Oliver Wierdsma, a Milwaukee native and the son of contractor Ebbel Wierdsma, began his career in 1911 as a draftsman for Leenhouts & Guthrie. He rose to superintendent and earned his state registration as an architect in 1918.
From 1919 to 1930, he partnered with Miner R. Rosman to design several of Milwaukee’s most distinctive high-end apartment buildings, including Franklin Arms, the La Salle Hotel, Marquette Apartments, and Roosevelt Arms.
When the Great Depression reshaped the construction industry, Wierdsma shifted from design to building. Over the next decade, he worked on projects such as the expansion of Kegel’s Inn, Waukesha County Technical Institute, and St. Joseph’s Hospital in West Bend.
In 1945, recognizing opportunity in the growing communities of Western Waukesha County, Wierdsma founded Oliver Construction in Oconomowoc. From a small storefront office, he blended architectural insight with hands-on construction expertise, completing projects like the downtown U.S. Post Office, which still stands today.
As the firm grew, his sons joined the business in the 1950s, continuing the family legacy and expanding Oliver Construction’s capabilities. The company became a catalyst for local development, delivering schools, churches, commercial buildings, and healthcare facilities across the region.
Oliver Construction embraced a design-build approach early, giving clients greater clarity, efficiency, and collaboration from concept to keys.
Over the decades, the firm expanded its reach while staying rooted in its founding principles: quality, integrity, and community impact. Many of its projects remain local landmarks, reflecting the company’s longstanding commitment to craftsmanship and service.
Today, Oliver Construction continues to build on that heritage as a trusted design-build partner throughout Southern Wisconsin, honoring Wierdsma’s vision of a company focused on strong relationships and enduring work.