HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Founded in 1919, Michuda Brothers was two immigrant brothers from Czechoslovakia in pursuit of the American Dream. After escaping harsh working conditions that took advantage of immigrants in rural Wisconsin, brothers Tony and Leo Michuda began their construction careers as carpenters for Pullman Railcars. Facing persecution from anti-immigration project managers, the two brothers began their business doing general carpentry for the Chicago Public Schools.
1920s
THE GREAT DEPRESSION
With work sparse in the public sector, much of Michuda Brothers' construction work dried up. Schools were budgeting to the bare minimum and with it went the reliable work Leo Michuda Sr had relied upon to support his family and their business. While many businesses lost everything, Michuda relied on innovative thinking and sheer determination to survive and with it came its new name - Leo Michuda & Son Co. With public sewage projects still receiving funding from the city of Chicago, Michuda saw the light at the end of the tunnel and entered a new sector.
1930s
THE WAR
With the United States preparing to enter World War 2, all industry focus nationwide went toward defeating the Axis powers. As public works and education projects shifted to war priorities, Leo Michuda & Son was enlisted to develop the Studebaker battle tank proving grounds in Indiana. Here tanks and other military vehicles were developed and tested to prepare for war.
1940s
THE POST WAR ERA
With the fall of the Third Reich and its allies, the United States quickly focused on job creation for the troops returning from war. With the City of Chicago ramping up public works projects, Leo Michuda & Son was instrumental in the design and construction of many of the bridges still in use today across Chicago's iconic river and skyline.
1950s
PUBLIC WORKS & THE DEPT OF DEFENSE
After surviving the Great Depression, Leo Michuda & Son found it had a knack for larger public sector work. With a culture deeply rooted in "thinking differently," Leo Michuda Jr, fresh out of Notre Dame, jumpstarted his involvement in the business' 3rd generation and began engineering new ways to service wastewater and larger road works projects across major highways. The year 1969 capped off The Lincoln Oasis service plaza project, for which Leo Michuda & Son was recognized with "The Architectural Design Award" for outstanding engineering feats in structural design.
1960s
Photographed Leo Michuda III his first year out of the University of Notre Dame
HEAVY CONSTRUCTION
The 1970s brought expanded heavy construction, bridges, and roadworks projects to Leo Michuda & Son's portfolio. Leo Michuda Jr took over the business from his father Leo Michuda Sr and continued to grow the business into its third generation.
1970s
A NEW GENERATION
Mark (pictured left) and his brother Josef (right) joined their dad Leo in the mid-1980s out of college to take the family business into its 4th generation. With both his sons on board, Leo Michuda and Son Co became Michuda Construction Inc.
1980s
FAMILY BUSINESS
OF THE YEAR
The 1990s brought both landmark projects and a bold new strategy to the Michuda Family. Michuda Construction completed a project on Chicago's famous Navy Pier. That same year, Michuda was awarded Family Business of the Year in 1999. With their sights set on the new millennia ahead, Mark and Joe made a bold decision to pivot out of nearly 90 years in the public work sector and began to blaze a new trail into the healthcare sector.
1990s
A NEW STRATEGY
Michuda's name quickly gained respect and market share in healthcare. Joe and Mark's bold strategy paid off, as Michuda Construction began delivering quality and complicated projects for major healthcare systems throughout the Midwest.
2000s
DEVELOPERS
With Michuda's healthcare sector continuing to expand throughout the Midwest, our culture of innovation brought new ideas and an ambitious project to this decade. Evergreen Senior Living was Michuda's first commercial healthcare development as a design-build, owner, and operator. This 116 bed senior living and memory care building in Orland Park is a state-of-the-art assisted living facility that offers unrivaled care and luxury to seniors in Chicago's south suburbs.
2010s
A STORY BEING WRITTEN
The COVID-19 pandemic started 2020 off on its back foot and Michuda Construction was honored to help its healthcare clients respond to the best of their abilities. As cases nationwide surged, Michuda quickly brought its occupied space experience and converted many sections of hospitals to temporary ICUs and Emergency Rooms. As the pandemic seems to be behind us, Michuda Construction has exciting things in the works toward expanding its footprint, its business, and most importantly, its family.
