history
A Century of Building
1908
York and Cobb Construction Company, founded by Charles Vance York and the Cobb Brothers, wins the contract to build the first five buildings for East Carolina Teachers College (ECU) in Greenville, NC.
1910
Charles Vance York relocates to Raleigh to benefit from the booming construction market. The company is renamed York Construction and Charles becomes the first president of the company
1911
York Construction locates its first office in downtown Raleigh on the top floor of the Citizens Bank Building.
1926
York Construction completes the first portion of the N.C. State Memorial Bell Tower to honor NCSU alumni killed in World War I.
1933
York Construction completes the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, a massive, classical, granite monument, the largest single construction project in Raleigh during the Great Depression.
1941
James Wesley (Willie) York is named president of York Construction after his father, Charles’ death in 1941. A visionary and active civic leader, he helps develop the Raleigh-Durham International Airport and leads the desegregation of the school system as a member of the Raleigh Board of Education in 1960.
1947
York Construction begins construction on Cameron Village. It is developed by Willie York and is the southeast’s first mixed-use development of its kind. York Construction continues build projects in the Raleigh area including Westinghouse Corporation office, Ridgewood and Northgate Shopping Centers, Occidental Life Insurance office, and the original Raleigh Farmers Market.
1977
Smedes York, son of Willie York, is named President of York Construction. Over the decades the company grows in size and influence. Smedes becomes a chairman of the RDU Airport Authority, a member of the Raleigh City Council, and serves two terms as Raleigh Mayor, continuing the York tradition of civic duty.
1983
Phil York, son of Willie York becomes Vice President of York Construction. He retired in 1993.
1984
York Construction completes the 801 Oberlin Office building, the current McDonald York corporate headquarters.
1992
York Construction begins its relationship with Glaxo, which still continues today. This led to a core market of Life Sciences, and a significant leadership in Research Triangle Park.
1993
Coleman and Wood’s president, Jack McDonald, begins to research locations to expand operations outside the Washington market. He found what he was looking for in Raleigh, NC, with York Construction. The merged organizations name Smedes as Chairman and Jack as President of the new McDonald York.
1993
McDonald York establishes its first office with 3 office employees including Jack McDonald in Raleigh on the 2nd floor of York Construction Company’s office building on Raleigh Boulevard. Smedes York is located on the 1st floor.
1993
Marilyn Pendergraph started her career with York Construction in 1978 and transferred to McDonald York in 1993 becoming one of the company’s first employees. During her years with York and McDonald York, she serves in a variety of positions and is named Vice President of McDonald York in 2004. Marilyn’s dedication and loyalty to the company was an inspiration to fellow employees.
1993
Larry Stone started his career with York construction in 1978 and transferred to McDonald York in 1993 becoming one of McDonald York’s first field employees. For over 20 years, Larry is the main contact with McDonald York’s largest client, GlaxoSmithKline. Larry supervised an on-site staff at GSK that exceeded 50 employees.
2003
On February 19, 2003, Smedes York and Jack McDonald become full and equal owners of McDonald York Building Company when they purchase Financial Investment Corporation’s interest in the company.
2013
Shelia McDonald and Rosemary York join Smedes and Jack on McDonald York’s Board of Directors.
2008
Mike Kriston joins McDonald York Building Company as Division Manager. Mike teaches the McDonald York University business development courses and leads the creation of our business development technology and software. After many diverse roles, Mike becomes Chief Revenue Officer. He helped redefine McDonald York as not only a Raleigh contractor, but a contractor for the Triangle.
2010
Tanner Holland, a leader in achieving operational excellence, is a driving force behind the company’s maintenance of the NCDOL Building Star Certification, and the highly qualified operations team. Tanner quickly rose from Senior Project Manager, to Vice President to President and CEO in 2018.
2010
McDonald York introduces its MYWay® philosophy which is founded on four principals: Trust-Based Teams, Valuable Communications, Early Collaboration and Partnering Relationships. The philosophy is implemented using leading industry practices involving continuous innovation, progressive processes, and end-to-end workflows.
