Woodruff Construction celebrates 70 years of building Iowa’s communities
-Messenger file photo <br> Crews from Woodruff Construction were working on the new MidAmerican Energy facility on First Avenue South in 2018.
-Messenger file photo <br>A flag proclaiming 60 years of Woodruff Construction was displayed from a company crane a decade ago. That company surpasses that milestone this year, marking 70 years of service.
-Messenger file photo <br> Crews from Woodruff Construction were working on the new MidAmerican Energy facility on First Avenue South in 2018.
-Messenger file photo <br>A flag proclaiming 60 years of Woodruff Construction was displayed from a company crane a decade ago. That company surpasses that milestone this year, marking 70 years of service.
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Woodruff Construction proudly celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026, marking seven decades of delivering exceptional construction services, cultivating lasting relationships, and helping shape communities across Iowa.
Founded in 1956 by Leonard Woodruff and Jack Evans, Woodruff-Evans Construction began as a general contracting firm serving Fort Dodge and the surrounding communities.
What started as a small local contractor has grown into a statewide construction leader, providing award-winning general contracting, design-build, and construction services from offices in Ames, Fort Dodge, Iowa City, Waterloo, and Spencer.
Over the past 70 years, Woodruff Construction's growth has been driven by a commitment to strong client relationships, skilled employees, an industry-leading safety culture, and a dedication to continuous improvement. While the company has expanded its geographic reach and capabilities to a total of five regions across the state, its core values have remained unchanged.
The company proudly carried forward Leonard Woodruff's entrepreneurial spirit through two generations of family leadership before transitioning to 100 percent employee ownership in 2020. Today, every employee-owner shares in the company's success, reinforcing a culture of accountability, collaboration, and long-term thinking.
That ownership mindset continues to fuel Woodruff's mission of helping clients achieve their goals. The company's portfolio includes projects across water/wastewater, health care, education, industrial, commercial, municipal, and community sectors throughout Iowa.
As Woodruff Construction celebrates this milestone anniversary, the company recognizes the clients, trade partners, employees, and communities that have contributed to its success over the past seven decades. The company's history is the foundation of who it is today, and honors the legacy established by Leonard Woodruff and Jack Evans while continuing to evolve, innovate, and invest in the future.
Throughout 2026, Woodruff Construction will commemorate its 70th anniversary by celebrating the people, projects, and partnerships that have defined its history and continue to shape its future.