Spence Brothers
Spence Brothers is a privately held Michigan-based construction firm founded in 1893 that delivers general contracting, construction management, design-build, and self-performed concrete and carpentry services to healthcare, education, government, and commercial clients across three regional offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1893
- HeadquartersSaginaw, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Spence Brothers does
Spence Brothers, Inc. is a privately held, Saginaw, Michigan-based construction services firm founded in 1893 that delivers general contracting, construction management, design-build, and self-performed concrete and carpentry services across healthcare, education, government, commercial, manufacturing, and hospitality end markets. The company operates three regional offices in Michigan — Great Lakes Bay (Saginaw), Southeast Michigan (Ann Arbor), and Northern Michigan (Traverse City) — and has expanded selectively into Ohio, with a 101-250 employee base supporting projects ranging from a $10M concrete package to a $300M water treatment plant. The service portfolio spans pre-planning, conceptual estimating, preconstruction, construction management, general contracting, design-build, specialty concrete, custom carpentry, project communication, and funding facilitation, supported by a ShareFile-based Plan Room for subcontractor document distribution.
The business model is project-based, with revenue generated through one-time construction contracts (general contracting), percentage-of-cost or fixed-fee construction management engagements, and self-performed trade packages. The firm goes to market via direct enterprise field sales, architect and owner referrals, and competitive public and private bid processes, targeting regional institutional clients such as the University of Michigan, Covenant Healthcare, Dow Chemical, Saginaw County, and Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The company emphasizes a 'builder-first' hands-on approach, value engineering (with documented $2M+ savings on multiple projects), and the ability to execute occupied-facility and phased construction in regulated environments such as hospitals and detention centers. The ownership structure appears family-led, with Bob Spence serving as CEO and Regional President — Northern Michigan. There is no disclosed venture capital, private equity ownership, or public-market listing.
Spence Brothers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spence Brothers
- Legal name
- Spence Brothers, Inc.
- Website
- https://spencebrothers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1893
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Spence Brothers is a privately held Michigan-based construction firm founded in 1893 that delivers general contracting, construction management, design-build, and self-performed concrete and carpentry services to healthcare, education, government, and commercial clients across three regional offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Spence Brothers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saginaw
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Spence Brothers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- General Contracting Services: Full-service general contracting for construction projects ranging from healthcare facilities and educational institutions to commercial and government projects. Revenue generated through project-based contracts on a per-project basis.
- Construction Management: Construction management services where the company is engaged early in planning and preconstruction phases through project execution and delivery. Fees earned as a percentage of project cost or fixed fee arrangement.
- Trade Specialty Work (Concrete & Carpentry): Self-performed concrete and carpentry work on projects where Spence Brothers serves as either general contractor or trade contractor. Revenue earned through concrete packages, general trades packages, and carpentry scopes on both company-led and third-party-led projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based construction services with pricing determined by competitive bidding, negotiated contracts, or construction management fee arrangements. |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Spence Brothers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spence Brothers is a Michigan-based construction company that provides full-service general contracting, construction management, design-build, and self-performed concrete and carpentry trade work for healthcare, education, government, commercial, and historic renovation projects. Engagements are delivered as project-based contracts across three Michigan regional offices, with revenue earned through competitive bids, negotiated GMP contracts, or construction management fee arrangements, complemented by value engineering, preconstruction planning, and funding facilitation services.
Product overview
Spence Brothers is a construction company with a unified service portfolio centered around construction delivery. The company offers a comprehensive suite of construction services including Pre-Planning, Conceptual Estimating, Preconstruction, Construction Management, General Contracting, Design-Build, Concrete, Carpentry, Communication, and Funding Facilitation. These services are delivered as integrated offerings rather than standalone products, with the Plan Room providing document access for subcontractors. The company operates three regional offices (Great Lakes Bay, Southeast Michigan, Northern Michigan) and serves diverse market sectors including healthcare, education, commercial, and government projects throughout Michigan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pre-Planning Services Initial planning services for construction projects that help clients define project scope, feasibility, and early-stage requirements before design or preconstruction begins. Targeted at project owners and developers evaluating a new build or major renovation.
- Conceptual Estimating Services Preliminary cost estimation services that provide early-stage budget projections during project development, allowing owners to evaluate feasibility before committing to full design. Targeted at project owners, developers, and architects.
- Preconstruction Services Preconstruction phase services including planning, scheduling, value engineering, and coordination performed before actual construction begins, designed to align scope, budget, and schedule prior to groundbreaking. Targeted at institutional, healthcare, education, and government project owners.
