Our History
FAMILY-OWNED. WISCONSIN-BUILT. SINCE 1920.
When Charles Schmidt, a Dutch immigrant, started Charles Schmidt & Sons Construction in 1920, he wanted to do things differently. He believed that you could start and grow a business that could build communities, not just buildings.
Across four generations of family leadership spanning nearly a century, we’ve never lost sight of that belief. That’s why, even as we’ve grown into one of the Midwest’s top construction firms, we remain committed to creating exceptional facilities that improve the lives of others.

1920
Charles Schmidt found Charles Schmidt & Sons

1946
Charles Schmidt incorporates

1950
First corporate office is established

1950s
First tower crane in Milwaukee

1950s
Five area high schools are built simultaneously

1957
First school project: School District of Brown Deer

1960s
First company to use hardhats and guardrails

1964
First major hospital project: St. Luke’s Hospital

1975
County Stadium Addition is completed

1993
First contractor to have safety director on staff

1998
New CG Schmidt headquarters built on the northwest side of Milwaukee

2001
Milwaukee Art Museum is completed

2006
Richard L. Schmidt, Jr. (Rick) becomes President and CEO

2006
Permanent Madison office is established

2010
$417M Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital redevelopment in Milwaukee is completed

2011
UW-Madison Union South is completed

2015
Longest continuous concrete pour in Wisconsin history is completed – 27 hours

2017
$450M Northwestern Mutual Tower & Commons high rise in Milwaukee is completed

2020
CG Schmidt celebrate 100 years in business!

2019
Named one of the “Top Places to Work” 10 years running

2020
Work is completed and CG Schmidt’s permanent Madison office at 433 West Washington Avenue