Family & History

Gilbane is one of the largest privately, held family-owned construction and real estate development firms in the industry. This timeline provides a brief overview of the Gilbane family history and Gilbane's evolution from a carpentry business to a global firm.

William Gilbane - Son of Thomas and Bridget Gilbane, natives of County Leitrim - Born September 21, 1844

Thomas Gilbane, his wife and young son William immigrated to America in 1845 from County Leitrim in Ireland at the height of the Great Irish Famine (also known as the Irish Potato Famine).

Thomas Francis Gilbane born - November 5, 1854 - Son of Thomas and Bridget Gilbane and brother to William.

William was driven by the belief that hard work, attention to quality craftsmanship and basic honesty would carry him through the recession (1870-1879). These basic principles formed the cornerstone that Gilbane's reputation is built upon.

In 1870, William went into business for himself as a carpenter and a builder.

Thomas Gilbane entered upon an apprenticeship with his brother William Gilbane to learn the carpenters' trade.

In 1883, the brothers formalized their partnership by establishing "William Gilbane and Brother." William Gilbane and Brother worked dusk to dawn, six days a week. They built homes so well the owners boasted (and still do) "Built by Gilbane" at resale.

Built between 1894-1895, the building was opened in 1896 and is still in operation today. Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History and Planetarium is within Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island.

Built between 1896 and 1900, by William Gilbane and Bro., the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus was built in the romanesque style.

On April 23, 1897, a large kerosene lamp exploded in the shop of Gilbane Brothers on Centre Street. The entire building was engulfed in flames. A small amount of lumber stored across the street was all that remained. Losses exceeded the insured amount. Thankfully the company's books were locked in a fireproof safe and were not destroyed in the fire. This tragedy did not stop the brothers and their company. The company went straight back to work to ensure that their customers were not affected.

In 1900, the Gilbanes were contracted to build a colonial revival brick and marble house for Brown President, William Faunce on the corner of Hope and Manning Streets. This was the beginning of Gilbane's long-standing relationship with Brown University.

In 1902, the company won a major contract to build Providence's new Central Fire Station, the largest public project at the time.

In 1908, Gilbane Building Company was officially incorporated. In the Providence Board of Trade Journal under building and Architectural Notes: Gilbane Building Company has been incorporated in Providence for purpose of engaging in the business of building, general contract work and manufacturing in wood and other materials, buying and selling land, houses, lumber, hardware, and other merchandise. Capital stock is $60,000. Incorporators are William Gilbane, Thomas F Gilbane, and William H Gilbane.

William H. Gilbane, son of William Gilbane became the second company president when his father retired in 1909. William ran the company through a poor economy. Loyalty and dedication became deep-rooted values. 90 Calverly St. Providence, RI becomes company headquarters.

Three laborers were digging a ditch. "What are you doing?" asked a passerby. "Digging," said one. "Earning five dollars," said another. "Building a cathedral," said the third. The Gilbane employee would be the one "building a cathedral," said Thomas F. Gilbane commenting on his favorite story.

William J. Gilbane and Thomas F. Gilbane take over as President and Vice President.

Awarded for "...outstanding performance in wartime construction - and for preserving the unbeatable American spirit which can only be satisfied by achieving today what yesterday seemed impossible." Under-Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal

Following the sucess of the Navy work, Gilbane secured a national client in General Motors. In 1946, Gilbane built GM's new assembly plant in Framingham, MA worth $12 million. It was the largest industrial plant in New England at the time. This was Gilbane's first significant out-of-state project and marked a major milestone in the company's development. The relationship with GM grew and in 1957, Gilbane was awarded the Fisher Body Plant project in Mansfield, OH.

Up until this time, equipment for very large jobs had to be subleased. On the General Motors job in Massachusetts, the excavation subcontractor suddenly went out of business and Gilbane was left stranded. "Without hesitation, we jumped in and arranged to buy the equipment we needed," said Bill Gilbane, Sr. BT Equipment Company became a tremendous asset to the business. BT referring to Bill and Tom Gilbane.

In 1947, under the guidance of Paul Choquette, Sr. (Tom and Bill’s sister, Virginia’s husband) Gilbane developed a system of pouring concrete year round under canvas tents. This precast method was first utilized by Gilbane in the construction of eight dormitory buildings at the University of Connecticut.

Gilbane wins contract to build the world's largest closed die forging press for Wyman-Gordan Co.

"It was my father's philosophy that it didn't matter if a man ate steak or left behind a little or a lot of money. What really mattered was to leave behind a good reputation." - Robert V. Gilbane

The 1964-1965 New York World's Fair hailed itself as a "universal and international" exposition. Gilbane built the iconic egg-shaped IBM Corporation pavilion for the Fair. Gilbane also built the India Pavilion, the Hawaii Pavilion and the New England States Pavilion.

