Bulley & Andrews history

In 1906, the year the business was incorporated in Illinois, the firm began work on one of its most ambitious projects, a brick factory for Western Electric, manufacturers of telephone equipment, that was a full 200 yards long.

In 1909 B&A built the Kenilworth Union Church, establishing a relationship that would last into the next century.

Another major project of this period was the 22-story Transportation Building, completed in 1911.

1924: Andrews sells out to Bulley.

Built to house The University of Chicago’s Mathematics Department, Bulley & Andrews constructed the hall in 1930.

The firm's current chairman and CEO, Allan E. Bulley, Jr., was born in 1933 and claimed that as an infant he heard his father exclaim that if he ever became a builder he would starve to death.

1939: Allan E. Bulley, Sr., takes over company from father.

Late in 1941, Bulley & Andrews was commissioned by the Atomic Energy Commission to build the laboratory space for the “Manhattan Project”. Located beneath Stagg Field at The University of Chicago, the project was built in complete secrecy.

In 1948, the Morton Clinic was built.

The new corporate offices are located in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood, where the firm has been located since 1952.

1956: Allan E. Bulley, Jr., joins company.

Allan E. Bulley, III, “Ally” was born in 1964 and would become the fourth generation to participate in the family enterprise.

A third generation of the Bulley family took charge of the firm in 1970 when Allan Bulley, Jr., succeeded his father.

One of the more unconventional projects Bulley & Andrews has tackled is the replacement of the ice rink at the Chicago Stadium in 1971.

A significant addition was Paul Hellerman, a man with a great deal of experience in major construction projects, hired in 1988.

During the early to mid 1990’s Bulley & Andrews began to substantially increase its involvement in the senior living market.

1991: Gerhardt F. Meyne Company is acquired.

B&A also underwent some managerial changes early in the decade; in 1992 Hellerman was elevated to the position of president and chief operating officer.

1993: Allan E. Bulley, III, becomes fourth generation involved in business.

In 1996, Bulley & Andrews was honored to be awarded the contract for The Northern Trust’s new two-story branch in Winnetka, IL. Designed by OWP&P, the project posed several ‘challenges’ to the project team.

2000: B&A Telecom division is formed.

Bulley & Andrews entered the masonry restoration business in June 2003.

Significant events in the company’s history include the establishment of Bulley & Andrews Masonry Restoration, LLC, in 2005.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center opened its doors on April 19, 2009 and Bulley & Andrews was especially proud to serve as the general contractor.

Five years later, in 2010, Bulley & Andrews acquired the assets of Takao Nagai Associates to develop the subsidiary known as Takao Nagai Concrete Restoration.

The firm will celebrate the momentous occasion by hosting an open-house gathering for clients, partners and friends of the firm at the Chicago Club on Thursday, October 13, 2011.

Takao Nagai Concrete Restoration, LLC (TNCR) transitioned to become known as Bulley & Andrews Concrete Restoration (BACR) in 2014 and operates as a subsidiary of Bulley & Andrews.

Reaching the milestone of $500M in volume and a record number of people employed in 2020, B&A is poised to continue to improve lives and grow organizations in measurable and meaningful ways.