Wolverine Building Group history

1945 – Fryling Construction was founded in 1945 specializing in the construction of enclosed shopping malls.

1953 – Jim Bouwman followed in his father’s footsteps by taking ownership and leadership of the company.

1957 – Wolverine Tile Company became known as Wolverine Building Products, Inc.

1970’s – Wolverine Building Group became the nation’s largest builder of Butler buildings, the leading brand for pre-engineered metal buildings.

1980’s – Stan Cheff and Jeff Ridings took ownership and leadership of the company.

1993 – Wolverine Construction Management was formed in 1993 as a separate division of Wolverine Building Group.

1994 – Wolverine Building Group constructed Old Kent Park, now known as Fifth Third Ballpark, which is the home of the West Michigan Whitecaps.

1995 – Wolverine Building Group acquired Fryling construction.

2006 – Wolverine North America was founded in 2006 as a separate division of Wolverine Building Group offering full-service program management and construction services for projects throughout the nation.

2007 – Wolverine Building Group constructed Icon on Bond, a 10-story, 120 unit condominium building located just north of downtown Grand Rapids.

2008 – Wolverine Building Group constructed River House Condominiums, the tallest building in downtown Grand Rapids standing at 412 feet high.

2009 – Wolverine Building Group constructed the Hauenstein Neuroscience Center and Houseman Construction joined Wolverine Building Group.

2014 – Wolverine Building Group completed the rebuild of the Fifth Third Ballpark after a fire destroyed a large portion of the stadium.

2018 – Aaron Jonker and Curt Mulder took ownership and leadership of the company.