Entering the second half of our 100-year history brings us to the 1980s. New faces and opportunities shaped the decade as Charles Stephenson became President  and strides were made in new markets. Dutch Harley and Orville Heinicke also retired in this decade.

This period in our history was defined by steady progress. In 1982, we reached a major milestone with the completion of our 10,000th project, a job for Lakewood Hospital designed by the architectural firm Braun and Spice, which would later become CBLH Design. Enduring partnerships like these have played a pivotal role in shaping our success. By the close of the decade, Higley Construction was recognized as the top Commercial Building Contractor by the Cleveland Register.

In 1984, the third generation of the Higley family joined the company. Bruce Higley graduated from Lehigh University in 1980, worked in Seattle for a few years, then joined Higley Construction as a Project Manager. Bruce followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps with his strong commitment to the values that shaped our company. He also would have a focus on the future of the company looking for new opportunities to grow.

Higley Construction expanded our reach and influence across different markets. Infrastructure and Industrial projects took the spotlight of the decade. We completed projects for Perry Nuclear Power Plant and NASA Research as well as various work for General Electric, NEORSD, and Standard Oil Company. With the economic recovery efforts in the late 1980s, the corporate market also grew significantly. The company worked on office projects for Broadway Savings and Landerbrook Place.

As the decade came to a close, the dawn of the digital age was on the horizon; ushering in a new era of innovation and transformation for Higley Construction.