Building a successful small business is no easy task. And one that lasts a century? That’s especially impressive. And it’s what Chicago’s W.E. O’Neil Construction has done.
William Edward O’Neil founded W.E. O’Neil in 1925. To honor the construction firm’s 100 years in business, Brandon Johnson, mayor of the City of Chicago, presented John Russell, regional president for Chicago and Texas, and other W.E. O’Neil employee-owners with a proclamation declaring 2025 as the 100-year Anniversary of the local firm.
Russell said that he was proud to accept the proclamation on behalf of W.E. O’Neil.
“It was very profound being there in the chambers and witnessing the proclamation,” Russell said. “It was quite an honor.”
It’s no surprise that Chicago issued this proclamation. W.E. O’Neil has played a significant role in shaping the city, working on such key landmarks as The Museum of Contemporary Art, Lane Tech High School, Crown Fountain at Millennium Park and the restoration of The Chicago Theatre.
And what was W.E. O’Neil’s first project? It, too, was an important one, the primate house at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo.
Today, W.E. O’Neil continues to tackle some of the most important projects in Chicago and its suburbs.
The construction firm has worked on projects such as Lincoln Common, Block 37, the University of Chicago’s William Eckhardt Research Center and LondonHouse Hotel.
W.E. O’Neil hasn’t made an impact only with its construction work. The firm and its employees have also supported the community. W.E. O’Neil has been a long-term supporter of organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Russell said that W.E. O’Neil has followed a simple formula to reach its success.
“It comes down to our values,” Russell said. “Our retired chairman, Bill O’Neil, always said that his responsibility was to pass down the values that his grandfather, the original William O’Neil, established. Our clients are our greatest allies. Our goal as employees of W.E. O’Neil is to build strong relationships with all our clients. That’s the number one value of this firm.”
Another key factor in the firm’s success? Russell said that the employees at W.E. O’Neil are all committed to learning and evolving as the construction industry changes.
“We are all lifetime learners,” Russell said. “You don’t just have a job here. You have a career. Our job is to develop our employees.”
W.E. O’Neil leadership takes this seriously. The company employes a national vice president who is devoted to training and development for the firm’s employees across the country.
Then there is the focus on quality. Russell said that another goal of W.E. O’Neil leadership and employees is to provide both quality service to clients and to build quality developments.
“Our clients are number one. They are always right,” Russell said. “We deliver whatever their needs require. We also have a commitment to quality construction. If we don’t leave behind a quality product, our work won’t stand the test of time. Our people are committed to quality workmanship.”
Russell has worked with W.E. O’Neil for three decades. During these years, he’s worked on several key projects. One of his favorites was the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, a project on which W.E. O’Neil served as general contractor.
Most visitors know this project as the fountain with the squirting faces, two large pillars on which videos of the faces of Chicago residents rotate. When these faces are on the pillars, it looks as if they are spitting water into the pool below.
The fountains are a favorite of residents and visitors to Chicago alike.
“It’s nice to have worked on what has become a true landmark project,” Russell said.
In another big project, W.E. O’Neil served as general contractor on the famous Crown Fountain project in Chicago’s Millennium Park. (Photo courtesy of W.E. O’Neil.)
Russell also worked on the Block 37 project, which covers a full city block in the heart of downtown Chicago. This block, bordered by Randolph, State, Washington and Dearborn streets, now includes more than 1.2 million square feet of mixed-use facilities, including a 400,000-square-foot four-story retail podium atop a 340,000-square-foot four-level below-grade transportation center and parking structure.
“At the time, that was the largest undeveloped project site in the downtown area,” Russell said. “It was a great honor for W.E. O’Neil to serve as the contractor on that project.”
It’s impossible to be in business for 100 years and not face challenges. And the commercial real estate industry is notoriously cyclical, with both booming and sluggish markets. How has W.E. O’Neil worked through the slow cycles?
Russell said that the firm benefits from working in a wide variety of sectors. If construction activity in one sector is lagging, W.E. O’Neil can lean into another segment that is performing better.
“Today in Chicago, for example, some of the investor-led development work is waning,” Russell said. “To make up for that, we are leaning into higher-education work and work at the airport. That flexibility helps us when the economy is down.”
The long-term relationships that W.E. O’Neil has built with its clients helps, too.
“Those repeat clients who automatically come back to us have been an important part of our success,” Russell said. “They are not looking for the lowest-dollar contractor. They go with someone they know and trust.”
Another unique feature of W.E. O’Neil, and one that helps the company attract and retain the best talent? The company is 100% employee owned. Everyone who works at the firm receives stock ownership in the business.
“That is another driver for people to stay committed and with us for a long period,” Russell said.
And what does the future hold for W.E. O’Neil? Russell says that it’s a bright one.
“We have made the milestone of lasting 100 years,” he said. “I see no reason why we can’t continue to operate for another 100 years. We are very focused on developing leaders at our firm. We are always focused on succession planning. We have a pipeline of leaders. The future is bright.”
