Barton Malow

History

From our humble beginning as general contractors a century ago to our recent industry advancing innovations, Barton Malow is built on a foundation of integrity and trust.

    1924

    The C.O. Barton Company founded in Detroit, Michigan, by Carl Osborn Barton

    1924

    First contract awarded

    The first contract awarded to C.O. Barton Company was interior renovations for the Michigan Bell Telephone Company.

    1925

    Ben Maibach Sr. joins the C.O. Barton Company

    Becoming one of the original company employees, Ben Maibach Sr. started as a carpenter.

    1927

    Arnold Malow joins the company

    Arnold Malow was a financial wizard, serving as Vice President and Treasurer

    1932

    C.O. Barton Company name changed to Barton Malow Company

    1938

    BEN C. MAIBACH, JR. JOINS THE COMPANY

    Ben C. Maibach, Jr. began as a laborer, engineer, timekeeper, and general handyman on tank foundations for Firestone Rubber in Trenton, Michigan

    1952

    LEADING THE INDUSTRY

    Barton Malow is first construction firm in the U.S. to establish a profit sharing/pension plan for the benefit of employees

    1953

    LEADERSHIP CHANGES

    Carl Barton named Chairman of the Board; Arnold Malow elevated to President; Ben Maibach Jr. elected Executive Vice President

    Ben Maibach Jr.

    Barton Malow Executive Vice President, 1953

    1954

    BUILDING COMMUNITIES

    Barton Malow establishes the Barton Malow Foundation with the goal of donating 5% of company earnings to support our communities

    1959

    Think Big

    Barton Malow enters into a contract to construct a U.S. Post Office in Detroit, which at that time was the largest building in cubic feet in the State of Michigan

    1960

    Ben Maibach Jr. named President

    Ben Maibach Jr.

    Barton Malow President, 1960

    1962

    A Tall Order

    Barton Malow builds the 27-story Jefferson Apartment Building, the tallest reinforced concrete structure (at the time) in the state of Michigan

    1964

    FAST TRACK

    Ford Motor Car Company awards Barton Malow a contract to build a 2.6 million-SF stamping plant in Woodhaven, Michigan – first major project to use fast track approach; Rollie Wilkening promoted to Executive Vice President; Ben Maibach III joins Barton Malow as a laborer

    Ben Maibach III

    1965 Barton Malow Logo
    1965

    New Barton Malow logo introduced

    1972

    Barton Malow’s First Construction Management Contract

    The Pontiac Central High School project in Michigan was estimated to have saved at least six months of construction time, elevating Barton Malow on the national construction management stage with the results widely published.

    1973

    Construction Management Leaders

    Rollie Wilkening co-authors the book “Construction Management for the General Contractor.” Barton Malow Company becomes national leader of the delivery method

    1974

    Barton Malow Company celebrates 50th anniversary

    50th Anniversary graphic
    1975

    Leadership changes

    Rollie Wilkening named Barton Malow President; Ben Maibach, III named Executive Vice President

    1976

    Barton Malow launches operations in Florida

    An office in Sarasota, Florida is opened

    1976

    Build America Award winner

    Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, MI

    1978

    New corporate identity established

    The groovy orange logo was fitting for its era

    1980

    GM Awards Barton Malow Assembly Plant Contract

    General Motors awards Barton Malow the Orion and Wentzville assembly plants, one of the largest private contracts ever awarded in the United States

    1981

    Ben Maibach III named Barton Malow President

    1981 Ben Maibach III
    1984

    Breaking New Ground

    Barton Malow Rigging Company established; Barton Malow establishes LEArning Practicum for Students (LEAPS) for college interns; Doug Maibach joins Barton Malow as a Layout Engineer

    Doug Maibach
    1986

    Making Moves

    Barton Malow moves corporate headquarters to Southfield, Michigan

    1988

    50 years of service

    Ben Maibach, Jr., Chairman of the Board, celebrates 50 years of service at Barton Malow

    1989

    Barton Malow launches Mid-Atlantic operations

    The Baltimore, Maryland office is opened

    1990 Barton Malow Logo
    1990

    A New Look

    New corporate identity established with an updated logo, changing the color from orange to blue

    1992

    Swinging for the fences

    Barton Malow builds Oriole Park at Camden Yards which was hailed as new standard for open-air baseball parks

    Oriole Park in 1992
    1997

    Ryan Maibach joins Barton Malow as Project Engineer

    1997 Ryan Maibach
    1999

    Barton Malow celebrates 75th Anniversary

    2000

    Build America Award winner

    Shriners Hospitals for Children Burns Unit, Boston, MA

    2001

    Employee-designed and built

    Together, employee teams created a one-of-a-kind home for Barton Malow’s new headquarters in Southfield, MI, rising four stories over serene wetlands, with a dramatic glass curtainwall sloping inward.

    2001 Southfield headquarters
    2003

    Build America Award Winner

    Gillette Stadium
    Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA

    2004

    Build America Award winner

    Chicago Bears Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

    2005

    Taking the LEED

    The Detroit School of Arts, part of the massive Detroit Public Schools program, becomes the first LEED Certified building in Detroit; Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at Penn State University becomes the first LEED Certified ballpark in the world

    Collage of Detroit School of Arts and Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
    2006

    Barton Malow adopts BIM

    Barton Malow starts use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), setting the foundation for an industry changing approach to construction and the beginning of Virtual Design and Construction

    2007

    Build America Award winner

    John Paul Johns Arena
    John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA

    2008

    A new market

    Barton Malow enters renewable energy market with the construction of Stoney Corners Wind Farm

    Stoney Corners Wind Farm
    2011

    AGC Build America award winner

    University of Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI

    2011

    Ryan Maibach named Barton Malow President

    2011 Ryan Maibach
    Ryan Maibach

    Barton Malow President

    Building with the American Spirit: People Projects Communities graphic
    2012

    Our Core Purpose

    Barton Malow establishes Core Purpose: Building with the American Spirit: People, Projects, Communities and establishes a plan to achieve a long-term goal of doubling efficiency by the 100th anniversary

    2013

    AGC Build America Merit Award winner

    Broad Art Museum
    Broad Art Museum, East Lansing MI

    2014

    In honor of our 90th Anniversary

    The Build Your Community Employee Match Program founded; Community Week launched

    2016

    Industry-transforming investments and acquisitions begin:

    LIFTbuild, Construction Robotics, Fly Paper, AllTrade Industrial

    2017

    AGC Build America Award winner

    Daytona Rising, Daytona Beach, FL

    2018

    AGC Build America Award winner

    Little Caesars Arena
    Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI

    2019

    AGC Build America winner

    Notre Dame Campus Crossroads, South Bend, IN

    2020

    Barton Malow Family of Companies

    Barton Malow establishes the Family of Companies honoring the rich heritage and strong culture of the enterprise.

    2022

    LIFTbuild Completes First Lift

    Barton Malow’s LIFTbuild entity completed its first lift on the Exchange project in the downtown Detroit Greektown neighborhood, taking the next step to validate the years of research, development, and testing put into this technology.