- Construction Management Professional construction management services overseeing project execution, scheduling, trade coordination, and owner representation from preconstruction through closeout. Engaged early in planning and delivered through project completion. Targeted at healthcare systems, universities, and government agencies undertaking complex, phased projects.
- General Contracting Traditional general contractor services delivering construction projects from start to finish under lump-sum or GMP contracts, including self-performed concrete and carpentry scopes. Targeted at owners seeking a single point of accountability for full project delivery across healthcare, education, commercial, and government sectors.
- Design-Build Services Integrated design and construction services delivered under a single contract with Spence Brothers as the single point of accountability, streamlining project delivery and compressing schedules. Targeted at owners seeking faster delivery and reduced change-order exposure.
- Concrete Services Self-performed concrete construction including foundations, flatwork, and structural concrete for various project types, delivered either as part of Spence Brothers-led general contracting/CM work or as a standalone concrete package to third-party general contractors. Targeted at owners and general contractors needing structural and site concrete scopes.
- Carpentry Services Custom carpentry and framing services for commercial and institutional construction projects, delivered as either a self-performed scope on Spence Brothers-led projects or as a standalone carpentry package to third-party GCs. Targeted at owners and general contractors needing rough and finish carpentry scopes.
- Communication Services Project communication coordination and stakeholder engagement services provided throughout construction to align owners, architects, subcontractors, and end users. Targeted at owners executing complex projects with multiple stakeholder groups.
- Funding Facilitation Assistance with financing options and funding sources for construction projects, including grant application support (e.g., USDA Rural Business Development grants). Targeted at non-profit, municipal, and private owners seeking public or alternative funding sources.
Quantifiable outcome
- $2 million in value engineering achieved on HealthSource Saginaw to offset scope increases while maintaining desired project scope.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Spence Brothers
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Spence Brothers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Spence Brothers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TowerPinkstercoreArchitecture firm TowerPinkster served as the design architect for the Milliken Nature Center at Arch Rock project on Mackinac Island. Spence Brothers and TowerPinkster collaborated on this award-winning project that replaced a 50-year-old visitor facility with a modern, sustainable nature center.
- Mackinac State Historic ParkscoreOwner and operator of Mackinac Island's state parks including Arch Rock. Mackinac State Historic Parks provided project vision and leadership for the Milliken Nature Center project. The project honors the natural beauty of Mackinac Island and enhances the visitor experience for 500,000+ annual visitors.
- William A. Kibbe & AssociatescoreEngineering/architecture firm partnered with Spence Brothers on the Dow Event Center Capital Improvements project in Saginaw, Michigan. The project was featured in CAM Magazine's 2024 Special Issue.
- Saginaw CountycoreSaginaw County is the owner of the Dow Event Center and HealthSource Saginaw, partnering with Spence Brothers on transformative facility upgrades and renovations. Multiple ongoing project relationships spanning multiple decades.
- Saginaw Future, Inc.minorSaginaw Future, Inc. assisted Frankenmuth Credit Union and the City of Frankenmuth with preparing a USDA Rural Business Development grant application, resulting in an award of approximately $100,000 for the Uptown North Main project infrastructure.
- HopkinsBurns Design StudiocoreArchitecture firm HopkinsBurns Design Studio partnered with Spence Brothers on the Grand Hotel renovation and restoration project, which won a 2024 AGC Build Michigan Award. Notable subcontractors on the project included Murray Painting Company, Johnson & Wood, The Lumber Shed, Absolute Building Solutions, and Northern Power Electric.
- TMP ArchitecturecoreArchitecture firm TMP Architecture has worked with Spence Brothers on multiple projects including the Crisler Center Expansion (University of Michigan) and Saginaw Valley State University College of Health & Human Services building. Multiple project relationship across Michigan.
- Edmund London & Associates, Inc.coreArchitecture firm for HealthSource Saginaw project (216,940sf behavioral health and long-term care facility) and Memorial Healthcare Neuro, Ortho, Rehab & Wellness Center (110,000sf). Long-standing working relationship on healthcare construction projects.
- HOK Group, Inc.coreHOK served as architect for the U of M Health D. Dan & Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion project — a new 12-story inpatient hospital with two underground levels, for which Spence Brothers was awarded approximately $10M structural concrete and $5M general trades packages.
- SVRC (Saginaw Valley Regional Center)coreSVRC is the owner/developer of the SVRC Marketplace, a transformative redevelopment of the former Saginaw News Building into a 100,000sf mixed-use facility. Spence Brothers served as construction manager and also became a tenant by relocating its headquarters to the 3rd floor of the building it originally constructed in 1960.
