Supporter Spotlight: Henkel Construction
Henkel Construction, a proud member of the Mason City community for 133 years, is Iowa’s second oldest construction company. Rooted in safety, quality and hard work, the company is guided by time-honored values with cutting-edge technology to stay at the forefront of the industry.
After immigrating to Mason City in the late 1800s, William Henkel founded Henkel Construction in 1892. The company offers construction management, general contracting and design-build in virtually all markets.
“Henkel has played an integral part in building thousands of schools, hospitals, bridges, and all sorts of commercial and industrial buildings,” said Bill Phillips, Henkel Business Development Director.
Mason City’s small-town values and big-city amenities makes being part of this community special, Phillips said.
As a part of Mason City’s downtown community, Henkel operates from a building that is both beautiful and historic – the original Carnegie Library at 208 E. State Street.
Built in 1903, this Neo-Classical Revival building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by the Chicago architectural firm Patton & Miller and funded by a generous donation from Andrew Carnegie. The Carnegie Building officially opened as Mason City’s public library in 1905 and served the community in that role until 1939.
Henkel has made its mark on numerous iconic buildings throughout Iowa, spanning a wide range of sectors, including:
- Commercial: Birdsall’s Ice Cream, Mason City Public Library, and Cinema West
- Education: Natatorium & Field House addition at the Mason City High School, North Iowa Area Community College
- Healthcare: MercyOne North Iowa Behavioral Services Center, Prairie Ridge Integrated Behavioral Healthcare, and MercyOne North Iowa
- Heavy Highway: 19th Street Bridge
- Hospitality/Multi-Family: NIACC Student Dormitory and Commons Building, Historic Park Inn Hotel, and River City Apartments
- Industrial: Curries and Cargill Kitchen Solutions
- Specialty: Principal Performing Arts Pavilion, The Music Man Square, and East Gateway Bridge at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames
“We have a great team of people here at Henkel,” Phillips said. “It’s our most important asset and the reason we’ve been successful for so long.” That team’s dedication extends beyond the workplace as Henkel team members actively contribute to the community, participating in more than 70 organizations.
Henkel shares a common goal for their business and Downtown Mason City: slow, steady growth. They also want to continue to provide excellence in quality construction.
“We offer quality construction at a fair price, and hope to continue as we have for more than 130 years of building landmarks in Mason City,” Phillips said.
ABOUT THIS SERIES: Our Sponsor Spotlight series is dedicated to celebrating the businesses, organizations, and investors who play a vital role in supporting Main Street Mason City’s mission to create a vibrant, thriving downtown district. Through this series, we highlight the stories, values, and contributions of our partners—those who share our vision of promoting local businesses, preserving historic charm, and driving economic growth.
