What Woodruff Construction does

Woodruff Construction is an Iowa-based commercial general contractor founded in 1964 that delivers general contracting, construction management, design-build, and project development services to institutional and commercial clients across the state. The company operates through five regional offices in Fort Dodge (West), Ames (Central), Waterloo (Northeast), Tiffin (East/Iowa City corridor), and Spencer (Northwest), providing local market coverage and responsive service delivery. In 2020, Woodruff completed its transition to a 100% employee-owned structure via an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), making every eligible employee an owner after one year of service. Customers span healthcare and senior living, education (K-12 and higher education), municipal water and utility infrastructure, industrial, office and retail, non-profit, and hospitality sectors, with named project work including an 88,975 sq ft Story County Justice Center, an 80,200 sq ft nursing home replacement, and complex healthcare facilities requiring specialized HVAC and medical gas systems.

The company operates on a project-based professional services revenue model, earning fees through competitive bidding, direct client relationships, referrals, and design-build delivery using guaranteed maximum price contracts. Revenue is generated across diverse vertical markets rather than concentrated in any single account. Notable operational capabilities include self-performed concrete and structural steel work, lean construction (CM-Lean) and Design-Build Professional certifications held by multiple employees, and a structured internship pipeline with three tracks (field, superintendent, project manager) that has converted 27 interns to full-time roles since 2017.

Technology adoption centers on the Outbuild construction management platform used for scheduling, project coordination, and operational efficiency across all five offices. The company has expanded its footprint through the 2022 acquisition of Midstates Builders, Inc. assets in Spencer and through internal regional leadership succession, with multiple regional president promotions between 2019 and 2024. Woodruff has received repeated industry recognition including the 2025 Build Iowa Award, Preservation Iowa awards, Varco Pruden Hall of Fame, and Top Metal Builders list placement, supporting its positioning as an established Iowa-focused commercial construction firm.

Name

Woodruff Construction

Legal name

Woodruff Construction, Inc.

Website

https://woodruffcompanies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Iowa-based 100% employee-owned commercial general contractor delivering general contracting, construction management, and design-build services through five regional offices to healthcare, education, municipal, industrial, and commercial clients across Iowa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Construction Services

NAICS

Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential General Contracting (New Build) (IMAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Commercial construction services
• General contracting
• Design-build construction
• Construction management
• Employee-owned contractor

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Construction Project Revenue: Woodruff generates revenue through commercial general contracting, construction management, and design-build project delivery. Revenue is earned through project-based fees on completed construction projects across various commercial sectors including healthcare, education, municipal, industrial, and non-profit facilities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Woodruff Construction is a 100% employee-owned commercial general contractor operating through five regional offices across Iowa, delivering general contracting, construction management, design-build, and project development services for healthcare, education, municipal, industrial, and non-profit clients. The firm self-performs concrete and structural steel work and provides expertise in LEED-certified and sustainable building practices, phased construction, and complex regulated facility types.

Product overview

Woodruff Construction is a 100% employee-owned general contractor offering award-winning commercial construction services across Iowa. The company provides a unified suite of construction services including general contracting, construction management, design-build, and project development. Services are delivered through five regional offices (Fort Dodge, Ames, Waterloo, Tiffin, and Spencer) and complemented by an internship program offering three tracks: field internships for hands-on construction experience, superintendent internships for project coordination experience, and project manager internships for scheduling and management skills development. The company completed its transition to an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) structure in 2020, making all employees partial owners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Construction Services Integrated commercial construction services delivered across Iowa including general contracting, construction management, design-build, and project development for healthcare, education, municipal, industrial, and non-profit clients, with self-performed concrete and structural steel work.
• General Contracting Services Traditional general contracting delivery for commercial construction projects, managing subcontractors, schedules, budgets, and quality across healthcare, education, municipal, industrial, and non-profit facility builds.
• Construction Management Services Construction management oversight of commercial projects from concept to completion, including coordination of workers, materials, and equipment, maintaining safety, schedule, and budget.
• Design-Build Services Integrated design-build project delivery combining design and construction under a single contract, with multiple Woodruff employees certified as Design-Build Professionals through the Design-Build Institute of America.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27 interns hired to full-time positions since 2017, demonstrating successful talent development pipeline
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Midstates Builders, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2022Woodruff Construction agreed to acquire the assets of Midstates Builders, Inc. in Spencer, IA. This acquisition expanded Woodruff's Northwest region presence and market coverage in northwest Iowa.
• Design-Build Institute of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2020Woodruff employees pursue Design-Build Professional certification through DBIA's comprehensive education and certification testing program. Multiple employees have achieved this nationally certified designation.
• AGC (Associated General Contractors of America)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoodruff employees complete CM-Lean designation through AGC's education program, demonstrating commitment to lean construction methodologies and professional development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Walsh Group / Walsh Construction: Large family-owned US commercial GC with healthcare, education, and municipal project experience. Competes for larger Iowa healthcare and public-sector bids.
• Mortenson Construction: Large Minneapolis-based commercial GC with national footprint across healthcare, education, and renewable infrastructure. Competes for larger Iowa healthcare and municipal RFPs that may be too large for Woodruff to anchor.
• McCarthy Building Companies: National employee-owned commercial GC with strong healthcare, education, and municipal verticals. Larger and more geographically diversified than Woodruff but competes for the same institutional clients.
• Hensel Phelps: National employee-owned (ESOP) commercial GC with design-build and construction management expertise. Comparable ESOP structure and similar vertical focus in healthcare and education.
• Gilbane Building Company: Family- and employee-owned US commercial GC with strong healthcare, education, and municipal practices. Competes for institutional work that Woodruff currently anchors in Iowa.

Direct peers

• The Weitz Company: Iowa-headquartered commercial and industrial general contractor with design-build and construction management capabilities. Most directly comparable Iowa-based commercial GC competing for the same healthcare, education, and industrial project pipeline.
• Story Construction: Ames, Iowa-based commercial general contractor serving central Iowa with design-build and construction management services. Direct competitor for Ames/Central Iowa healthcare, education, and municipal projects.
• Kraus-Anderson: Midwest-based commercial construction management and general contractor with comparable healthcare, education, and municipal focus. Similar size and regional multi-office operating model to Woodruff.
• The Boldt Company: Wisconsin-based, employee-owned (ESOP) commercial GC with design-build expertise across healthcare, education, and industrial verticals. Highly comparable operating model including ESOP structure and self-performed trades.

Regional players

• Conlon Construction: Dubuque, Iowa-based commercial GC serving eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Comparable size and mid-market commercial focus, primarily competing in overlapping Iowa geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wconstruct_llc
• Facebookfacebook.com/woodruffcompanies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/150613

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Woodruff Construction