Our history spans more than 75 years.
We’ve learned a thing or two in the last three-quarters of a century.
Our slide show offers a quick historical overview featuring our people and our projects. Or scroll down for a more detailed timeline of Story Construction milestones.
1930s
- 1934 – James Thompson moves to Ames, Iowa, with his sons Russell and Kenneth to start the construction firm of James Thompson & Sons. In March 1934, they acquire their first project, the Calmar Creamery in Calmar, Iowa.
- 1936 – The Thompsons build several post offices and schools before getting their first project at then-named Iowa State College in 1936. The project is the construction of Roberts Hall, a residence hall for female students.
- 1937 – Moore Bros. Dairy Building is built by Thompson & Sons. It still anchors the corner of Fifth and Clark streets in Ames, Iowa.
- 1938 – Tama High School, the first monolithic concrete school of its kind in Iowa, is built by Thompson & Sons. Also, the Thompsons establish a partnership agreement with father and sons serving as equal partners.
1940s
- 1940 – Floyd County Courthouse in Charles City, Iowa, is built by Thompson & Sons.
- 1942 – Davidson Hall on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, Iowa, is built by Thompson & Sons.
- 1944 – World War II changes the construction landscape. James Thompson & Sons constructs a series of hemp mills in central Iowa for the federal government’s War Hemp industries, as well as airfields in Missouri.
- 1945 – Wall Lake Popcorn Factory in Wall Lake, Iowa, is built by Thompson & Sons.
- 1949 – Metallurgy Building at Iowa State University is built by Thompson & Sons.
1950s
- 1950 – Spedding Hall is completed at Iowa State University, winning Thompson & Sons its second Award of Merit from the Atomic Energy Commission for a safety record of zero lost-time accidents during construction. The $2 million building housed the Commission’s research program.
- 1951 – James Thompson & Sons incorporates.
1960s
- 1960 – Thompson & Sons moves into a 2,500-square-foot office addition at 222 East Third Street in Ames. Principal tools of construction are artistically portrayed in the entry way mural – including a plumb bob, steel beam, carpenter’s square, saw and masonry brick. The mural was designed by Superintendent of Construction Woodrow Buck.
- 1960s – Several phases of the Northcrest Retirement Community in Ames, Iowa, are completed throughout the decade.
- 1961 – Russell Thompson is tragically killed in a car-train accident while traveling to a jobsite. Later that year, the Thompsons include non-family employees in stock ownership.
- 1966-1969 – Towers Residence Complex at Iowa State University is built by Thompson & Sons. General Superintendent Woody Buck develops a “flying forms” concrete process to efficiently build the cantilevered concrete floors.
- 1967 – Thompson & Sons completes the parking ramp at the ISU Memorial Union in Ames.
- 1968 – James Thompson, founding father of Story Construction, dies.
1970s
- 1970 – Kenneth Thompson retires and James Thompson & Sons becomes totally owned by five employee stockholders: Woodrow Buck, Ted Heggen, Norman Riis, Dean Porath and Dick Johnson. Declaring a commitment of management and ownership by key employees, stock is sold to several additional employees, including some working in Story’s field operations—a unique concept at the time.
- 1971 – Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University is built by Thompson & Sons.
- 1972 – The company decides to diversify its services and form three additional companies: James Thompson & Sons Development (specializing in land development), Gray Real Estate and Allen Construction (focusing on the residential market).
- 1976 – Subsequent restructuring creates STORY CONSTRUCTION to focus on “merit-shop” commercial and industrial construction.
- 1976 – Thompson & Sons completes the Veterinary Medicine Complex at Iowa State University.
1980s
- 1980 – Story identifies water and wastewater treatment plants as an Iowa market dominated by non-Iowa companies. Story receives its first contract for a wastewater treatment plant in Pella, Iowa.
- 1982 – Story Construction purchases the assets of James Thompson & Sons, Inc.
- 1987 – Green Hills Retirement Community in Ames is completed by Story.
1990s
- 1991 – Story completes a $16 million major renovation project for the Iowa-American Water Company in Davenport, Iowa.
- 1996 – Story moves to a new office facility at 300 South Bell Avenue, Ames.
- 1996 – In-house design capabilities are added to Story’s list of services, making it an integrated design-build firm providing single-source responsibility on projects.
2000s
- 2000 – Story Construction wins a National Design-Build Award from the Design-Build Institute of America for the Sauer-Danfoss Manufacturing project in Lawrence, Kansas.
- 2000 – Norman Riis, Story’s chairman, retires.
- 2000 – The $20 million Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center project is completed at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
- 2005 – Story announces a new executive management team consisting of Mike Espeset, President; Pat Geary, Chief Operating Officer; and Steve Tenney, Chief Financial Officer.
- 2005 – Story employees are recognized for reaching the milestone of working 1 million hours with no lost-time injuries in 1,000 days.
- 2006 – Dick Johnson, chairman and CEO, retires from Story.
- 2006 – The Associated General Contractors of America presents Story with its National Safety Award.
- 2006 – Master Builders of Iowa presents Story with the Masters Award for construction of the USDA High Containment Large Animal Housing Facility project.
- 2007 – The milestone of working 1.5 million hours with no lost-time injuries is reached by Story employees.
- 2009 – Story celebrates its 75th anniversary.
2010s
- 2010 – Story signs partnership Agreement with Iowa OSHA for construction management projects — the first in the state.
- 2011 − The milestone of working 585,852 without a lost-time accident is reached by Story employees.
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