20th Anniversary Celebration

Direct Steel and Construction commemorates two decades of realizing clients’ aspirations. Throughout this time, we’ve brought architectural visions to life, constructing office buildings, warehouses, distribution centers, retail outlets, restaurants, transportation hubs, churches, schools, recreational venues, and a myriad of other structures.

Rosemary Swierk founded the company in 2004. She discovered a passion for construction after rehabilitating a dilapidated commercial building. As her experience grew, she was hired as a General Contractor for other owners, and so Direct Steel and Construction began.

Over the years, Direct Steel has blossomed into a firm focused on low-rise non-residential construction by offering three services: commercial general contracting, construction management, and owner’s representation.

During the 2008 recession, lack of work meant little commercial construction. Direct Steel pursued expansion into federal government projects and earned the company’s first federal contract building a flight simulator facility in Nevada, a project funded by the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009.

Additional federal government contracts followed:

  • In 2018, we completed a $13.1M project at the Olmsted Lock and Dam for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The buildings were part of the largest Corps project since the Panama Canal.
  • In 2020, our successful completion of a $12.1M renovation and expansion was recognized at a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, MI.
  • In 2023, we completed a $4.1M exterior renovation contract for the USDA’s National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research a year ahead of schedule.
  • In 2024, we finalize a $17M supply support activity warehouse at Ft. Cavazos, TX for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Direct Steel continues to construct new buildings, expand existing structures, and renovate facilities for commercial businesses as well. A broad mix of private clients have partnered with us including Unilock, PMRS, Brookline Development, Medline, Kenan Advantage Group, and Abt Electronics.

Building types include:

  1. Conventional Buildings ~ Tilt-Up Buildings, Pre-Cast Buildings, and Masonry Buildings
  2. Metal Buildings ~ Rigid Frame Metal Buildings and Light Gauge Metal Buildings

Known for the value we bring, Direct Steel has been recognized for multiple achievements including:

  • 2023 Cornerstone Building Brands National Top Builder Award
  • SBA Illinois Rising Star Small Business Award
  • Chicago Business Journal’s Women of Influence
  • Enterprising Women Magazine’s Women of the Year
  • National Women’s Business Development Center Entrepreneur of the Year

As we reminisce on our journey, we extend heartfelt appreciation to our exceptional clients, trade contractors, architects, engineers, and numerous business partners. Your steadfast support has been indispensable to our achievements.

Thank you!

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