Local contractor has history with college
Foulke Construction with college for 50 years Foulke construction has helped with 15 college construction projects
Cody Ewers
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
Pictures of Hillsdale College buildings hang in wooden frames throughout Foulke Construction's Lewis Street office, reminding visitors of the all the work the company has done for the college in the past few decades.
That relationship dates back to the 1950s, when the college first commissioned Foulke to build Mary Randall Preschool and Olds Residence.
Since then Foulke Construction has had a hand in building most of campus' current buildings, including Moss, Delp, Lane, Kendall and Central Halls, Howard Music Hall and most recently the Grewcock Student Union and newly-renovated Strosacker Science Center.
Vice President of Administration Rich Péwé said he consistently chooses Foulke because of the company's locality and straightforwardness.
"They don't have a bloated group of middle men," he said. "That makes it very excellent to work with them. They're men about their words and work."
Péwé said he also appreciates the way Foulke handles each project - no matter the building's age.
"When you have an issue with a project and not a good relationship with the construction company it becomes a finger-pointing game," he said. "This never happens with Foulke. They stand by their work and actually care about whether or not we get the best work, materials and cost."
Foulke Construction began in 1927, when President Doug Foulke's father, a barn-building Quaker from Indiana, first started building for the Hillsdale community. His work inspired his son to return to the company after college and eventually, he took it over in 1972. It now uses about eight contractors at a time for most projects, Péwé said.
Doug said he considers his company's relationship with Hillsdale College one of the best it has, as college administrators tend to understand his problems and he theirs.
Doug's son, David, 42, now serves as vice president. He tries to improve his work with each project, he said.
That relationship dates back to the 1950s, when the college first commissioned Foulke to build Mary Randall Preschool and Olds Residence.
Since then Foulke Construction has had a hand in building most of campus' current buildings, including Moss, Delp, Lane, Kendall and Central Halls, Howard Music Hall and most recently the Grewcock Student Union and newly-renovated Strosacker Science Center.
Vice President of Administration Rich Péwé said he consistently chooses Foulke because of the company's locality and straightforwardness.
"They don't have a bloated group of middle men," he said. "That makes it very excellent to work with them. They're men about their words and work."
Péwé said he also appreciates the way Foulke handles each project - no matter the building's age.
"When you have an issue with a project and not a good relationship with the construction company it becomes a finger-pointing game," he said. "This never happens with Foulke. They stand by their work and actually care about whether or not we get the best work, materials and cost."
Foulke Construction began in 1927, when President Doug Foulke's father, a barn-building Quaker from Indiana, first started building for the Hillsdale community. His work inspired his son to return to the company after college and eventually, he took it over in 1972. It now uses about eight contractors at a time for most projects, Péwé said.
Doug said he considers his company's relationship with Hillsdale College one of the best it has, as college administrators tend to understand his problems and he theirs.
Doug's son, David, 42, now serves as vice president. He tries to improve his work with each project, he said.
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