How Milhouse Construction Leaders Are Building Communities and Shaping the Industry’s Future

Milhouse Construction is a branch of the Milhouse Family of Companies dedicated to building a diverse culture of local talent to deliver quality solutions for construction challenges. As a general contractor, Milhouse Construction’s team comprises skilled project managers and laborers from the Carpenters, Laborers, Painters, Tapers, and Operators Unions. The organization has a strong history of building quality infrastructure for the communities it serves. Founded in 2005 by Chairman and CEO Wilbur C. Milhouse III, the company has since undertaken a diverse project portfolio, including the redevelopment of the Washington Transit Authority, the renovation of the Hilton Hotel at 226 W Jackson Boulevard, and the Pullman Park redevelopment, among others. Below, Wilbur, along with Chief Quality Officer Joe Zurad and Milhouse Construction President James Fifer, reflect on the organization’s founding, their favorite projects, and the company’s future. 

In 2005, Milhouse was a four-year-old engineering company specializing in civil, transportation, and aviation projects. However, owners Wilbur and Joe recognized an opportunity for expansion. “When I started the company, I envisioned us not only focusing on engineering but also on construction,” Wilbur explains. “I began securing construction business in 2002, with one of our early projects being a wall redevelopment along the Lake Michigan lakefront and an 8A status project for the Navy in Peoria, Illinois. We had enough interest in construction that in 2005, we established Milhouse Construction to facilitate our unionized labor within the company.” 

Over the past twenty years, Milhouse Construction has evolved from engaging in joint ventures with larger general contractors to operating as a sole general contractor and launching a significant carpentry division. Since joining Milhouse in 2010, James has guided the company’s growth in the construction industry, working on projects in various sectors, including healthcare, transportation, education, and community development. We specialize in general contracting, estimating, design-build, finished carpentry, framing, and drywall. Our work with Chicago Public Schools, like the Walter Payton College Prep High School Annex construction and the Austin College and Career Academy Science Lab, provides local students with a modern, safe environment equipped with the latest technology, allowing them to concentrate on their education. In healthcare, our services include remodeling existing mechanical rooms and laboratories, constructing outpatient centers, and renovating medical clinics. We ensure the safety and well-being of patients and staff throughout the construction process, enabling doctors, patients, and staff to deliver and receive the best possible care in a clean, technologically equipped setting.

This vision of creating a positive impact and building healthier communities has been part of Milhouse Construction’s ethos since its inception. In addition to providing opportunities for union laborers, Wilbur aimed to “to have something that would have an impact on the working person and be able to give opportunities and jobs to folks who have chosen a more blue-collar, labor-focused track. With all our work at Milhouse and Milhouse Construction, I’m thinking, ‘How can we have impact, how can we create something, how can we give people an opportunity without a ceiling?’”  

Joe echoes that idea when he reflects on Milhouse’s founding. “We had, and still have, a lot of construction talent and experience, and we wanted to take advantage of that. Our engineering team supports the construction team considerably, and we’ve got a lot of expertise, so we thought, why not put it to work?” This expertise has had a proven impact on the communities we serve, like our work on the Forty Acres Fresh Market, Chicago’s only Black woman-owned grocery store, which is located on the city’s West Side.

When discussing the project last year, Liz Abunaw, the founder of the market, noted, “We received several bids for the project, but Milhouse Construction stood out for their organization and process orientation. I love the diversity on the site and the commitment to ensuring that the work is done by a diverse set of skilled tradespeople. Whenever anybody asks me who my General Contractor is, I tell them: ‘Milhouse, and if you’re smart, you’ll hire them’.”  

Community-based construction is also one of Wilbur’s favorite types of projects. “I love the work we’ve done at the 95^th/Dan Ryan CTA station. It’s an entryway to Chicago when you’re coming in from the South. Being involved in that on the design and construction side was special; I used to take the Red Line and get off at that station. I love knowing now that our work touches millions of people every day.” For James, each one of Milhouse Construction’s projects holds value to him. “Each project brings its unique challenges that make them interesting and memorable. I’ve enjoyed working with many talented people committed to solving problems and delivering successful projects.” 

Milhouse Construction entered 2025 in an exciting new phase focused on growth and development. “We have transitioned from being predominantly a trades contractor to positioning ourselves as a general contractor, a shift that allows us to tap into larger and more diverse markets,” explains Joe. “I’m looking forward to doing a lot more design-build. With modern technology, the demand for power is greater than ever, and it will only continue to grow for the next hundred years. We aim to support these evolving markets and collaborate with battery storage systems and various clean energy initiatives.”  

Looking toward the future, Wilbur shares his excitement about several projects, including the construction of a new Atlanta Fire Station and the TCA Health building in Auburn-Gresham neighborhood of Chicago. “The work we’re doing will continue to grow our Construction group, and I have full confidence in the people leading the team.” 

Milhouse Construction remains committed to delivering construction solutions that address the evolving needs of our clients and communities. We are excited for the future and eager to continue growing, strengthening our team, expanding our capabilities, giving to the communities around us, and building projects that reflect our core values of constant quality, fierce integrity, active diversity, and intentional safety.

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“The future is bright for Milhouse Construction, and I’m excited to be leading the charge.” 

– James Fifer, President, Milhouse Construction

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