Under the leadership of Robert V. Gilbane in the 1970’s, a real estate development company known as, Gilbane Properties was founded. This subsidiary of Gilbane Building Company worked on projects such as joint ventures and affordable housing developments. Some of the earlier projects included: Fleet Center -Providence, LaSalle Square (AT&T, now Hasbro) -Providence and Arsenal Marketplace and Apartments –Watertown, MA

Gilbane worked on eleven Miller Brewing Company projects spanning an eight-year period, totaling $1.3B and 8,000,000-SF, including a $10M barrel brewery with warehouse and packaging facility.

It was critical that the museum be ready for the nation's bicentennial celebration on July 1, 1976. At a time when government projects were seldom completed as planned, this project was completed on time and under budget. The end result is a stunning piece of history that we can all be proud of.

In 1978, Gilbane broke ground on its new corporate headquarters in Providence, RI. The design was planned to reflect the strong, forward-looking corporate image. On March 7, 1980, the brick four-story building opened its doors

The ice arena -- home of the lengendary "Miracle on Ice" game -- was a huge triumph for Gilbane. The inflexible deadline and strict budget imposed by the Olympic Committee presented great challenges.

Gilbane built the Cleveland Clinic building, a 617,800 SF, 13-story freestanding ambulatory care facility that marked the start of numerous projects with the Clinic.

Arsenal Apartments and Marketplace into a mixed-use residential, retail and business community. The site, now registered on the ASCE’s List of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks and the US National Register of Historic Places, housed buildings designed by renowned architect Alexander Parris, later designer of Quincy Market. For forty years, Gilbane Development Company has owned and continues to manage the 156-unit community, Arsenal Apartments.

Work on site began March 16, 1982, five days after the design and plans received final Federal approval, and broke ground on March 26, 1982. The completed Vietnam Veterans Memorial was accepted by the President of the United States on November 10, 1984. Etched into the marble walls are the names of the nation’s 58,000 dead and missing of the Vietnam conflict.

Gilbane developed and built a 14-story, 765,000 SF facility to house 2,000 employees in the heart of Pittsburgh’s central business district. GDC worked with Mellon to analyze four potential locations then provided a thorough evaluation of the chosen site’s overall development costs, including telecommunications and utility infrastructure, relocation expenses, construction/FF&E costs, and design fees.

In one of our first P3 GDC developed a state-of-the-art, 158,000 SF, five-story county government center with 418-car garage keeping with the architecture of the neighboring historical district.

This project included a biopharmaceutical manufacturing building, a laboratory/ office facility, warehouse, and support buildings on a 100-acre greenfield site.

Gilbane Inc. was formed with Gilbane Building Company and what is now known today as Gilbane Development Company as its subsidiaries.

The Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to those who served during World War II and is located at the east end of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

GDC and GBC partnered with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to develop a creative, cost-conscious plan to provide schools that would accommodate the area’s surging student population, which included 5,000 new students annually.

A 30-foot diameter, 690-ton hard-rock tunnel boring machine was used for the excavation through rock formations for the tunnel’s main spine along with various other excavation support techniques. The project also included constructing a 50-million-gallon-per-day pump station within a gymnasium-sized cavern carved out in rock 30-stories below ground; a state-of-the-art computer control system; and seven near-surface facilities that include structures for diverting overflows into 250-foot deep drop shafts.

In 2004, Thomas F. Gilbane Jr. is named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane Development Company and The Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) and received the NCPPP’s Innovation Award for their unique collaboration in delivering the new Hancock Geriatric Treatment Center at Eastern State Hospital, which opened its doors to 150 patients last spring, under Virginia’s Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act (PPEA).

The new state-of-the-art Innovation and Technical Center boasts customer application suites, research and development labs, culinary facilities, sensory services and a vast commercialization center dedicated to customer production commercialization.

Gilbane acquires W.G. Mills, Inc., a construction management firm with operations based in Florida. The acquisition dramatically strengthens Gilbane’s position in Florida’s growing market and complements its already established presence in the southeast.

Gilbane Development Company announces it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2010 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award.

Gilbane Building Company announced the acquisition of Innovative Technical Solutions, Inc. (ITSI). Bringing ITSI into Gilbane broadened the firm’s capabilities with the U.S. Government, especially the Department of Defense, around the world.

Transformed a vacant industrial site into a vibrant, mixed-use environment where several others before Gilbane had been unsuccessful in redevelopment. Project also restored the 1920s-era Hajoca Building, plus two wings of new construction to provide 136-unit, 406-bed community designed for Virginia Commonwealth University students.

