From Blueprints to Bebop: A Night of Appreciation at Our Founding Office

On May 21, our Chicago team hosted an unforgettable evening of celebration at The Langham Hotel overlooking the Chicago River to mark W.E. O’Neil’s 100th anniversary. Nearly 300 attendees gathered to commemorate a “Century of Building Dreams.“—a milestone made even more meaningful by the incredible people who joined us.

Guests were welcomed with champagne service right in the elevator, setting a festive tone from the start. The evening unfolded with lively networking over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, accompanied by music from a band led by one of our very own Chicago team members—Jamal, a saxophone player with the group LovHertz.

We were honored to celebrate this milestone alongside so many friends, colleagues, and respected leaders from across Chicago’s development and commercial real estate community. The evening brought together a remarkable cross-section of the people who help shape our city—an inspiring reminder of the strong partnerships and shared vision that have fueled our work for the past century.

Chairman Brian Ramsay

Highlights of the Night

Historical exhibits highlighted the company’s legacy, including fun memorabilia like a bronze surveyor’s level—one of the very first pieces of equipment W.E. O’Neil owned, manufactured right here in Chicago.
Premiere of the trailer for “W.E. O’Neil: A Century of Building Dreams,” our history documentary which captures the story of W.E. O’Neil’s enduring impact over the past 100 years. Guests also enjoyed catching bits of the full film, which ran on silent, captioned loop with the exhibits.
Heartfelt remarks from Chairman Brian Ramsay, CEO John Finn, and Regional President John Russell, who reflected on the company’s history and achievements, while expressing deep gratitude to our employees, customers, trade partners, and the communities we serve.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this historic occasion—we’re proud of our past and excited for what’s ahead.

Did you know? W.E. O’Neil’s first office was at 308 W. Washington Street, Chicago, making our current Chicago office our third home over the past century.