Our History

45 Years of Building Excellence

Founded in 1980 by brothers Chip and Scott Marous, Marous Brothers Construction started as a small carpentry and home remodeling business before quickly expanding into commercial construction. From securing its first commercial project in 1981 to establishing general contracting services in 1982, the company laid the foundation for future growth. By the late 1980s, Marous Brothers Construction had already achieved several major milestones, including their first million-dollar project in 1988. In 1997, Ken Marous joined the company, leading the launch of the Site Group, which specializes in earthwork, excavation, and infrastructure services.

Today, the multi-generational and award-winning company is recognized as an industry leader known for craftsmanship, innovation, and community impact. In 2024, the company surpassed $3.5 billion in total revenue, completing more than 3500 projects across 15 states since inception.

Timeline

1980

Founders, Chip and Scott Marous, begin as small carpenter contractors and home remodelers, which establishes the foundation for what today is our Carpentry Group.

1981

Awarded first commercial project: Andrews Place. Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio.

1982

Hires first full-time employee, Joe Gorka.

1982

Begins performing work as general contractor, recognizing that better client service can be offered if we manage the entire construction project. Leads to eventual formal establishment of the Construction Management Group years later.

1983

First out-of-state job: Skylight Inn, Louisville, Kentucky.

1985

Purchases and renovates historic 3,375 sq. ft. building into first "corporate" office. Willoughby, Ohio.

1985

Develops, restores and renovates 12 additional historic buildings in downtown Willoughby.

1988

Awarded first million dollar project ($1.2) for the Radisson Harbour Inn at Sandusky Bay. Shooters on the Water commences immediately afterward as first fast-track project, completed in a record 60 days, with a budget of $850,000. Sandusky, Ohio.

1988

Chip Marous transitions to office operations as President, whereas Scott oversees field operations as Chief Operating Officer.

1990

Purchases and converts 6,000 sq. ft. former Coleman Dodge auto dealership building into second corporate office. Willoughby, Ohio.

1993

Receives Special Congressional Recognition for earning Distinguished Industry/Business Award from Willoughby Area Chamber of Commerce.

1995

Rebrands Marous Brothers Construction corporate logo and implements company-wide.

1996

Awarded first $10 million project as General Contractor: Central YMCA historic rehabilitation. Cleveland, Ohio.

1997

Constructs new 24,000 sq. ft. company headquarters and warehouse. Willoughby, Ohio.

1997

Ken Marous joins his brothers to form and lead our Site Group with specialized focus on earthwork, excavation, demolition, wetland mitigation, underground utility installation, public and private infrastructure, and roadwork.

1997

Awarded $25 million historic rehabilitation project: Otis Terminal Warehouse conversion into the Bridgeview Apartments. Cleveland, Ohio.

1998

Awarded $27 million historic rehabilitation project: The Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade. Cleveland, Ohio, ultimately finishing the project for our client in 2001 both on schedule and on budget.”

1998

After only a year in the new corporate headquarters, a 16,000 sq. ft. expansion was constructed to accommodate offices for our newly established Design-Build Group.

1999

Launches Interior Finishes Group to provide self-performing services in metal stud installation, drywall hanging, taping and finishing, and acoustic ceiling installation.

2000

Implements Total Quality Management (TQM) program, to ensure consistency of process, quality of services and craftsmanship.

2000

Celebrates 20 years of building excellence!

2001

Awarded $6.8 million U.S. Federal Courthouse in Cleveland's carpentry contract, the largest custom millwork package in Cleveland's history at that time.

2001

In addition to being presented the Build Ohio Award from the Associated General Contractors of Ohio, company receives over one dozen local and state-wide industry awards for the successful historic rehabilitation of The Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade.

2001

Receives United States Trademark approval for company logo.

2002

The Marous brothers, Scott, Ken and Chip, win prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Northeast Ohio.

2002

Constructs new 10,000 sq. ft. facility for company Site Group to house operations and maintain fleet of earth-moving, off-road and roadway machinery. Willoughby, Ohio.

2002

Begins the first of many project awards with affordable housing developer, when crews mobilize on-site for the $29 million Rainbow Terrace Apartments project. Cleveland, Ohio.

2003

Forms Special Projects Group to address the needs of projects with small to mid-range budgets, fast-track projects and corporate accounts.

2003

Awarded spot on CWRU's Weatherhead 100 list of fastest growing businesses in Northeast Ohio.

2004

The company restructures horizontally by introducing separate building groups led by General Managers.

2004

Completes first publicly funded Design/Build project in Ohio enabled by special legislation, the $17 million Lodge and Conference Center at Geneva State Park. Geneva, Ohio.

