Omaha’s skyline is shifting as commercial development projects multiply across the metro area. Skyscrapers are rising above downtown and streetcar construction continues, marking a period of intense growth for the local construction industry. The boom is visible in major investments, including the $1 billion expansion of Eppley Airfield, the $400 million streetcar project, and the $600 million Mutual of Omaha corporate headquarters tower downtown. Within this environment, JE Dunn has established itself as a dominant player in the Omaha market over the last 16 years.
A Century of Growth
The company began in 1924 when Jonathan Ernest “Ernie” Dunn opened JE Dunn Construction as an electrical business. Although the founder initially longed to build and sell houses, the company evolved beyond its roots. Over the last 100 years, it has grown into the sixth-largest general contractor in the United States. Revenue has surpassed $8 billion and the firm now employs more than 5,000 people across 26 offices nationwide.
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JE Dunn arrived in Omaha in 2010 after operating in other markets for 86 years. The company’s philosophy focuses on treating people fairly and offering quality service at a fair price. When the firm entered the local market, it did so with significant projects. According to Joe Hansen, a self-perform operations leader, two major projects placed JE Dunn on the map in Omaha. These were the construction management work for the Creighton Med Center’s move from the old St. Joe’s to Bergen Mercy around 2015-2016, and the 10-story Marriott hotel at 10th and Capitol built around the same time.
Today, the company has about 500 employees in the Omaha area, including 300 union craft workers. Beyond those early projects, the firm has handled the Applied Underwriters headquarters in west Omaha, the Children’s West Specialty Pediatric Clinic, the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and various Nebraska Medicine clinics. One of the company’s earliest significant projects in the city involved constructing the Glacier Bay Landing concession area at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
Building Around the Zoo
Joe Hansen, a self-perform operations leader, explained the challenges JE Dunn faced during the Glacier Bay project. Hansen said that Mother Nature challenged the company during that time. “We had like 50 inches of snow that winter,” he said. “It hasn’t snowed that much since, and obviously not for quite a few years before that. So, we did some really creative things, pouring a lot of color-stamped concrete inside of big tents that we built. It was a cool job.” Additional zoo projects the company has been involved with include reworking walking paths for the African Highlands, aviary and the gorilla exhibits, Hansen said.
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Zoo projects present a conundrum others don’t, such as animal resting periods and visitors roaming the zoo, he said. “The thing about the zoo, first and foremost, are the animals’ rights and then the visitors’ rights, as well as the employees,” he said. “There’s a lot of moving material and getting folks in and out before the zoo opens. And, especially when it gets busy, there’s no moving about within the public areas during the day. So there are a lot of early mornings.”
For employees, seeing the finished product in their hometown adds a personal dimension to the work. Hansen noted that showing friends and family the completed projects is a rewarding experience. “That’s the best feeling that a construction worker, or somebody involved with construction projects, can have is showing off your work, and especially at a place that’s as well-known as the zoo.”
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The local team often consists of people who grew up in the area. Hansen emphasized that this connection to the community is vital. “It’s huge. It’s especially awesome to get to work at a place like the zoo. That’s such a big part of the community. Any of our folks who get to touch the projects we do down there, it’s really a special memory to them. We’re from here. We grew up here.”
A Family Business Approach
This local connection is reflected in the company culture. Laine Edathikunnel, communications manager, said that JE Dunn is a family-first organization. She noted that while the firm is part of a large national structure, the Omaha office maintains a small, close-knit feel. The employees are proud to be in Omaha and share their work with their families. Edathikunnel said, “We’re really proud to share those projects with our families.”