Named Builders of the Year Project: This highly modern building features 1,400 solar cells (including several hundred that act as cladding on the south facing side of the building) that make the building 87 percent energy self-sufficient. This team used integrated design to create a state-of-the-art design/build facility that strives to meet 2030 goals of carbon neutrality. Tenants include the Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute and other energy research teams. Perhaps the most remarkable part of the building is that there is no air-conditioning in the laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia. Using natural ventilation even in 100+ plus degree heat --- there is so much air that goes through the building – up to 10 air changes a minute in the high bay lab that it stays cool.

The project comprised of approximately 22,375 square feet space adjacent to State Department’s old War Department Building along 21st Street, NW, in Washington, DC.

Gilbane Development Company announces the promotion of Edward Broderick to President of Gilbane Development Company effective January 2014

In June 2014, Michael McKelvy has joined the company as President and Chief Operating Officer. He became CEO in 2016.

The largest project in Gilbane’s history, the ExxonMobil campus in Houston reaches completion. The complex covers 385-acres and is home to 10,000 workers. It features 14 office buildings, three parking garages, state-of-art central utility plant and several other buildings. The project achieved 17 million hours worked without a lost-time incident.

Gilbane Development Company and Fairmount Properties announced that the College Town Rochester, NY project was awarded by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater Rochester a 2015 BOMA Rochester Recognition Award in the category of New Construction.

Creating New Icon in Manhattan's Skyline, read more here.

Gilbane CEO Tom Gilbane, Jr., served as ACE Mentor Program of America’s national chairman.

Gilbane Development Company’s thoughtful design and sustainable development resulted in 257 Thayer receiving a LEED Silver certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) as well as winning the Student Housing Business Innovator Award for “Best New Development under 300 beds”, presented last week at the InterFace Student Housing Awards in Austin, Texas

The Afghanistan Ministry of Defense in Kabul and the Kerry Foods Global Technology and innovation Centre in Naas, Ireland are named winners of ENR’s Best Projects Awards. The Ministry of Defense won the military category and the Kerry Centre won for Manufacturing.

Gilbane established its Los Angeles region, formally entering that urban marketplace.

Gilbane launched our construction industry-first family leave benefit, offering employees four weeks of Paid Family Leave that can be used in a single block of time or intermittently.

Gilbane is named to Training Magazine’s Top 125 list at #39. It is the 13th time Gilbane has been earned a place on this prestigious list.

Gilbane Inc. completed a $10-million renovation of its Providence headquarters

Gilbane completed the world’s largest brewery, the Constellation Brands facility in Nava, Mexico.

Gilbane exceeded $5B in annual revenue.

Gilbane created Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support inclusion, diversity, and belonging at the company. Each employee-led group has a mission and targeted demographic, but any employee can join any group as an ally.

Gilbane’s Japan office celebrated its 15-year anniversary.

The Gilbane-built Nathan Deal Judicial Center in Atlanta, GA opened to the public with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and Georgia native, Clarence Thomas attending the ribbon cutting.

Gilbane finished construction on the award winning Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Gilbane kicks off its celebration of 150 years in business by thanking our Gilbane family of employees, clients, and partners. Please enjoy this short video as we raise Gilbane's beam to the future.

Gilbane started work on the HARIBO of America production facility in Pleasant Prairie, WI.

Gilbane returns to work on Lake Placid Olympic Center. Forty years after historic "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey victory, Gilbane partners with the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority to modernize their facilities.

Gilbane completes work on the Edge, the highest observation deck in Western Hemisphere, including its restaurant, interactive exhibit space, and event hall.

Gilbane Development Company, Hudson Companies, MHANY Management, Inc., WXY Architecture + Urban Design and Body Lawson Associates, Schnapf LLC, and Roux Environmental Engineering and Geology, P.P.C. redeveloped a former juvenile detention center into The Peninsula in HuntsPoint neighborhood of the Bronx, NY.

Gilbane Building Company announced Thomas M. Laird, Jr. named President and CEO, Gilbane Building Company.

Gilbane’s Atworth included in Amazon’s $2 billion commitment to building affordable, Transit Oriented Development along Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)‘s College Park transit station

Gilbane’s Tempo student housing community in College Park, Maryland was awarded ‘Best Use of Green & Sustainable Construction & Development’ and the Gilbane-led Eastern Michigan University Welcome Home 2025 Plan for quality, affordable on-campus housing was awarded ‘Best Public/Private Financing Solution’ at last week’s 2023 Student Housing Business Innovator Award ceremony and conference in Austin, Texas.