Niehaus Building Services

What Niehaus Building Services does

Niehaus Building Services is a privately held, union commercial interior contractor headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, tracing its origins to 1902 when Robert (Bob) Whittle founded Niehaus Plastering Company. The firm was renamed Niehaus Interiors in the 1960s as the industry shifted from plaster to drywall, and is currently led by third-generation owner Jake Whittle, who took over from his father Jack in 2014. Today, the company employs 51-100 people and operates exclusively within the St. Louis Metro area.

The company's core offering spans five integrated service lines: drywall and metal framing (structural and light gauge steel studs through Level 5 finish), EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems), spray fireproofing (cementitious, fiber, and intumescent), plastering (including ornamental and historical restoration), and interior general contracting for tenant build-outs. These are augmented by a suite of certified specialty product installations covering acoustical finishes (BASWAphon, SonaKrete, SonaSpray 'fc'), spray-applied insulation (Celbar, K-13), and thermal barriers (Ure-K). Niehaus holds licensed/certified installer status with more than ten major manufacturers including Senergy, STO, Dryvit, W.R. Grace, Cafco, Carboline, BASWA, SonaKrete, Celbar, K-13, SonaSpray, and Ure-K, and maintains excellent EMR enabling work in hospitals, data centers, and government facilities.

Revenue is generated through project-based construction contracts (Lump Sum, GMP, and Time and Materials) acquired via direct enterprise field sales to building owners and owner's representatives. The go-to-market motion is relationship-driven, with no observed digital marketing or paid acquisition; industry affiliations (NFCA, AGC, AIA, ASA, ABC, AWCI, CSI, EIMA, NAIOP) and press coverage of marquee projects such as the Powell Hall / St. Louis Symphony Orchestra renovation serve as top-of-funnel channels. Customer work spans healthcare, pharmaceutical, hospitality (Harrah's, Ameristar), large-format retail (Target, Kohl's, Aldi's, Von Maur, Mid Rivers Mall), cultural (St. Louis Symphony), and government sectors.

Name

Niehaus Building Services

Legal name

Niehaus Building Services

Website

https://nbs-stl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Niehaus Building Services is a privately held, union commercial interior contractor in the St. Louis Metro area, providing drywall, EIFS, fireproofing, plastering, and interior general contracting to healthcare, retail, hospitality, cultural, and government building owners. The firm is family-owned across three generations, operating since 1902 with 51-100 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Construction Contracting Services: General contracting services for commercial interior projects, tenant build-outs, and renovations. Contract types include Lump Sum, GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price), and Time and Materials arrangements.
2. Specialty Trade Services: Specialized installation services including drywall, plastering, fireproofing, EIFS, and acoustical finishes provided as licensed/certified installers of major manufacturers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Niehaus Building Services is a St. Louis-area union commercial construction general contractor that performs interior build-outs, drywall and metal framing, EIFS, fireproofing, plastering, and specialty acoustical/insulation installations. The company sells project-based contracting services directly to commercial building owners and owner's representatives under Lump Sum, GMP, and Time and Materials contracts, acting as both a specialty trade installer (licensed for major manufacturer systems) and an interior general contractor.

