Obayashi USA history

Obayashi's first major break came in 1901 when the firm won an important contract to design and build the grounds for the fifth National Industry Fair held in Osaka three years later.

1902 The company opens an office in Tokyo.

In 1904, Obayashi Store was renamed Obayashi-gumi.

The outbreak of war with Russia in 1905 provided the company with a new series of contracts, including an order for 100 barracks and ten field hospitals, which the company completed in just three weeks.

The firm survived the Panic of 1907, and a second generation became involved, Howell's 18-year-old son, Elmer B. Howell.

In 1909, Obayashi-gumi was established as a limited partnership company (the first construction company to incorporate in Japan)

1911 Tokyo Station, then the largest steel structure in Japan, is completed.

After completing construction projects for the Osaka Port and the Fifth National Industrial Exhibition, in 1914 Obayashi Corporation went on to build Tokyo Central Station (present-day Tokyo Station), which enabled the Company to demonstrate its technological capabilities on the national stage.

1916 Yoshiro Obayashi takes over as head of the company.

In 1918, the Obayashi Corporation (stock company) was founded.

In 1919, Obayashi Corporation (limited partnership company) merged with Obayashi Corporation (stock company).

In 1920 some of its executives traveled to the United States to study modern construction techniques, which the firm applied to the construction of major projects in Japan, including the Mainichi Newspaper Office, the Sumitomo Building in Osaka, and the Merchant Marine Building in Kobe, Japan.

When the Great Kanto Earthquake struck Tokyo in 1923, Tokyo Station remained unharmed, winning the Company the great confidence of customers.

1926: Howell's sons become partners in E.W. Howell Co.

Until the stock market of October 1929 changed everything, the Gold Coast saw the construction of scores of mansions, most of them built by E.W. Howell.

In 1933, Toyo Hoso Kabushiki Kaisha (now Obayashi Road Corporation) was established.

1935: The Manhattan office opens.

In 1947 several younger family members were named partners: Ralph D. Howell, Jr., Rogers Howell, Elmer B. Howell, Oliver B. Howell, and Louis E. Lee.

1954: Elmer Howell dies.

In 1955, Naniwa Real Estate Corporation (now Obayashi-Shinseiwa Real Estate Corporation) was established.

After Japan's defeat in World War II, Obayashi spent a decade recovering, not winning its first major postwar contracts until 1956, when it built the Tokyo railroad station annex.

In 1958, Obayashi Corporation was listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange.

In 1960, Obayashi Corporation was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1961 The company develops Wet Screen technology for building concrete walls.

Obayashi also has an established record outside of Japan, dating back to 1962 when the Company became the first Japanese general contractor to take on an overseas construction project.

In 1963, Establishes Toyo Building Service Corporation (now Obayashi Facilities Corporation).

1964 The company opens an office in Thailand.

In 1970, the company also introduced a new lightweight roofing design.

In 1978, James E. Roberts-Obayashi Corporation (a subsidiary of Obayashi USA, LLC) was established.

The Company later moved into the United States, and in 1979 became the first Japanese construction company to win an order from the San Francisco City Government to build a sewer system.

E.W. Howell's current president, Howard Rowland, was well familiar with the firm and the market, having come to the firm in 1983 as a project manager, at a time when it was still run by the Howell family.

1984: The last member of the Howell family retires from the firm.

In 1985 Obayashi entered the United States market, as did other Japanese construction firms around this time.

In January 1986 Norway's largest civil engineering and construction company, Selmer-Sande A/S, acquired an 80 percent interest in E.W. Howell.

Provenance Judy Weightman, of the Hawaii Holocaust Project, conducted the interview with Joseph Obayashi on December 21, 1987 as part of a project to interview Holocaust survivors and concentration camp liberators currently living in Hawaii.

Nevertheless, Obayashi had established a presence in the United States market, one that was strengthened in 1988 by forging an alliance with the United States construction firm of Fluor Daniel Inc. to combine their efforts in building plants and research facilities in both countries.

1989: Obayashi Corporation acquires the company.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum received a copy of the interview in March 1990.

Since celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1991, Obayashi has continued to participate in major projects.

E.W. Howell celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1992.

In 1993, OC Real Estate Management, LLC (USA) was established.

In Japan, the company remained a leading player in both civil engineering and architectural sectors, completing projects such as the Maiko Tunnel in Hyogo Prefecture in 1997.

After maintaining its headquarters in Port Washington, New York, for 15 years E.W. Howell relocated to Woodbury, New York, in February 2000.

In 2002, Obayashi USA, LLC (Los Angeles) was established.

In 2003, Obayashi acquired all shares of Toshiba Air Conditioning Co., Ltd. from Toshiba Corporation and changed the company name to Oak Setsubi Corporation.

In 2005, Obayashi's revenues topped Y140 billion ($13 billion).

In 2006, Obayashi Vietnam Corporation (Ho Chi Minh City) was established.

In 2007, Webcor joined the Obayashi Group (USA).

In 2011, Obayashi Canada Ltd. (USA) was established, and Kenaidan Group Ltd. (Canada) joined the Obayashi Group.

In 2012, JS Builders, LLC (USA) was established.