When an electrical fire broke out in the Michigan Technological University fraternity house in summer 2022, the damage was immediate and devastating, Gundlach Champion said in a news release.

Flames destroyed the roof of the historic house, built in 1900 by Herman Gundlach, leaving the lower floors saturated by smoke and the thousands of gallons of water used to extinguish the blaze.

The fire left the viability of the structure at 918 College Ave. in question. The work that followed required a level of detail that eventually earned Gundlach Champion one of the industry’s top statewide honors.

The company received a 2026 Build Michigan Award from the Associated General Contractors of Michigan, recognizing the fraternity house restoration as one of the best construction projects completed in Michigan.

A before and after shot of the historic Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house in Houghton that Iron Mountain-based Gundlach Champion restored after a fire in summer 2022. (Contributed photo)

Established in 1995, the award is judged by industry peers and typically recognizes only a handful of projects statewide each year.

The award for outstanding project management in the “$10 Million or Less Building Construction” category was presented at the AGC’s annual meeting Feb. 27 in Detroit.

The Phi Zeta House Corporation hired GCI in June 2024 to restore the property. The team removed everything down to the balloon-framed walls and the Jacobsville sandstone foundation to stabilize the building. They balanced historic preservation with modern craftsmanship, carefully recreating details like the 11-piece cornice, coffered ceilings and the grand staircase. The project was completed in July 2025.

For Stan Kaczmarek, president of Gundlach Champion, the recognition carries particular meaning. “It’s so competitive,” he said in the news release, noting that preparing a submission requires extensive documentation about the project, the challenges faced and the solutions used to overcome them. Because of the rigorous requirements, the company is selective about the projects it chooses to submit

Projects like the Lambda Chi Alpha restoration illustrate why the Build Michigan Award carries such weight within the construction industry, Gundlach Champion stated in the news release. Submissions are judged not simply on appearance, but on the complexity of the work, the effectiveness of project management and the ability of the team to overcome challenges while delivering high-quality results.

Some of the interior areas in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house in Houghton, showing the coffered ceilings and grand staircase, after Gundlach Champion completed its restoration in July 2025. (Contributed photo)