Product overview

Niehaus Building Services is a construction general contractor specializing in commercial interiors and drywall. Originally founded as Niehaus Plastering Company in 1902, evolving to Niehaus Interiors in the 1960s, the company operates as a union contractor offering a comprehensive suite of construction services. The core service portfolio centers on drywall installation (light and heavy gauge metal framing), EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems), fireproofing, plastering, and interior general contracting/tenant build out. These services are complemented by specialized product installations including BASWAphon (seamless sound absorbing plaster), Celbar Wallspray (cellulose spray insulation), K-13 Spray Insulation (acoustical and thermal), SonaKrete and SonaSpray acoustical finishes, and Ure-K thermal barrier coating. The company primarily serves the St. Louis Metro area across healthcare, commercial, educational, and government sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drywall Services Full-service drywall installation from layout through Level 5 finish, including structural and light gauge metal studs, for large multi-story buildings, hospitals, labs, data centers, government facilities, hotels, condominiums, strip malls, and tenant build-outs.
• EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems) Multi-layered exterior wall systems providing energy efficiency and design flexibility, installed as a licensed installer for Senergy, STO, Dryvit, and Total Wall brands on commercial buildings including hotels, casinos, malls, and retail stores.
• Fireproofing Services Licensed installation of cementitious spray, fiber spray, and intumescent fireproofing products for structural steel protection, with certification for W.R. Grace, Cafco, and Carboline systems and approval by the National Fireproofing Contractors Association (NFCA).
• Plastering Services Wide variety of plastering work including stucco, Portland plaster, veneer plaster, specialty and acoustical plasters, cornice application, synthetic stone work, and ornamental plastering such as crown moldings, rails, lintels, and wall/ceiling details.
• Interior General Contracting / Tenant Build-Out General contracting for large and small scale tenant build-out projects, working directly with individual owners and owner's representatives under Lump Sum, GMP, and Time and Materials contracts across acoustical ceilings, cabinet work, flooring, paint, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing trades.
• BASWAphon Seamless Sound-Absorbing Plaster System Licensed installation of BASWAphon seamless sound-absorbing plaster system for highly intelligible sound environments, used in courtrooms, casinos, corporate spaces, universities, government buildings, and museums.
• Celbar Wallspray Spray Insulation Certified installation of Celbar Spray Insulation System, a blend of cellulose fibers treated with adhesive and fire-resistant chemicals, pneumatically spray-applied in wall and floor/ceiling cavities to form a monolithic sound and thermal coating.
• K-13 Spray Insulation
• SonaKrete Acoustical Finishes Certified installation of SonaKrete, a high performance Class 1 Fire Rated acoustical finish system available in standard and matched colors, conforming to complex surfaces and applicable to drywall, plaster, or brown coat substrates in sanctuaries, ballrooms, conference areas, offices, museums, and libraries.
• SonaSpray 'fc' Acoustical Finish Authorized installation of SonaSpray 'fc' spray-applied acoustical texture designed for schools, churches, passenger terminals, libraries, cafeterias, offices, hotels, and condominiums, providing an attractive high performance solution for acoustical and lighting design.
• Ure-K Spray Coating System Licensed installation of Ure-K thermal barrier spray coating approved as building interior insulation to delay ignition and reduce surface burning rate of low melting combustible spray-on polyurethane foam, also providing sound absorption to help meet OSHA noise requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Powell Hall project: 64,000-square-foot expansion completed with seamless blend of historical and new plaster details
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Fireproofing Contractors Association (NFCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNiehaus Building Services is a member of NFCA, an industry association for fireproofing contractors. Being approved by NFCA provides credibility and access to industry standards and best practices in fireproofing installation.
• The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNiehaus Building Services is a member of AGC, the leading association for the construction industry. Membership provides networking opportunities, industry advocacy, and professional development resources.
• Senergy (BASF)coreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed EIFS installer for Senergy brand products, which are exterior insulation and finish systems providing energy efficiency and design flexibility for commercial buildings.
• STO CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed EIFS installer for STO brand exterior insulation and finish systems, enabling the company to offer comprehensive exterior wall solutions.
• DryvitcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed EIFS installer for Dryvit brand exterior insulation and finish systems, one of the leading EIFS manufacturers in the commercial market.
• W.R. GracecoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed installer for W.R. Grace fireproofing products, including cementitious spray and other fire protection systems for structural steel.
• CafcocoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed installer for Cafco fireproofing products, enabling installation of cementitious spray, fiber spray, and intumescent fireproofing systems.
• CarbolinecoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed installer for Carboline fireproofing products, expanding fire protection capabilities for high-rise and multi-story building projects.
• BASWA AcousticcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed installer of BASWAphon seamless sound absorbing plaster system, used in courtrooms, casinos, corporate spaces, universities, government buildings, and museums.
• SonaKretecoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified installer of SonaKrete Premium Acoustical Finish, a Class 1 Fire Rated system used in sanctuaries, ballrooms, conference areas, offices, museums, and libraries.
• Celbar Spray Insulation SystemcoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified installer of Celbar cellulose-based spray insulation system, providing sound and thermal properties for wall and floor/ceiling cavity applications.
• K-13 Spray InsulationcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized installer of K-13 spray-applied acoustical and thermal insulation, tailored to specific project requirements for insulation, noise reduction, and condensation control.
• SonaSpraycoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized installer of SonaSpray 'fc' acoustical finish, a spray-applied texture for schools, churches, terminals, libraries, offices, hotels, and condominiums.
• Ure-K Spray Coating SystemcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed installer of Ure-K, a thermal barrier for spray polyurethane foam that provides fire protection and sound absorption, meeting OSHA requirements.
• ArmstrongminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCeiling and interior finish product manufacturer whose products are sourced and installed by Niehaus Building Services.
• CertainTeedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBuilding materials manufacturer including drywall, insulation, and exterior products sourced for installation by Niehaus.
• USGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading manufacturer of drywall, ceiling tiles, and building materials sourced by Niehaus for commercial construction projects.
• National GypsumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGypsum board and building products manufacturer whose products are used in Niehaus drywall and construction operations.
• Georgia-PacificminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBuilding materials manufacturer whose products are sourced and installed by Niehaus Building Services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Walsh Construction: Walsh Construction is a large national general contractor with significant commercial and institutional interior work. Comparable on the commercial building GC end of Niehaus's business, though at much greater scale.
• APi Group: APi Group is a global, publicly traded parent of safety, specialty, and industrial services businesses including multiple interior and life-safety specialty contractors. Represents the scaled, sponsor-backed incumbent that Niehaus's specialty contractor model competes against at the enterprise level.
• Clark Construction Group: Clark Construction Group is a major U.S. commercial and institutional general contractor with self-perform interior trades. Comparable on the institutional and commercial interior GC scope Niehaus serves.
• Turner Construction: Turner Construction is one of the largest U.S. commercial general contractors with extensive interior build-out and tenant improvement work. Comparable on the commercial interior GC end of Niehaus's business, though at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Swinerton: Swinerton is a national commercial general contractor with deep interiors and self-perform capabilities across drywall, framing, and finishing trades. Comparable on commercial interior GC scope, though much larger and broader than Niehaus.

