Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is known for its breweries, historic buildings, beautiful parks, and its baseball team, the Brewers. It also hosts Summerfest, the largest music festival in the world. As the largest city in Wisconsin, Milwaukee offers abundant employment opportunities as well as affordable living costs and many family-friendly activities. The city also ranks among the best places to start a business, thanks to various federal, state, and local programs that support entrepreneurs in Milwaukee. For those interested in building a residential or commercial property in the area, we have compiled ten of the best construction companies, listed below.
Carmel Builders
N85 W16100 Appleton Ave. Suite 212, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Since 1979, Carmel Builders has been building relationships, trust, and beautiful spaces across southeastern Wisconsin. The company specializes in design-build, remodeling, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and whole houses. For over four decades in the industry, Carmel has been committed to being customers’ partners in creating functional and comfortable homes designed to make beautiful moments and memories. The firm prides itself on integrity, open communication, and educating its homeowners to make wise design decisions.
Carmel Builders prides itself on integrity, openness, and a commitment to educating customers to make the right decisions. Now in the second generation of family ownership, Carmel Builders is led by Louis Weiher. With a background in hospitality management, he has focused the company on providing excellent customer service and the ability to manage projects effectively and efficiently.
S.J. Janis Company
11501 W. North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53226
S.J. Janis Company is an award-winning design-build company specializing in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, home additions, laundry rooms, home renovations, and exterior remodels. It has been serving the Greater Milwaukee area for 70 years, helping over 1,400 discerning homeowners turn their dreams into inspired living spaces. Since its start in 1951, it has assembled a skilled team of designers, consultants, and craftspeople working collaboratively to bring visions to life, on time and within budget.
Gary Sannes and Nick Sannes own the company. Gary has held a leadership role in S.J. Janis Company since 1984. He is a certified remodeler and has served on the board of directors of NARI Milwaukee for 20 years. Nick joined the firm in 2014 and is affiliated with the Metropolitan Builders Association and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
LaBonte Construction
1051 E. Ogden Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202
LaBonte Construction was founded in 2006 by a journeyman carpenter who was taught to always put quality first. The firm specializes in home remodeling and custom carpentry, serving discerning homeowners in Milwaukee and surrounding areas. For 15 years, LaBonte has been operating with integrity, commitment to craftsmanship, and accountability. While other construction companies call clients’ homes an investment, LaBonte Construction sees every project as an opportunity to create a functional home for families and to make beautiful memories. Every project is handled delicately by a team of experts, ensuring the job is done right the first time.
Jeffrey L. Koenig, the CEO, purchased LaBonte Construction in 2014. In the course of his career, he has renovated around two hundred apartments and redeveloped for resale many single-family homes.
Brillo Home Improvements
5315 N. Lovers Lane Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53225
For over four decades, Brillo Home Improvements has been an award-winning, full-service residential and commercial remodeling company serving the greater Milwaukee area, including Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee Counties. The company was incorporated in 1977 and provides unmatched craftsmanship and customer service. Brillo offers a wide selection of services, such as remodels, additions, kitchens, bathrooms, attic conversions, interior and exterior designs, and millwork.
The team tackles every project with a professional, friendly approach and assists clients throughout every phase of the remodeling process, from design to completion. Brillo Home Improvements operates under the supervision of Mike J. Bovee, Jim Zaja, and Mike D. Bovee. Mike J. joined the remodeling business in 1999 and became a Certified Lead Carpenter in 2007. Jim joined the team in 2011 and brings 20 years of construction experience. Mike D. is a certified remodeler responsible for purchasing, scheduling, and managing the crews.
MKE Design Build
3775A South Packard Ave, St. Francis, WI 53235
Founded in 2015, MKE Design Build is a design-build and remodeling firm specializing in custom residential and commercial remodels. The firm is experienced in creating kitchen spaces, bathrooms, custom installations, healthcare, and commercial projects. It operates in Milwaukee and surrounding areas, delivering quality craftsmanship in every project it builds. In its seven years in the industry, MKE Design Build has amassed numerous awards, including NARI Regional Contractor of the Year for three consecutive years and the 2020 and 2017 Reader’s Choice Remodeler of the Year award by Milwaukee NARI.
