San Diego County Glass

Center Glass Company's modest headquarters in La Mesa, one might not guess that it has installed not only glass but also leading-edge construction materials for some of the largest and best-known buildings in San Diego. Many have won architectural design awards.In fact, during its 37 years of existence, Center Glass has installed more glass in San Diego than any other company, says Jackson Witte, managing partner and CEO. The company appears each year on Glass Magazine's list of America's Top 50 Glazing Contractors.Many of the most spectacular, glass-facade buildings San Diegans drive by every day are Center Glass projects. To name only a few, they include: Terminal 2 at Lindbergh Field ; Children's Hospital in Kearny Mesa ; Symphony Towers in downtown, UCSD Inpatient Towers in Hillcrest ; the NCR building in Ranch Bernardo ; and the Charger's Training Facility in Mission Valley.Center Glass Company was founded in 1963 by Jackson's father, Fred R. Witte, only a few blocks away from its current site on El Cajon Boulevard. At first, Center Glass bid on small jobs and scrambled for capital, like most start-up ventures. In the 1970s, however, the company jumped into a higher-profile position.Figuring he had nothing to lose, Witte bid on a glass and glazing job for the San Diego Federal Courthouse. Center Glass won the lucrative contract and, suddenly, jobs that had seemed out of reach became doable. Local banks and venture capital firms welcomed Center Glass and have maintained that support up to the present day.Center's management team learned that it is far easier to do one large job than 20 small jobs for equal revenues. Center Glass found its niche as a small company that could deliver on big projects. Annual earnings for 1998 were $13 million.