Our History
Wolverine Unites Behind One Name
Since its founding in 1939, Wolverine has evolved into one of the region’s most trusted, stable, and respected building and construction management firms. Success and expansion has led Wolverine to develop into a broad organization that featured four distinct specialty divisions—Wolverine Building, Wolverine Construction Management, Fryling Construction, and Wolverine North America.
Responding to our clients’ demand for a collaborative approach to construction services, Wolverine illustrated its unity by marketing under the Wolverine Building Group name and logo.
In the past, the structure of Wolverine’s specialized division had been a proven success facilitating
the growth of the company. To enhance the synergy created by this growth, Wolverine Building Group now corresponds with its partners under one name and one logo.
Wolverine Building Group will continue to offer the service, quality workmanship, and specialized expertise that has made all of its divisions trusted and successful in regional, state-wide, and national markets.
A Rich History
WOLVERINE BUILDING was founded in 1939 as Wolverine Tile Company, specializing in tile installation and gas station construction. In 1957, it changed its name to Wolverine Building, Inc. Wolverine Building currently specializes in building manufacturing facilities, warehouses, offices and retail projects for some of West Michigan’s finest companies. Under the current leadership of President Mike Kelly, Wolverine Building continues to experience steady growth and an expanding influence as a full-service design/build general contractor.
FRYLING CONSTRUCTION was founded in 1945, building enclosed shopping malls and later diversifying into the construction of multi-family housing. After Robert Fryling’s death in 1993, the firm was in need of a partner who would have an understanding of both its past and its current vision and could share in its philosophies. In 1995 the company was acquired by the Wolverine Companies. Today Fryling is under the leadership of President Dick VanderZyden, specializing in the construction of multi-unit facilities, assisted living developments, condominiums, historic renovations, retail buildings, churches,
and restaurants.
WOLVERINE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT was founded in 1993 as a separate division of Wolverine Building Group. Led by President Dick VanderZyden, Wolverine Construction Management has seen stable, yet rapid growth providing construction management services in West and Central Michigan. Wolverine Construction Management sets the industry benchmark for the quality construction of health care and educational facilities.
WOLVERINE NORTH AMERICA was founded in 2006 as a separate division of Wolverine Building Group, offering full-service program management and construction services for projects throughout the nation. It was launched in response to requests from current customers to work with them outside of our local area. In April of 2009, Wolverine North America merged with Houseman Construction Company, a general contracting company focused on clients with multi-site development needs. Wolverine North America is under the leadership of
President Mike Houseman.