Direct peers

• Cleveland Construction: Cleveland Construction is a national commercial interior contractor specializing in drywall, metal framing, plastering, and tenant build-outs for hospitality, healthcare, and multi-family projects. Comparable to Niehaus's interior GC and drywall-centric service mix.
• Bowa Construction: Bowa Construction is a Mid-Atlantic commercial interior general contractor focused on tenant build-outs, drywall, and specialty finishes for healthcare, education, and corporate clients. Similar scale and interior-GC + specialty-trades business model to Niehaus.
• Marek Brothers Systems: Marek Brothers Systems is a specialty commercial interiors contractor delivering drywall, framing, plastering, and acoustical treatments across the Sun Belt. Highly comparable on the drywall + plaster + acoustical service portfolio, though it operates in different geographies than Niehaus.
• Performance Contracting Group: Performance Contracting Group is one of the largest U.S. specialty contractors delivering interior drywall, framing, insulation, and fireproofing services to commercial and industrial customers. It is the closest national analog to Niehaus's combination of drywall + fireproofing + specialty coatings installation.

Others

• Southland Industries: Southland Industries is a national MEP and building services specialist that often coordinates with or competes for scope on commercial interior projects. Adjacent rather than direct competitor to Niehaus's drywall/fireproofing core, but operates in the same institutional client RFP pool.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Niehaus Building Services