COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 23332

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

32companies1853–1999founding years28still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedKvaerner ASAFoundedKvaerner ASA
1853
FoundedHochtief AG
1875
FoundedTarmac plc
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedEllerbe Becket
1909
FoundedKraus-Anderson, Incorporated
1912
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedDay & Zimmermann, Inc.FoundedWalbridge Aldinger Co.
1916
FoundedThe Drees Company, Inc.
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedMorrison Knudsen CorporationFoundedMorrison Knudsen Corporation
1932
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedEmpresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A. de C.V.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedURS Corporation
1950
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedHovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedRedrow Group plc
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAmerihost Properties, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedOAO Tatneft
1994
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedThyssen Krupp AG
1999
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Kvaerner ASA →
Active · founded 1853 · England
Long known as the largest shipbuilder in Europe, Anglo-Norwegian Kvaerner ASA is redefining itself around three core…
Kvaerner ASA →
Active · founded 1853 · England
Long known as the largest shipbuilder in Europe, Anglo-Norwegian Kvaerner ASA is redefining itself around three core…
Hochtief AG →
Active · founded 1875 · Germany
Hochtief AG is the German market leader in the construction industry and is among the world's leading international…
Hochtief AG →
Active · founded 1875 · Germany
Hochtief AG is the German market leader in the construction industry and is among the world's leading international…
Tarmac plc →
Active · founded 1903 · United Kingdom
Tarmac plc is one of the leading heavy building materials and construction services groups in Europe, with additional…
Tarmac plc →
Active · founded 1903 · United Kingdom
Tarmac plc is one of the leading heavy building materials and construction services groups in Europe, with additional…
Ellerbe Becket →
Active · founded 1909
1940s:A steel-conserving, pine-trussed hangar is developed for Northwest Airlines.
Ellerbe Becket →
Active · founded 1909
1940s:A steel-conserving, pine-trussed hangar is developed for Northwest Airlines.
Kraus-Anderson, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1912
Kraus-Anderson, Incorporated has been in the construction business for over a century.
Kraus-Anderson, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1912
Kraus-Anderson, Incorporated has been in the construction business for over a century.
Day & Zimmermann, Inc. →
Active · founded 1916
Day & Zimmermann, Inc., a private, family-run company headquartered in Philadelphia, provides technical, engineering,…
Day & Zimmermann, Inc. →
Active · founded 1916
Day & Zimmermann, Inc., a private, family-run company headquartered in Philadelphia, provides technical, engineering,…
Walbridge Aldinger Co. →
Active · founded 1916
Walbridge Aldinger Co.
Walbridge Aldinger Co. →
Active · founded 1916
Walbridge Aldinger Co.
The Drees Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1928
The Drees Company, Inc.
The Drees Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1928
The Drees Company, Inc.
Morrison Knudsen Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1932
Morrison Knudsen Corporation (MK) has long stood as one of the world's largest engineering and construction…
Morrison Knudsen Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1932
Morrison Knudsen Corporation (MK) has long stood as one of the world's largest engineering and construction…
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1947 · Mexico
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A.
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1947 · Mexico
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A.
URS Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1950
Ranked number one on ENR's list of the top U.S.
URS Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1950
Ranked number one on ENR's list of the top U.S.
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
New Jersey-based Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
New Jersey-based Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
Redrow Group plc →
Active · founded 1974 · United Kingdom
Flintshire-based Redrow Group plc is one of the United Kingdom's largest home builders and developers.
Redrow Group plc →
Active · founded 1974 · United Kingdom
Flintshire-based Redrow Group plc is one of the United Kingdom's largest home builders and developers.
Amerihost Properties, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Amerihost Properties, Inc.--known for its fast-growing flagship chain AmeriHost Inns--owns and operates more than 90…
Amerihost Properties, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Amerihost Properties, Inc.--known for its fast-growing flagship chain AmeriHost Inns--owns and operates more than 90…
OAO Tatneft →
Active · founded 1994 · Russia
1970s:Oil production in Tatarstan reaches its peak.
OAO Tatneft →
Active · founded 1994 · Russia
1970s:Oil production in Tatarstan reaches its peak.
Thyssen Krupp AG →
Active · founded 1999 · Germany
Thyssen Krupp AG was created in March 1999 from the merger of two of Germany's oldest industrial giants, Thyssen AG and…
Thyssen Krupp AG →
Active · founded 1999 · Germany
Thyssen Krupp AG was created in March 1999 from the merger of two of Germany's oldest industrial giants, Thyssen AG and…
Build It Today

Starting a commercial and institutional building construction company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.