud of. It has been a genuinely fun project from start to finish.”
As 2026 is nearly halfway through, Chris is focused on spending the remainder of the year making meaningful improvements to the client experience by enhancing its building process, client communication and interactivity. These changes will be implemented across every stage of the process, from the first conversation through to long after the keys are handed over. Central to achieving that goal, Sunrise is currently developing a communication tool, which is designed to guide clients through the build at their own pace while keeping communication with the team seamless and consistent. “It will allow our clients to interact with us and stay involved without needing to arrange a separate meeting every time they want an update. Hence, our main goal for this year is getting that platform up and running. Alongside that, we are putting a real emphasis on aftercare. The homes we build are getting increasingly complex, as they often incorporate a wide range of smart home features and highly computerized equipment. Therefore, it genuinely helps the homeowner to have us involved in understanding and maintaining that technology after handover,” he concludes.
With a concierge service, an in-house design center and an impeccable communication tool, the next chapter of Sunrise’s history looks just as promising as its first quarter century.