The Christman Company

What The Christman Company does

The Christman Company, operating primarily through its Christman Constructors, Inc. (CCI) subsidiary, is a privately held, union-affiliated self-perform construction services firm headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, with offices in Livonia, Detroit, and Grand Rapids. Founded in 1894 and reorganized in 1994 with CCI as a dedicated self-perform entity, the company offers ten core service lines: General Trades & Carpentry, Concrete, Earthwork & Site Utilities, Demolition & Restoration, Fireproofing, General Contracting, Metal Stud/Drywall & Acoustical, On-Call Service, Historic Preservation, and Mass Timber. CCI is the only IFRM and SFRM Accredited Contractor in Michigan and holds MDOT prequalifications in three categories (Ea, Fa, K), positioning it as a credentialed specialty contractor for both public and private sector work across Michigan and the broader Midwest.

CCI's revenue model is project-based construction services delivered through competitive hard-bid and negotiated contracts. The firm serves five primary verticals — Government/Public Sector, Educational Institutions, Healthcare, Commercial Real Estate, and Industrial/Manufacturing — with secondary specialization in Historic Preservation and Sustainable/Mass Timber construction. Its roster of named customers includes Ford Motor Company, Pfizer, Amazon, FedEx, Corewell Health, Consumers Energy, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, University of Michigan, Western Michigan University, Bedrock, and the City of Lansing, among others. Notable engagements include the 640,000-square-foot Michigan Central Station rehabilitation (2026 AGC Build America Grand Award winner) and the Michigan State University Dairy Cattle Teaching & Research Center.

CCI's underlying technology stack consists of four proprietary platforms: LevelUp (operations strategy), CopperWorks (patented workforce management app), CopperShield (safety tool with 99+ best practices via QR-coded TAG posters), and CopperCompass (bid/completion analytics). Go-to-market is dominated by direct enterprise and public-sector field sales through competitive bidding and negotiated contracts, supported by joint-venture partnerships (e.g., L.S. Brinker for Michigan Central Station) and a union-trained workforce of 300+ skilled professionals plus 350+ skilled tradespeople, with 60+ professionals invested as employee-owners. No external funding, private equity, or public listing is disclosed.

Name

The Christman Company

Legal name

Christman Constructors, Inc.

Website

https://christmanconstructors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Christman Company, operating primarily through Christman Constructors, Inc. (CCI), is a privately held union self-perform construction services firm founded in 1894, headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, with offices across the state. CCI serves enterprise, government, healthcare, education, and industrial clients in Michigan and the Midwest with ten specialized trade divisions including concrete, carpentry, fireproofing, demolition, mass timber, and historic preservation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Construction Services

NAICS

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors (2381), Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (23811), Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors (23812)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious & Cultural Building Construction (Places of Worship, Museums, Libraries) (IMAFACAH), Modular/Offsite General Contracting & Installation (IMAFAAAK), Joinery, Millwork & Casework Installation (Cabinetry, Built-Ins) (IMAFANAJ), Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE)

Keywords

• Commercial construction services
• Concrete construction
• General contracting
• Historic preservation
• Mass timber installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Construction Services: Revenue generated through construction services including general contracting, self-perform trade services (carpentry, concrete, earthwork, demolition, fireproofing, metal stud/drywall, historic preservation, mass timber), and service/repair work. Projects are delivered through competitive hard-bid markets and negotiated contracts across Michigan and the Midwest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Christman Company (Christman Constructors, Inc.) is a union self-perform construction contractor delivering concrete, carpentry, earthwork, demolition, fireproofing, general contracting, metal stud/drywall, on-call service, historic preservation, and mass timber services. Projects are secured via competitive hard-bid markets and negotiated contracts across Michigan and the Midwest for enterprise, institutional, and government clients.

Product overview

Christman Constructors (CCI) is a union self-perform construction company that offers a comprehensive portfolio of construction trades services organized into ten core service lines: General Trades & Carpentry, Concrete, Earthwork & Site Utilities, Demolition & Restoration, Fireproofing, General Contracting, Metal Stud/Drywall & Acoustical, On-Call Service, Historic Preservation, and Mass Timber. The company also operates proprietary technology products under its innovation platform: LevelUp (operations strategy), CopperWorks (workforce management), CopperShield (safety tool), and CopperCompass (project optimization). CCI functions as a service-based construction contractor rather than a software product company, with services offered as distinct operational capabilities rather than an integrated software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LevelUp: CCI's comprehensive operations strategy delivering consistency, innovation, reduced risk, and long-term value through proven processes.
• CopperWorks
• CopperShield
• CopperCompass

