Wikipedia
Gilbane, Inc., based in Providence, Rhode Island, is a family-owned, national construction and real estate development company. Forbes ranked Gilbane as the 108th largest privately held company in the United States in 2006 with estimated revenues of $2.83 billion.
Gilbane is one of the nation’s oldest builders. The company was founded in 1873 by William H. Gilbane and his brother Thomas as a family-run carpentry and general contracting shop in Providence, Rhode Island. Originally known as William H. Gilbane and Brother, the firm quickly developed, building some of the homes in Providence. New projects soon followed, including churches, hospitals and other public buildings that are still in use today.
In the early 1900s, William H. Gilbane took control of the company and steered it through the lean times of the Great Depression. In the 1930s, his sons Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr. and William J. Gilbane, Jr. joined the company and made Gilbane’s reputation as a pioneer in construction management — first with major defense projects during World War II, and then with the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, which opened on time and budget in Washington, D.C. on July 4, 1976. In 1970 Gilbane expanded its services and formed the development unit now known as Gilbane Development Company.
Today, fourth-generation members of the family lead the company, which has more than 50 offices worldwide. Paul J. Choquette, Jr., son of third-generation family member Virginia Gilbane Choquette, is vice chairman of Gilbane Inc. Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr. is chairman and CEO, and William J. Gilbane, Jr. is vice chairman of Gilbane Building Company. Robert V. Gilbane is chairman and CEO of Gilbane Development Company.
During the past two decades, Gilbane has completed a number notable public projects including:
- Lake Placid Winter Olympics Facilities, Lake Placid, NY
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington D.C.
- Smithsonian Institution's National Air & Space Museum, Washington D.C.
- The National Archives, College Park, MD
- US Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the Department of Energy, New Orleans, LA
- O'Hare International Airport, Terminal 5, Chicago, IL
- Union Station Restoration, Washington D.C.
- U. S. Department of Justice, Washington D.C.
- World War II Memorial, Washington D.C.
- US Capitol Visitors Center, Washington D.C.
- George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
- Prudential Center, "The Rock" New Jersey Devils Arena, Newark, NJ
Family Business Magazine ranks Gilbane as the 64th largest family business in the United States.
Engineering News Record ranked Gilbane Building Company as the 5th largest construction manager in the United States in 2007.