Walk onto a Five Forty Build jobsite and you’ll notice something different. It’s not just the GPS-guided equipment or the precision of the work. It’s something less tangible but far more important: how the team moves together, communicates, and supports each other.
This isn’t accidental. It’s the result of intentionally building a culture around something we call Drengr—an Old Norse concept describing warriors set apart not through conquest, but through character, honor, integrity, and hard work.
In an industry often known for rough edges and transactional relationships, we’ve built something different: a brotherhood that extends far beyond the jobsite, where collective strength makes both our work and our lives better.
What Drengr Means in Modern Construction
The word «Drengr» might sound archaic, but the values it represents are timeless and desperately needed in today’s world.
In Viking tradition, being Drengr wasn’t about physical prowess or aggression. It was about being someone others could count on—someone who kept their word, did the right thing even when no one was watching, and worked with integrity regardless of circumstances.
At Five Forty Build, we’ve embraced this concept as the foundation of our culture. But we haven’t just posted it on a wall or mentioned it in orientation. Our team lives it daily and fiercely protects it.
What does that look like practically?
It means when someone gives their word about when work will be completed, that commitment is sacred. It means when quality standards need to be met, there’s no cutting corners even when no one would know. It means when a teammate needs help, you provide it without keeping score.
This isn’t soft or sentimental. It’s actually incredibly demanding. Living up to Drengr standards requires constant self-discipline, accountability, and effort. But it’s also deeply rewarding because it creates an environment where people can be their best selves, where trust isn’t just hoped for but earned and given, where work becomes meaningful beyond just a paycheck.
The warrior-hearted aspect of Drengr culture doesn’t mean being aggressive or domineering. It means approaching each day with the mindset that your work matters, that your character is on display, that you’re part of something bigger than yourself. It’s about having the courage to hold yourself and others to high standards, the humility to admit when you need help, and the commitment to always improve.
New team members sometimes struggle with this initially. They’ve worked other places where showing up and doing the minimum was sufficient. Here, we expect more—not because we’re harsh, but because we believe people are capable of more and deserve the chance to discover that.
Over time, something shifts. People realize they’re capable of things they didn’t know were possible. They discover that being held to high standards isn’t punishment—it’s respect. And they start protecting the Drengr culture themselves because they’ve experienced how it transforms both work and life.
Mentorship That Actually Invests in People
Construction has traditionally passed skills through apprenticeship—experienced craftsmen teaching newcomers. But somewhere along the way, many companies lost this. Training became videos and checklists. Mentorship became occasional feedback from supervisors.
At Five Forty Build, we’ve returned to real mentorship, where experienced team members genuinely invest in developing others.
This starts on day one. When someone new joins our team, regardless of their background or experience level, they’re paired with people who remember what it was like to be new. These mentors don’t just show you what buttons to push or where things are located. They teach you how to think about the work, how to anticipate problems, how to take pride in doing things right.
The learning happens naturally throughout the day. You’re operating equipment alongside someone who’s been doing this for twenty years. They point out subtleties you’d never notice on your own—how the ground sounds different when you hit rock, how to read a site for drainage issues, how to position equipment for maximum efficiency.
But the mentorship extends beyond technical skills. Your mentors teach you about character and professionalism. How to handle frustration when things go wrong. How to communicate effectively with different personalities. How to take ownership of mistakes and learn from them. How to celebrate victories without arrogance.
This investment is genuine because it’s reciprocal. Mentors aren’t doing you a favor they’ll later cash in. They’re passing along what was given to them. They remember the people who invested in their development, and they know their responsibility is to do the same for the next generation.
What’s remarkable is how this changes people. We’ve watched team members arrive with little confidence, unsure if they belonged in construction. Through patient mentorship, they discover capabilities they never knew existed. They master skills that seemed impossibly complex at first. They become the people others look up to.
Some of our best mentors came through exactly this process. They arrived with more potential than polish, were invested in by others, and eventually became the people doing the investing. That cycle of growth creates collective strength that elevates the entire team.
Accountability as an Expression of Care
Here’s something that surprises people about our culture: we hold each other fiercely accountable, and it’s one of the most caring things we do.
In many workplaces, accountability is weaponized—used to punish mistakes or establish dominance. That’s not what we’re talking about. Our accountability comes from genuine care for each other’s success and commitment to protecting the Drengr culture we’ve built.
When someone isn’t meeting standards, having that conversation is an act of respect. We’re saying: «We believe you’re capable of better. We’re not going to let you settle for less than your potential. And we care enough about this team to ensure our standards remain high.»
