Get to know us
At Principle Element, we believe the best work comes from asking one question before anything else:
“How do we bring life into what we build?”
That question shapes everything — how we treat our team, how we serve our clients, and how we approach every building we renovate.
Smart business and intentional service are not at odds; instead, they reinforce each other. By leveraging historic tax credits to reduce project costs, we keep rents affordable without sacrificing quality. Affordability can mean more neighbors, more foot traffic, and more life flowing back into each community.
Our mission is to ensure buildings retain an echo of the past they represent, but are useful long into the future.
current project:
The century building
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The Century Building was originally built in 1901 on Main Street in downtown Webb City, MO. The construction was done in concert with the two buildings connected on its south end, sharing a history of various stores and services for the community. This site began as a hardware and mining supply store, and ranged through various other businesses, including Hayden Buggy Co. and Smithson Wallpaper in 1908. Some other businesses, either in or connected to the Century Building, included J.J. Funk Real Estate, Reynolds Hardware in 1945, and Hayden Auto Co. based on an ad from 1918, selling new cars for a whopping $200.
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After a few decades of being vacant, this building is going to be brought back as a contributing piece of the historic downtown area of Webb City. We will bring 4 apartments into the top floor, as well as commercial space and a dedicated ADA-accessible apartment on the main level. The Century Building will have its own stairwell and a new elevator, giving all the upper apartments some degree of easy accessibility.
With the adjacent sections of this building being recently renovated, the entirety of the Century Building (25 S. Main) and the Clark Dodson Building (27 & 29 S. Main ) will have a total of 11 apartments, and as many as 5 commercial spaces. The Century Building will have around 2,000 square feet of flex commercial space, being able to adapt to what will best serve the community within this space.
our heart for service
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![Construction workers installing flooring in an indoor space with wooden beams and partially exposed walls.]()
SERVING OUR TRADES & VENDORS
Our projects could not be accomplished alone.
Thankfully, there are some amazing local trades and other vendors who have been great to work with, and they have made a huge impact on us and the communities we get to serve.Big Sugar Lumber & Hardware - Fort Scott, KS
Beckham Machine & Fabrication - Webb City, MO
Hermann Lumber - Joplin, MO
Integrity Custom Homes - Webb City, MO
IPOCK Electric & Solar - Joplin, MO
Joe Harding Sales & Service - Joplin, MO
Joplin Winnelson - Joplin, MO
Maples Plumbing - Joplin, MO
Ridgeline Roofing & Solar - Joplin, MO
Sign Designs - Joplin, MO
USA Print - Joplin, MO
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![Empty interior space with hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, black ceiling with recessed lights, hanging light fixtures, large front windows, and a glass door exit.]()
SERVING OUR CLIENTS
“Principle Element brought excellence and wisdom to our historical renovation project — providing timely work and unique expertise when it came to meeting our commercial rental needs. “— Emilee Mitchell, Co-Owner, DEMC Properties
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![Corner view of a brick building housing a bookstore, with large glass windows and an 'Open' sign on the door, under a clear blue sky.]()
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
“Rehabilitation of this impressive historic building (the Century Building) will not only put it back into service, but it will also serve as an economic catalyst for the surrounding properties, which will in turn boost our local sales and property tax revenues. Webb City supports this [renovation], and we look forward to seeing this important historic resource returned to use.”
— Lynn Ragsdale, Mayor of Webb City
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