Michelle Swier and Tom Gies direct the team and take great pride in the firm’s excellent craftsmanship. Michelle has a passion for commercial remodeling with an extensive background in department store design, dental and medical office design, and residential interior design. Tom is a licensed contractor with years of design and construction experience and sits on the Board of Directors for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Milwaukee.
VJS Construction Services
W233 N2847 Roundy Circle West, Pewaukee, WI 53072
Operating out of its office in Milwaukee, VJS Construction Services is a family-owned general contracting company specializing in commercial construction. Since its founding in 1947, it has earned a reputation as one of Wisconsin’s top general contractors, building spaces that transform clients’ lives and meet their business objectives. VJS Construction takes pride in its commitment to exceptional customer experiences, budget stewardship, and growth and flexibility. The firm believes that every project it undertakes is an opportunity to combine the shared values of its team and use them to create something significant.
VJS Construction Services promises its clients to deliver nothing but exceptional results. Craig Jorgensen is the president and has been at the forefront of each project. Before becoming president, he served in many roles in the company, including project manager and vice president. Under his oversight, numerous media outlets have featured the firm, including the Milwaukee Business Journal and Daily Reporter.
Selzer-Ornst Construction Company
6222 W. State St., Milwaukee, WI 53213
For 94 years, Selzer-Ornst Construction Company has been building with honesty, integrity, and expert skill. It specializes in commercial contracting and serves clients in Milwaukee and beyond. The firm has earned a reputation for building solid relationships with its owners, architects, clients, subcontractors, and vendors. It also approaches projects uniquely and strives to provide finished products that emulate customers’ visions while adhering to budget and schedule. As a family-owned and -operated firm for three generations, Selzer-Ornst Construction Company has maintained the same level of enthusiasm and excellence in every building it creates.
Matthew Tadisch currently leads the firm. He has vast construction experience and has worked with numerous companies in various functions, ranging from project engineer and manager to executive board member.
Keller, Inc.
W204 N11509 Goldendale Rd., Germantown, WI 53022
Keller, Inc. is a commercial construction company in Wisconsin. It opened its doors in 1960 and currently has a string of offices in the Fox Cities, Madison, Milwaukee, and Wausau. The firm’s multiple locations allow it to serve clients across Wisconsin, including Appleton, Green Bay, Fond du Lac, La Crosse, and Kenosha. Since its start, Keller, Inc. has earned a reputation for being a leader in cutting-edge design-build services. It serves a diverse clientele, including agriculture, education, health care, industrial, automotive, hospitality, senior living, and warehouse clients. Cory Vande Wettering was named the company’s president in 2020 who has been with the firm since 2006.
Hunzinger Construction Company
21100 Enterprise Ave., Brookfield, WI 53045
Headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Hunzinger Construction Company is a general contracting firm specializing in commercial projects. It has over a century of experience and is one of the oldest contracting firms in the Midwest. The firm’s quality and stability are its trademarks, and its commitment to excellence shows at every level of the company. By understanding customers’ needs, the team meets and exceeds customer expectations.
Hunzinger Construction Company was formed in 1907 by Iowa brothers John, Frank, Fred, and Charles. Today, John Hunzinger oversees the firm as the president and CEO. Since its start, the company has received many recognitions for its outstanding project management, safety, engineering, concrete work, and core values. In 2019, it received the USGBC Leadership Award for Innovative Design.
KSW Construction
1100 John P Livesey Blvd., Verona, WI 53593
KSW Construction is a commercial building contractor based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its experience spans diverse project types, including restaurants, retail, recreation and wellness, industrial facilities, apartments, and hospitality projects across Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Rhinelander, and Verona, Wisconsin. Since 2005, the firm has taken great pride in being a reliable, full-service industrial and commercial contractor committed to offering quality and value through every phase of clients’ projects. The team works diligently to ensure results that match customers’ visions and sit with clients for in-depth planning before the construction process commences.
Dean Slaby is the president of KSW Construction and has over 30 years of commercial construction experience. His construction career started when he was only 13, working for his father’s construction company in Staples, Minnesota.