These aren’t pleasant conversations, but they’re necessary ones. And because they come from a foundation of genuine care rather than judgment, they work. People don’t become defensive because they know the accountability comes from wanting them to succeed, not from wanting to tear them down.
This accountability extends to all aspects of our work and culture. If someone’s not putting in full effort, their team addresses it. If someone’s cutting corners on quality, it gets called out. If someone’s being disrespectful or creating drama, they hear about it quickly.
But accountability works both ways. Leaders are held accountable by their teams. If someone in a supervisory role isn’t providing the support their crew needs, they’ll hear about it. If decisions aren’t explained clearly or seem inconsistent with our values, people speak up.
This mutual accountability is only possible because of the trust we’ve built. People know that holding someone accountable comes from wanting the best for them and the team, not from ego or politics. And they know they’ll be held to the same standards.
The result is an environment where everyone brings their best. Not out of fear of getting in trouble, but out of commitment to each other and pride in being part of something that stands for something.
Bonds That Extend Beyond Working Hours
One of the most common things we hear from new team members: «I didn’t expect to actually like the people I work with this much.»
That might sound like a low bar, but think about most work environments. Coworkers are people you tolerate for eight hours, then escape from. Relationships are transactional, superficial, sometimes competitive or political. You might have a few work friends, but mostly you’re counting down to when you can leave.
At Five Forty Build, something different emerges. The bonds formed on the jobsite extend naturally into life beyond work. Not because it’s required or forced, but because when you work alongside people you genuinely respect and care about, those relationships become real friendships.
You see this in countless small ways. Team members helping each other move. People showing up when someone’s going through a difficult time. Families getting together outside of work. Veterans helping newer members navigate challenges both on and off the jobsite.
The physical nature of construction work creates natural camaraderie. When you’re working hard together in challenging conditions—summer heat, winter cold, unexpected complications—you develop bonds that office environments rarely create. Shared struggle has always built brotherhood.
But there’s more to it than just working hard together. The Drengr values we embrace create deeper connection. When everyone is committed to honor, integrity, and excellence, trust develops naturally. You’re not wondering if someone has your back or if they’ll try to throw you under the bus to benefit themselves. You know they’ll be there.
This creates a family-like dynamic that many people desperately need. Some team members come from backgrounds where they lacked positive male role models or supportive community. Others were in work environments that were toxic or isolating. Here, they find something they’ve been searching for—belonging, acceptance, and genuine brotherhood.
The support extends to challenging times in people’s lives. When someone’s dealing with personal struggles, the team rallies. Not with empty platitudes or awkward distance, but with practical help and genuine presence. That kind of support transforms how people experience difficult seasons.
Celebrations become shared experiences too. When someone achieves something significant—completes a challenging certification, buys a house, gets married, welcomes a child—the team celebrates genuinely. Your victories become our victories because we’re invested in each other’s success and happiness.
The Daily Practices That Build Culture
Culture doesn’t maintain itself. It requires daily practices, consistent reinforcement, and everyone’s active participation. At Five Forty Build, we’ve developed rhythms that keep the Drengr spirit alive and strong.
Morning meetings set the tone for each day. These aren’t just logistical briefings about what work needs to happen. They’re opportunities to reinforce values, recognize excellent work, address challenges, and ensure everyone’s aligned. We start each day reminding ourselves what we’re about and what we’re building together.
Throughout the day, leaders and team members actively model the culture we want. When faced with decisions, people ask: «What’s the Drengr response here?» That question brings values from abstract concepts into concrete actions.
Communication is direct and respectful. Construction has traditionally involved a lot of yelling and posturing. We’ve rejected that approach. You can be clear and firm without being disrespectful. You can address problems without attacking people. This might seem like a small thing, but it profoundly shapes the daily experience of being on our team.
We celebrate excellently done work constantly. Not with elaborate programs or bureaucratic recognition systems, but with immediate, genuine acknowledgment when someone does something well. This constant positive reinforcement creates an environment where excellence becomes the norm, not the exception.
When mistakes happen—and they always do in construction—we focus on learning rather than blaming. The question isn’t «who screwed this up?» It’s «what happened, why, and how do we prevent it in the future?» This approach allows people to admit mistakes and learn from them rather than hiding problems until they become disasters.
Regular reviews ensure people know where they stand and where they’re headed. But these aren’t just about performance metrics. They’re conversations about growth, goals, and how we can better support each other. The question is always: «How do we help you become the person and craftsman you’re capable of becoming?»
