The city of Detroit is rich in history, culture, and innovation. With a population of over three million, this bustling metropolis is home to some of the friendliest citizens in the country. The music scene has always been fantastic for both local bands and major acts. It is a center for Art Deco architecture, as well as many other stunning buildings and spaces. The city is home to many small enterprises, new restaurants, and large corporations, including Amazon, Deloitte, General Motors, Walmart, and Target.

This article lists some of the best commercial contractors in Detroit, Michigan. These firms were selected for their skills, experience, knowledge, portfolios, and, most importantly, their overall ability to exceed client expectations. 


Walbridge

777 Woodward Avenue, Suite 300, Detroit, MI 48226

Walbridge is a full-service contractor based in Detroit and founded in 1916. With over a century of experience, the firm has built a remarkable portfolio of large and small projects in places as diverse as Midland, Michigan, and Chennai, India, and it’s done so with budgets ranging from a few million dollars to more than $1 billion. The firm has shown its capacity to create excellent projects by delivering flexibility and agility to a construction job’s evolving intricacies, regardless of the project’s scope, size, or complexity. It has worked in various market sectors, such as government, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and commercial. The firm is a process-driven organization that uses tried-and-true techniques to ensure that each project is completed on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards.

One of the firm’s notable projects is the 28Grand, a multifamily development located in downtown Detroit. The $27 million, 101,000-square-foot project features 218 furnished micro-lofts, 133 market-rate lofts, and 85 low-income housing tax credit units. 3,500 square feet of communal space, a second-story community room and kitchen, an outdoor terrace, a fitness facility, on-site laundry, ground-floor bike storage, and 4,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space are among the building’s amenities.


L.S. Brinker

3633 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48216

L.S. Brinker is a construction management and general contracting firm based in Detroit. Larry S. Brinker founded the firm in 1993 to deliver high-quality projects that continuously ensure client satisfaction. Its proven track record of on-time delivery, workmanship, and competitive pricing, are indications of the firm’s commitment to exceeding client expectations. The firm offers a one-stop-shop solution for its clients to ensure seamless and stress-free project delivery with its comprehensive services. The firm has developed progressive client, architect, and subcontractor relationships over the years, delivering excellent performance while maintaining honesty, integrity, and quality.

The Linkedin Detroit Office is one of the firm’s noteworthy projects. Within the Albert Kahn-designed Sanders and Grinnell buildings, the 75,000-square-foot project included the total renovation of the first four levels. The project preserved the space’s rich history and original charm while adding modern facilities such as a café, a barista lounge, a mindfulness room, and a parent’s room.


Rockford Construction

155 W. Congress Street, Suite 505, Detroit, MI 48226

For nearly thirty-five years in the industry, Rockford Construction has served the United States with outstanding projects in the commercial, multi-unit, educational, industrial, healthcare, and retail markets. Founded in 1987, the firm’s comprehensive services include construction management, development, and property management services. It has established an impressive portfolio of more than $5 billion in projects, ranging from small-scale renovations to highly complex building operations. The firm is licensed in 45 states and was ranked by Engineering News-Record as one of the Top 200 contractors in the nation, a testament to its exceptional craftsmanship, impeccable professionalism, and superior quality. 

The Hotel Saint Regis, which opened in 1966, is a Midtown Detroit landmark. Red floral tiles, 23-karat gold-trimmed walnut paneling, crystal chandeliers, and antiques from throughout the world were all part of the original design. Rockford Construction was entrusted with keeping the building’s character while renovating the lobby, restaurant, bar, and guest rooms. The firm kept the original architectural characteristics while focusing on changes that reflected a more modern aesthetic.


Ideal Contracting

2525 Clark Street, Detroit, MI 48209

Ideal Contracting, based in Detroit, was founded in 1998 as a family-owned, self-performing general contractor. With over two decades of experience, the firm has repeatedly demonstrated its capacity to deliver small and large-scale projects to clients in the automotive, manufacturing, heavy industrial, and commercial areas through its impressive portfolio. The firm has grown into eight nationally recognized enterprises with yearly revenues nearing $350 million and around 550 employees. The firm is backed by a group of experts dedicated to providing long-term value by completing projects on time and on budget and consistently exceeding customer expectations.

