Keeley Construction’s legacy began in 1978 with Bill Keeley, whose vision and dedication laid the foundation for a company built on integrity, innovation, and enduring partnerships.
Legacy, to us, is not just about what we’ve achieved but about the lasting impact we leave behind. It reflects the relationships we cultivate, the values we uphold, and the vision we share with our partners to create a future that honors our past while embracing progress.
Integrity, Innovation & Enduring Partnerships
Keeley Construction’s legacy began in 1978 with Bill Keeley, whose vision and dedication laid the foundation for a company built on integrity, innovation, and enduring partnerships.
Legacy, to us, is not just about what we’ve achieved but about the lasting impact we leave behind. It reflects the relationships we cultivate, the values we uphold, and the vision we share with our partners to create a future that honors our past while embracing progress.
A Passion for Craftsmanship
Our History
Bill Keeley’s passion for craftsmanship extends beyond construction—it’s reflected in his love for cars and trucks, both classic and new. As a collector, he takes deep pride in their upkeep, ensuring every detail is maintained to perfection. That same dedication to precision, care, and continuous improvement is the foundation of Keeley Construction. Just as every vehicle in his collection is built to perform, every Keeley project is built to last—driven by quality, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.
1975
A young, 18-year-old Bill Keeley began working as a laborer for a bricklayer and one year later, he met a carpenter who mentored him, which opened his eyes to following a deep passion for construction.
1978
At just 21 years old, Bill printed out some business cards and officially started his own business, focusing on small carpentry jobs and building furniture in his parents’ backyard. Keeley Construction LLC was now in business.
1980s
From the 1980s and through the 90’s, Keeley Construction LLC operated as a downtown general contractor. Bill’s brother John Keeley joined the company as SVP and Jean Keeley (Bill’s wife) joined as CFO of Keeley Construction. Also, Keeley opened our first office at 5000 W. Roosevelt in Chicago.
1988
Keeley Construction was featured in the Chicago Tribune real estate section, leading to increased recognition and opportunities.
1990
Keeley Construction’s Bill and John Keeley were featured again in the Chicago Tribune. This time, introducing the company to the industrial sector – a success that resulted in various opportunities for developers, working on large-scale buildings (million square feet, single-tenant).
1993
Bill was introduced to a developer in Dallas, Texas, for a project involving a 1 million-square-foot warehouse and was tasked with building a wall. This opportunity significantly expanded exposure of Keeley Construction and marked the company’s first out-of-state project.
1996
Bill and Jean Keeley’s sons, Billy and Sean Keeley, were involved in the family business from a very young age, expressing interest in construction, making frequent site visits and seeing first-hand all that went into building facilities.
Early 2000s
Keeley Construction transitioned operations from the city to the suburbs, focusing on building big-box facilities during a pivotal time for the Chicagoland area, which was a major distribution hub. The company also diversified into new construction and faith-based projects.
2009
In a move that later shaped the future of work for Keeley, the company completed a large Cold Storage project for Preferred Freezer. The success of this opened up new opportunities for the company during the financial crisis and expanded its portfolio to the Institutional Foods sector.
2014
Billy Keeley officially joined the family business full-time as Superintendent and Project Manager and Sean Keeley joined to lead Business Development, after various roles growing up with the company.
2017
Keeley Construction partners with Brennan Investment Group to build Elk Grove Technology Park, showcasing our expertise in building advanced industrial spaces for the next generation of technology and manufacturing.
