Gordon James
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Gordon James is a custom home builder and remodeler founded in 2005 by John Quinlivan, working from Maple Plain across the west-metro lake communities — Orono, Wayzata, Minnetonka Beach, Medina — with a second office in Pequot Lakes.
Housing First Minnesota named the firm Builder of the Year in 2020 and gave it Remodeler of Merit Awards in 2020, 2021, and 2022, plus an Artisan Home Tour People's Choice Award in 2024. NARI has named it Minnesota Remodeler of the Year four times (2020, 2021, 2024, 2025) and a regional winner twice (2022, 2026), and Midwest Home has recognized its work in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Quinlivan served as Housing First Minnesota's 2023 board chair. The firm showed in the 2020 Spring Parade of Homes and the 2024 Artisan Home Tour.
Specialties & Price Range
Price tier: Ultra-luxury
Service Areas
Also serves: Maple Plain
Awards & Recognition
- Parade of Homes Dream Home Housing First Minnesota · 2020
- Builder of the Year Builders Association of Minnesota · 2021
- Remodeler of the Year — Minnesota winner (2020, 2021, 2024, 2025) and regional winner (2022, 2026) NARI · 2026
- Midwest Home Design Awards (2023, 2024, 2025) Midwest Home · 2025
- Artisan Home Tour People's Choice Award Housing First Minnesota · 2024
- Remodeler of Merit Awards (ROMA) — 2020, 2021, 2022 Housing First Minnesota · 2022
- Builder of the Year Housing First Minnesota · 2020
- Parade of Homes participant Housing First Minnesota · 2020, 2024
- Builder member; founder/CEO John Quinlivan served as the association's 2023 board chair Housing First Minnesota
License & Verification
Gordon James holds Minnesota residential building contractor license BC531961 (active), verified against the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry public license lookup (last checked 2026-07-05). Always confirm current status directly with MN DLI before contracting.
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