2004

After having won a Better Business Bureau (BBB) Torch Award for Business Integrity in the 2003 regional competition, went on to compete and win an International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics in New Orleans, Louisiana.

2005

Celebrates 25 years of building excellence!

2005

Completes $78 million, multi-phase construction of Arbor Park Village neighborhood redevelopment. All self-performing groups were actively engaged in this 629 apartment unit project. Cleveland, Ohio.

2006

Issued largest performance bond in company history ($112 million) to transform massive 32-story historic rehabilitation of the former Book Cadillac Hotel, into the new 455-room Westin Book Cadillac Hotel and Condominiums. Detroit, Michigan.

2006

Interior Finishes Group awarded $32 million contract for the new $506 million Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, The Sydell & Arnold Miller Family Pavilion. Cleveland, Ohio.

2008

Awarded $25 million contract for African Elephant Crossings at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. This 5-acre world-class exhibit featured two elephant yards and a deep-water swim channel. It was the first LEED Gold-certified animal exhibit and largest elephant exhibit in the country.

2008

Constructs new façade, main entrance, and remodels entire showroom and service area at Classic Chevrolet, as part of a $1.6 million project. Mentor, Ohio.

2009

Earns AON Build America Award, in the Building Renovation category, for our extraordinary efforts on The Westin Book Cadillac Hotel and Condominiums project.

2009

Completes $4.5 million historic renovation of Capitol Theatre as Design_Builder and recognized with a lobby dedication for our corporate commitment and continued partnership to revitalize the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, Cleveland, Ohio.

2010

Reaches 30 years of building excellence!

2010

Builds house in 95 hours with help from 4,600 volunteers and over 350 businesses for nationally televised TV show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Provides family with new, state-of-the-art home. Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

2011

After months of construction, crews from our Carpentry & Interior Finishes Group finishes $9.8 million project for the new $31 million Seidman Cancer Center at University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio.

2011

Work wraps up on the new $38 million Euclid Commons student housing complex at Cleveland State University, providing 559 students with all the latest amenities. Cleveland, Ohio.

2011

Establishes Marous Family Charities, a private, family-managed, not-for-profit philanthropic foundation.

2012

Begins first of many Design-Build projects for Ohio CAT to update and expand 12 of 19 facilities through a strategic, comprehensive, multi-year corporate improvements program. Ohio and Kentucky.

2012

Commences new, $2.3 million construction and renovation project of Greenbriar Healthcare Center, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility. Boardman, Ohio.

2013

Begins work on the University of Toledo Honors Academic Village $26 million project, to provide 120 new apartment-style suites, a fitness center, game room and media lounge. Toledo, Ohio.

2013

Builds new $22 million luxury housing: Brighton Chase Apartments. Rocky River, Ohio.

2014

Completes design-build transformation of $42 million, 472-room Westin hotel in Cleveland, Ohio

2015

Reaches 35 years of building excellence!

2015

Commences with work as General Contractor on two new Salvation Army Corps facilities, $8 million Temple Corps and $7.8 million East Cleveland Corps. Cleveland, Ohio.

2016

Begins work as General Contractor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, a $16 million project renovation of the 9th and 10th floors. Cleveland, Ohio.

2018

Through our in-house Historic Services, National Register designation of the Downtown Sandusky Commercial Historic District is realized and paves the way for the planned Columbus Avenue Revitalization, a $14 million Public-Private Partnership project.

2018

Completes $49 million historical rehabilitation and office conversion of The Standard Building, into 281 luxury apartments. Cleveland, Ohio.

2018

Completes $25 million new construction project, Upstairs at Van Aken, resulting in 103 new luxury apartments. Shaker Heights, Ohio.

2019

Formally establishes Multi-Family Housing Group to manage expectations in both subsidized and market-rate housing projects, recognizing the unique demands of this market sector.

2020

Celebrates 40 years of building excellence!

2020

Scott Marous, Sr. formally retires and assumes position as Chairman, Board of Directors. Chip Marous assumes dual role as CEO/President, while brother Ken remains Vice President.

2020

Builds new, state-of-the-art, 35,000 sq. ft. corporate headquarters within a campus style setting, in Willoughby, Ohio.

2020

Restructures corporate training program and formally establishes Marous University, a new company-wide, strategic training platform.

2021

Phase I of the multi-phase Cleveland's Woodhill Homes project begins. Led by our Multi-Family Housing Group, our Site Group and Carpentry & Interiors Finishes Group also have a role in this community transformation.

2022

Enters two projects in CEA’s Building Excellence & Craftsmanship Awards Program. Receives Craftsmanship Award for Finish Millwork Installation at The Lumen at Playhouse Square project; receives Building Excellence Award for Ohio CAT Perrysburg project.