What Happens When Culture Becomes Real
The test of any culture isn’t what’s written in the brand guide or said in meetings. It’s what happens when no one’s looking, when things get difficult, when there’s pressure to compromise.
Here’s what we’ve seen at Five Forty Build: when the culture becomes real—when people genuinely embrace and protect it—extraordinary things happen.
Work quality exceeds expectations. Not because of elaborate quality control systems, but because people take personal pride in their work and won’t accept anything less than their best. The Drengr culture makes mediocrity personally offensive.
Problems get solved faster. When something goes wrong, people address it immediately rather than waiting for someone else to notice or trying to hide it. There’s no fear in admitting challenges because everyone’s focused on solutions, not blame.
People stay longer and grow more. In an industry known for high turnover, we’ve built a team where people see their future. They’re not marking time until something better comes along. They’re investing in mastery and growing into roles with increasing responsibility.
Recruitment becomes easier. Our reputation for culture precedes us. People want to work here specifically because of what we’ve built. And current team members actively recruit friends and family because they’re genuinely proud of being part of Five Forty Build.
Client relationships strengthen. When you work with integrity, communicate honestly, and deliver consistent quality, clients notice. Our culture isn’t just internal—it shapes how we interact with developers, engineers, and municipalities, creating partnerships built on mutual respect and trust.
The Invitation to Something Bigger
Everything we’ve described—the Drengr values, the mentorship, the accountability, the brotherhood—isn’t just for the people already on our team. It’s an invitation to anyone who wants to be part of something that matters.
If you’re tired of work environments where you’re just a number, where relationships are superficial, where mediocrity is accepted—there’s an alternative. If you’re looking for a place where you can bring your whole self, where you’ll be challenged to grow, where you’ll find genuine community—it exists.
The construction industry has sometimes deserved its rough reputation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. At Five Forty Build, we’re proving that you can build world-class infrastructure while building exceptional people and authentic brotherhood.
This isn’t about being soft or lowering standards. In fact, it’s the opposite. The Drengr culture demands more—more effort, more integrity, more commitment. But it also gives more—more purpose, more growth, more belonging.
The warrior-hearted approach we’ve embraced attracts people who want to be part of something greater than themselves. People who believe work should matter. People who want to develop skills that last a lifetime. People who value honor and integrity. People who want to belong to a brotherhood where they’re genuinely valued.
Some people read about our culture and think it sounds too good to be true. We understand that skepticism. Many companies talk about culture but don’t live it. The difference is that our team actively protects what we’ve built. New members quickly discover that the Drengr spirit isn’t marketing language—it’s how we actually operate.
Building More Than Infrastructure
At the end of the day, Five Forty Build is about building more than roads, utilities, and stormwater systems. We’re building people who build infrastructure. We’re building character, competence, and camaraderie. We’re building lives that matter and legacies that endure.
The infrastructure we create will serve communities for generations. The people we develop will carry the Drengr values wherever they go. The brotherhood we’ve forged will support members through all of life’s seasons.
This is what becomes possible when you refuse to accept that work has to be transactional, that relationships have to be superficial, that the construction industry has to operate the way it always has. When you intentionally build culture around timeless values, extraordinary things emerge.
We started this piece talking about what you notice when you walk onto one of our jobsites—how the team moves together, communicates, and supports each other. That’s not something we consciously perform. It’s the natural expression of a culture that’s been built deliberately, protected fiercely, and lived authentically.
The Drengr spirit changes everything. It transforms how we approach our work, how we treat each other, how we solve problems, and how we define success. It makes coming to work meaningful rather than merely necessary. It turns coworkers into brothers. It makes good work inevitable because anything less violates who we are.
In a world where many people drift through their careers feeling disconnected and unfulfilled, where work is something to endure rather than embrace, where relationships remain surface-level—Five Forty Build offers something different.
We offer the chance to be part of a brotherhood built on honor, integrity, and hard work. To develop skills and character through meaningful work. To experience the collective strength that comes from genuinely supporting each other. To build infrastructure that communities depend on while building a life you can be proud of.
That’s what culture looks like when it becomes real. That’s what brotherhood means when it extends beyond the jobsite. That’s what’s possible when you build with purpose, work with integrity, and treat people like they matter.
This is Five Forty Build. This is the Drengr way. This is what we’re building together.
Want to experience what it’s like to be part of a warrior-hearted team where brotherhood extends beyond the jobsite? Five Forty Build is always looking for people who value honor, integrity, and hard work—people ready to be part of something bigger. Whether you’re experienced in construction or just starting out, if you’re ready to join a culture built on collective strength and genuine community, reach out to learn more about opportunities with our team.