Interview: Dave Bastyr, executive vice president, Knutson Construction

During his four-decade run with St. Louis Park-based Knutson Construction, Dave Bastyr has put his building and management skills to use on notable projects ranging from stadiums and hotels to hospitals and schools. Bastyr, the company’s executive vice president, kicked off his Knutson career in the early 1980s by working as a land surveyor on the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome project in downtown Minneapolis. He went on to become general manager in each of Knutson’s regional offices. During his 17 years as general manager, he oversaw “numerous new construction, remodel and renovation projects,” according to Knutson. After a stopover in Iowa, Bastyr is back in the Twin Cities, where he serves on the company’s advisory board. In the following interview, Bastyr reflects on his time with the century-old company, how he got started in the business, and his experiences working on the Metrodome, the one-time home of the Twins and the Vikings.