Our Company History

Three generations ago, in 1918, Ted Vanderwerff Sr. established our general contracting business which is known today as Vanderwerff Construction Company. Ted Sr. was a carpenter by trade and he went on to build many notable buildings. Two of these buildings, the Public Service Building (now the Harris Bank) and Masonic Temple, still stand in Libertyville to this day.

Ted Jr. was also a carpenter by trade and joined with his father in 1946, eventually running the business after Ted Sr.'s retirement in 1950. During Ted Jr.'s tenure, he built banks, motels, lumberyards, industrial buildings, the Libertyville Municipal Building (now the police station) on Cook Avenue, as well as many other structures throughout Lake County, Illinois.

1974 brought Dale, the third generation Vanderwerff, into the firm. Dale had begun his career at Vanderwerff Construction Company as a construction laborer while attaining his degree in construction technology. After graduation, he learned the carpentry trade and project management on the job. He has since received his master's degree in business management. By combining his education with his experience in the construction industry, Dale has been able to carry on the Vanderwerff Construction Company legacy of customer satisfaction while incorporating modern construction techniques and business management philosophy. Dale and his father restored the Public Service Building (originally built by Ted Sr. and now known as the Harris Bank) in the early 1980's, allowing it to be placed on the National Historic Register. After Ted Jr.'s retirement in 1987, Dale has continued the legacy, completing such projects around Lake County Illinois as the Mount Sinai Baptist Church in North Chicago, Zengeler Cleaners (north Libertyville facility), Dr. Burkey's Office in Vernon Hills, Bruce's Out O'Sight Self Storage in Barrington, the U.S. headquarters of Rollomatic in Mundelein, and the Firkin Restaurant in Libertyville. He also has been involved with the restoration and alteration of turn-of-the-century buildings, many of which received design approval from Mainstreet Libertyville.

Vanderwerff Construction Company has continued to build its customer base in Central Lake County focusing on the nonresidential construction market. We remain dedicated to our primary goal of customer satisfaction through personal service.