Products and services

• General Trades & Carpentry Finish carpentry, rough carpentry, and general trades services including custom millwork, architectural woodwork, trim installation, door and window installation, specialty ceilings, and historic restoration expertise for clients across commercial, institutional, and government sectors.
• Concrete Structural concrete, high-tolerance industrial floors, mass concrete, building and machine foundations, site concrete, grouting, hoisting and crane services, and concrete pumping delivered by a self-perform concrete crew with over a century of experience.
• Earthwork & Site Utilities Site demolition, erosion control, stormwater management, mass and structural excavation, aggregate base, underground utilities (water, sanitary, storm, dry), earth retention systems, dewatering, and GPS grade control for commercial, industrial, infrastructure, and government projects.
• Demolition & Restoration Full-service demolition including selective interior demolition, structural demolition, materials segregation and salvage, environmental remediation, abatement, rigging and crane services, and asset recovery, leveraging demolition robot technology for enhanced safety.
• Fireproofing Cementitious and intumescent fireproofing services delivered by Michigan's only IFRM and SFRM Accredited Contractor, supporting hospitals, mixed-use, industrial, and government projects.
• General Contracting Comprehensive general contracting services including cost monitoring, master schedule development, trade contractor management, quality assurance, safety management, shop drawing review, and change management.
• Metal Stud, Drywall & Acoustical Interior and exterior metal stud framing, load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls, drywall installation, exterior insulation finish systems (EIFS), suspended acoustical ceilings and panels, sound insulation, and specialty installations.
• Service (On-Call) On-call facility services including rough and finish carpentry, historic millwork repair, doors and hardware, restroom partitions, wardrobes, window installation, cabinets, countertops, trim work, lockers, signage, and welding.
• Historic Preservation Specialized historic restoration services including craftsmanship, historical accuracy research, period-appropriate materials sourcing, structural integrity work, and conservation ethics for landmark and adaptive reuse projects.
• Mass Timber Full-service mass timber installation per BOCA code changes, including budget and schedule evaluation, team assembly, and project setup with expertise in sustainable building using engineered wood materials for educational, mixed-use, and commercial clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Michigan Central Station rehabilitation - 640,000 square foot Beaux Arts landmark restored after 30+ years vacancy, featuring Guastavino domed ceilings, eight acres of masonry, and 600 tons of replacement limestone
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers37 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• L.S. BrinkercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership with L.S. Brinker for Michigan Central Station rehabilitation project. The joint venture led the restoration of the 640,000-square-foot Beaux Arts landmark, winning the 2026 Build America Grand Award from AGC.
• Michigan State University Mass Timber ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership promoting mass timber as sustainable building solution. The Christman Company reports faster project timelines and smaller carbon footprints using mass timber construction.
• Associated General Contractors of AmericaminorOthersActive membership and participation in AGC. Company leadership involved in AGC of Michigan activities and awards recognition.
• American Concrete InstituteminorOthersMembership in Greater Michigan chapter of ACI. Company leadership serves on several ACI committees.
• Michigan Historic Preservation NetworkminorOthersMembership and active participation in preservation-focused network. Leadership includes membership in Preservation Trades Network as well.
• Michigan State University Construction Management Industry Advisory BoardminorOthersCompany leadership serves on MSU Construction Management Industry Advisory Board and CCI's board of directors.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Barton Malow Company: Michigan-headquartered (Southfield) construction firm with very similar self-perform trade capabilities across concrete, carpentry, and general trades. Closest comparable in scale, geography, union workforce model, and self-perform identity.
• Granger Construction: Lansing, Michigan-based general contractor with comparable self-perform services and a similar institutional/government client mix. Strong regional peer in the same Lansing market.
• Rockford Construction: Grand Rapids, Michigan-based construction manager with self-perform capabilities serving similar institutional, healthcare, and education clients. Comparable regional Michigan peer with similar craft focus.
• Walbridge: Detroit-headquartered contractor with strong industrial, manufacturing, and automotive client base — comparable to Christman's industrial work for Ford, Pfizer, St. Mary's Cement, and Consumers Energy.

Broad incumbents

• Clark Construction Group: Large national general contractor with deep portfolio of landmark institutional and historic restoration projects. Operates at materially larger scale but competes for the same blue-chip clients and award-winning projects.
• Turner Construction Company: Largest U.S. general contractor with national reach across commercial, healthcare, education, and government segments. Larger balance sheet and broader geographic footprint, but overlapping client base and project types.
• Gilbane Building Company: Family-owned national builder with strong self-perform capabilities and a comparable mix of education, healthcare, and public sector work. Closest national-scale peer with similar ownership culture.
• Hunt Construction Group: National contractor with strong higher education and institutional credentials, comparable to Christman's MSU, Wayne State, and U-M projects. Operates at larger scale but in similar end markets.
• Skanska USA: Large international contractor with a strong U.S. self-perform civil and building construction practice, particularly active in healthcare, education, and infrastructure — overlapping target markets with Christman.
• Walsh Construction: Chicago-based national contractor with strong building and heavy civil self-perform capabilities. Comparable Midwest footprint and union workforce model, but materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thechristmanco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

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 The Christman Company