- AECOMcoreAECOM served as architect/engineer for the Genesee County Water Treatment Plant — the largest contract in Spence Brothers history at $300 million total project value. The 80-acre facility treats up to 35,000,000 GPD.
- NSF InternationalcoreNSF International, a global independent organization headquartered in Ann Arbor that develops public health and safety standards, partnered with Spence Brothers as Construction Manager for a 24,000sf laboratory fitout. The project achieved LEED Gold certification and was delivered within budget.
- Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island)coreThe Grand Hotel is a National Historic Landmark and member of Historic Hotels of America. Spence Brothers served as Construction Manager for the facade, Jockey Club, and Woods Restaurant renovation/restoration, winning a 2024 AGC Build Michigan Award. The hotel originally opened in 1887.
- Central Michigan University (CMU)coreCMU engaged Spence Brothers for the Central Michigan University Data Center (5,374sf, wind resistant to 120mph) and CMURC expansion at SVRC Marketplace (9,120sf co-work and office space for entrepreneurs and small businesses).
- AGC (Associated General Contractors of Michigan)coreSpence Brothers is a member of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Michigan. The company has been recognized with multiple AGC Build Michigan Awards. AGC membership provides industry advocacy, networking, and professional development.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Spence Brothers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Turner Construction Company: One of the largest U.S. general contractors with significant healthcare, higher-education, and government-sector presence. Frequently competes with Spence Brothers on large Michigan healthcare and university projects but operates at substantially greater national scale.
- Clark Construction Group: Large national general contractor pursuing healthcare, education, and government projects across the Midwest. Competes with Spence Brothers for institutional and public-sector contracts in Michigan.
- The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company: National construction manager with deep healthcare, higher-education, and government expertise and growing presence in the Midwest. Overlaps with Spence Brothers on large institutional and infrastructure work.
- Mortenson Construction: National general contractor with active healthcare, higher-education, and public-infrastructure practices across the Midwest. Comparable in preconstruction-led delivery and emphasis on complex institutional work.
- Gilbane Building Company: National construction manager with strong healthcare, education, and public-sector practices and an established Michigan presence. Comparable in target customer mix and CM delivery model.
Direct peers
- The Christman Company: Lansing, Michigan-based general contractor and construction manager serving healthcare, higher education, government, and commercial clients across the Midwest. Direct regional peer with similar self-perform concrete capabilities and long-tenured institutional relationships.
- Rockford Construction: Grand Rapids-based general contractor and construction manager active in healthcare, education, hospitality, and commercial construction across Michigan. Direct regional peer with comparable institutional client franchise and self-perform trade capability.
- Walbridge: Detroit-based construction management and general contracting firm with strong presence in industrial, healthcare, and education sectors in Michigan. Comparable in regional scope, self-perform capabilities, and project scale.
- Granger Construction: Lansing, Michigan-based general contractor focused on healthcare, education, and government projects across the state. Comparable in size, regional strategy, and customer mix; direct competitor for many of the same institutional RFPs.
- Barton Malow Company: Michigan-headquartered general contractor and construction manager with a similar regional focus on healthcare, education, industrial, and sports facilities across the Midwest. Highly comparable in scale, self-perform capabilities, and institutional-client franchise.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Spence Brothers social profiles
Digital presenceSpence Brothers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spence Brothers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Spence Brothers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spence Brothers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Spence Brothers
What does Spence Brothers do?
Spence Brothers is a Michigan-based construction company that provides full-service general contracting, construction management, design-build, and self-performed concrete and carpentry trade work for healthcare, education, government, commercial, and historic renovation projects. Engagements are delivered as project-based contracts across three Michigan regional offices, with revenue earned through competitive bids, negotiated GMP contracts, or construction management fee arrangements, complemented by value engineering, preconstruction planning, and funding facilitation services.
Is Spence Brothers a public or private company?
Spence Brothers is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Spence Brothers founded?
Spence Brothers was founded in 1893. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Spence Brothers based?
Spence Brothers is headquartered in Saginaw, United States, in the North America region.
How does Spence Brothers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. General Contracting Services are the primary driver. The others are construction Management and trade Specialty Work (Concrete & Carpentry).
Who are Spence Brothers's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Turner Construction Company, Clark Construction Group, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Mortenson Construction and Gilbane Building Company. Direct peers are The Christman Company, Rockford Construction, Walbridge, Granger Construction and Barton Malow Company.
Does Spence Brothers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spence Brothers.