Ideal Contracting served as the concrete contractor for the construction of the Chass Medical Office Building in Detroit. All foundations—including footings, pads, elevator pits, 26,000-square-foot slab on grade, 4,600-square-foot slab on deck, parking lot curbs, sidewalks, and driveways—were self-performed by the business. This project has received LEED-certification for green construction.


The Christman Company

3011 W Grand Boulevard, Suite 2600, Detroit, MI 48202

The Christman Company—which has been in business since 1894—is one of the country’s most prestigious commercial construction management firms. The firm has earned a significant portfolio of public, government, healthcare, historic preservation, office, education, parking, science, cultural, hospitality, recreation, transportation, and industrial projects. Its impressive track record displays its understanding of current market conditions and strong relationships with local trades, allowing it to deliver excellent quality at the most competitive prices. With its dedication to outstanding customer service, the firm offers high-quality, at-risk general contracting services. The firm has a lengthy list of satisfied and repeat clients.

The Christman Company provided construction management services to construct the country’s most advanced performance training and athletic medicine facility—the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center. The 239,000-square-foot project is made up of three buildings. The first is a new team practice facility and corporate offices in Detroit for the Detroit Pistons. The Henry Ford Health System Center for Athletic Medicine— spanning 55,000 square feet and three stories—is the second structure. The third and final phase of the development is a parking deck, a six-story structure with 380 parking spaces.


Clark Construction Company

3535 Moores River Drive, Lansing, MI 48911

Clark Construction has been in the industry since 1946, solidifying its reputation as a leading firm in Michigan. It is a full-service commercial construction company that has demonstrated its excellent quality through its outstanding craftsmanship, perfect professionalism, and exceptional customer service. This family-owned business has a long and illustrious history spanning three generations of the Clark family leadership. With its dedication to excellence, the firm has many outstanding projects in various market segments throughout the country, including sporting facilities and fields, corporate office buildings, research and medical facilities, retail spaces, higher education facilities, and K-12 school buildings. It employs current trends and technology, including lean construction and sustainability, to assure effective outcomes.

The East English Village Preparatory Academy in Detroit is one of the firm’s notable projects. The original facility was demolished, and a new 221,000-square-foot high school was built in its place. The new structure can hold up to 1,200 pupils. The state-of-the-art building has four wings with eight science laboratories, a high-tech media center, and an athletic area with a community health clinic.


O’Brien Construction

966 Livernois, Troy, MI 48083

Since its inception in 1962, O’Brien Construction has been dedicated to improving its communities’ quality of life through its exceptional construction services. The firm provides a personalized and hands-on approach as a general contractor by meticulously handling every intricate detail of every project. The firm has established long-term relationships with its stakeholders based on mutual trust and respect, ensuring smooth and seamless transactions throughout the project’s progress. Its high-skilled and professional staff is dedicated to collaborating closely with clients and trade partners to deliver high-quality projects on time and on budget. Multifamily housing, historic preservation, renovations, municipal, commercial, educational, and religious projects are among the firm’s specialties.

The firm completed the historic rehabilitation of Lithuanian Hall, making it the first building in Detroit to be recognized by the prestigious LEED® Green Building Rating System for Core and Shell construction. This building, erected in the 1920s, required extensive gutting and total repair to meet historical requirements. Energy-efficient technology was installed in Lithuanian Hall to produce significant energy savings.


Ronnisch Construction Group

42 Watson Street, Detroit, MI 48201

Bernie Ronnisch launched Ronnisch Construction Group in 1994 as a family-owned and run firm. With twenty-seven years in the business, the firm has become a trusted partner to commercial, financial, retail, hotel, healthcare, senior living, higher education, and specialist businesses throughout Michigan. The firm offers construction management, design-build, and general contracting services in a comprehensive package. The firm believes that its success comes from its dedication to quality and customer satisfaction. As a result, the firm is committed to realizing its clients’ dreams in one-of-a-kind projects using high-quality craftsmanship, cost-effective solutions, and inventive building processes.

Bader Leather chose Ronnisch Construction Group as the Design-Builder for its new site in Rochester Hills. This new facility was designed to act as Bader Leathers’ North American headquarters and a showcase for its automobile clientele. The new atrium entry extension, mezzanine, skylight installations, full-height glass walls, architectural lighting, a green wall of plants, and several leather accent items were all required for this project.