2012
Emily Massey standardizes McDonald York’s operating procedures and introduces state-of-the-art technology into project management systems. She takes on the creation and evolution of McDonald York’s budget and financial reporting. Emily earns a promotion to Vice President and CFO in 2015.
2013
Colleen McDonald Schmidt, Shannon McDonald Haynie, William York, and Parker York are added to the Board of Directors. They join Smedes, Rosemary, and George York along with Jack, Sheila, and Michael McDonald. The family board brings a diversity of viewpoints and exposure of the next generation to the company operations.
2015
McDonald York launches McDonald York University to prepare its employees for their current work assignments and help them achieve their long-term career goals. Classes vary from technical, business management, leadership, and behavioral courses.
2015
New headquarters and distribution center for the Food Bank of CENC is started. This project is the largest design-build project completed by McDonald York.
2016
McDonald York is recertified by NCDOL as a Building Star contractor, for its outstanding safety program. This makes a 10-year record of recognition.
2016
The Lake Boone Trail Medical office complex in Raleigh, NC near UNC/Rex Hospital is completed, cementing McDonald York’s status as a builder of medical office buildings. The two buildings consists of structured parking on the ground floor with 2 levels of office space above. Site work for the project was performed carefully on both sides of a Neuse River Riparian Buffer and tree conservation area. Three bio-retention areas were constructed for stormwater management.
2016
The 105,000 SF. Fidelity Investments Building Renovation in Cary, NC is completed. The project included complete demolition two buildings on campus and a temporary cafeteria space to accommodate current employees during the renovation. The project involved intensive data cabling as it required triple the typical Fidelity standard for cabling. and inter-connectivity between buildings for data and security purposes.
2016
Shearon Harris Rewind Building for Duke Energy in New Hill, NC is started. McDonald York employees and trade partners complete extensive safety training in order to work on this project and is one of many projects completed by McDonald York at nuclear plant facility
2017
The 245,000 SF, 9 floor, Allscripts first generation office upfit in a newly constructed high rise building in Raleigh is completed and becomes McDonald York first high-rise tenant fit-up in base building project not completed by McDonald York.
2018
The 50,000sf Novan, Lab and Office Upfit in Durham, NC is started. The project included Process Suite, Chemistry Lab, Office spaces, warehouse facility and manufacturing area, the first of several contracts awarded to McDonald York.
2018
The Parmer RTP, 7 acre, Amenity Park, for use by employees on campus in Research Triangle Park is started. The amenities included a fitness track, amphitheater, pavilion, putting green, outdoor seating, greenspace, gaming area, two new open parking lots, architectural concrete food truck drive and a 620 SF glass-walled treehouse/conference room strategically placed in existing wooded area.
2018
The Bayer Crop Sciences, Multiple Facility and Lab Renovations in RTP, NC is completed. Project included extensive electrical, mechanical and lab gas modifications with close coordination with active labs and facility management to ensure ongoing operations were not impacted and help solidify McDonald York’s reputation as a local trusted lab builder.
2020
Honored as the 3rd fastest growing company in the Triangle when Triangle Business Journal announced its rankings on December 4, 2020.
2020
Triangle Business Journal ranks McDonald York the 13th largest contractor in the Triangle with 2019 revenue exceeding $100 million when it publishes their List of Top Triangle General Contractors
2020
The State Employees’ Credit Union Multiple Facility Renovations consisting of eleven (11) building renovation projects throughout North Carolina to update SECU locations built in the 1970’s is completed. Careful coordination of construction activities was crucial as locations remained occupied and operational.
2020
The Duke Energy, Aberdeen Consolidation Project, in Aberdeen, NC is completed. This project consisted of 3 individual sites totaling over 75 acres to house the Southern Ops, Fleet Garage and Transmission Headquarters. This project represents a continuation of an important relationship and the largest project done to date with Duke Energy
2021
The Duke Lemur Center Renovation and Addition, located on 80-wooded acres in Durham, North Carolina, home of one of the world’s leading lemur and prosimian research and conversation facilities is started. This project is one of many Duke Lemur projects by McDonald York.