Indianapolis is one of the largest economic regions in the U.S. and home to several industrial facilities, from distribution centers to manufacturing sites. Buildings of that size and function often have their particularities, from the general structural stability that’s tailored to handle a heavy workload, down to the tiny details like specific fixtures and equipment. With that in mind, it is important to have any industrial project handled by sure and steady hands that can build your facility following stringent safety standards.

With that in mind, below is a list of the top industrial contractors in the Indianapolis area. Each contractor on this list was selected by our editorial team because we were impressed by the company’s background, capacity, the complexity of their projects, their accreditations, and the recognition they have received from peers in the business.

Pepper Construction

1850 West 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

 Over the last 95 years, Pepper Construction has been providing general contracting and construction management services to non-residential, private, and government sectors in the Midwest through its offices in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. As one of the largest contractors in the country, Pepper has a strong reputation for its focus on client service and its attention to detail. This dedication has been recognized with awards like the 2021 Builders Exchange Central Ohio Safety Achievement Award, the 2021 AGC Innovation Award, the 2020 Greater Chicago Food Depository Commercial Real Estate Award, and the 2019 Top-Notch Project of the Year Award.

With a number of LEED Accredited Professionals on its dynamic team, Pepper Construction is also equipped to complete environmentally conscious designs. Back in 2010, it managed the Sidney & Louis Eskenazi Hospital and Health Campus project, the first LEED Gold healthcare campus in the country.

The 327,820-square-foot FedEx SmartPost Distribution Center that Pepper Construction built in Indianapolis is another great example of the firm’s work. With its 12,000 square feet of office space, 110 loading docks, four drive-in dock doors, 400 trailer parking stalls, and a precast guard shack building, this expansive facility was built to accommodate a high volume of material and package handling with efficiency and safety.

Compass Commercial Construction

250 East 96th Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240

Founded in 2010, Compass Commercial Construction is the youngest company on this list. The business is headed by Bill McCarthy, who has over 35 years of experience in the Indianapolis construction and business market. Through the decades he has honed a passion for safety and service-oriented culture which he has brought to Compass.  With that leadership, in its 12 years in the game, Compass has established a solid reputation for going the extra mile in its work and built strong working relationships.

Since 2017, it has handled 9 million square feet of construction. Since 2020, it has served 202 satisfied clients through its collaborative and enthusiastic processes. A great result of the company’s process is the Westpoint Business Park I and II, a large industrial facility that spans about 700,000 square feet and is built with efficiency and safety at its core.

ARCO Design/Build

325 S Alabama Street, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204

With 27 years of experience in the industry, ARCO Design/Build is a national design-build contractor with multiple offices across the country. Thanks to its large and dynamic team, it can offer the resources of a large company while still providing the level of care and attentive service of a smaller, more focused team.  ARCO Design/Build is particularly skilled in building manufacturing, distribution, and warehouse facilities, and has completed over one hundred million square feet of these projects across the country.

The 16,621-square-foot Craftmark project, a manufacturing facility that demanded very specific features,  is a good example of the firm’s capability. A 65-degree cooler was added, along with a newly installed IMP ceiling, two evaporator units that lead up to the bakery, four high-speed cooler doors, one new high-speed freezer door, a QA lab, and an office. The team also built in essential process utilities like compressed air, hot and cold water, chilled water, sanitary capabilities, and electrical infrastructure.

Charles C. Brandt Construction Co.

1505 N Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46201

Since its establishment 115 years ago, Charles C. Brandt Construction Co. has believed in the hard work and good customer service that has made it one of the most respectable firms over the century with a long history of repeat clients. It promises to be the client’s construction teammate and bring their vision to reality, whether it’s commercial construction, residential construction, or service work.

The Kirby Risk project featured above is a glimpse into Charles C. Brandt Construction’s work on vast industrial projects. With Kirby Risk being a company known for being a dependable resource for its customers, its distribution centers must be just as dependable. This expansive building is designed and built to support high volumes of business.

Garmong Construction Services

5988 N Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46228

Ranked as one of the Top 25 fastest-growing companies by the Indianapolis Business Journal, Garmong Construction Services is a family-owned and operated business with offices in Terre Haute, Evansville, and Indianapolis. With nearly a century of history in construction, the firm stands proud as one of the leading construction management companies, offering design-build and general contracting services to clients in the area.

Above is Garmong’s handiwork on Tasus, found in Bloomington, Indiana. As the general contractor of this pre-engineered, 40,000-square-foot project, the team built this maintenance facility to fit the context of the site. The project included the mitigation of significant civil site issues since the building needed to go over a large stormwater drainage ditch. Other things the team did for the site are the removal of thousands of cubic yards of hillside cut, stabilized remaining slopes, and dealing with underground stone/footer issues to make sure that the entire building is built on safe ground. Other features of this project include a break room remodel, a new and existing overhead crane installation and modification, and new parking lots and streets that allow for the more efficient transport of raw materials and finished goods.