Historical Timeline

  • 1906
    Harlem John “Johnny” High is born on October 30th in Lafayette, Indiana
  • 1930s
    Johnny High helped build the world renowned Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City
  • 1935
    Johnny and his wife Florence move to Orlando, Florida
  • 1936
    H. J. High is founded in Orlando and specializes in masonry for homes and small commercial remodeling projects
  • 1954
    Johnny High becomes a licensed general contractor
  • 1955
    H. J. High is incorporated at 1015 West Amelia Street, Orlando, FL where it still stands today
  • 1961
    A turning point for H. J. High, when the company began work at Cape Kennedy in preparation for the Apollo moon-landing program
  • 1964
    H. J. High receives the Patriotic Service Award from the Army Corp of Engineers for outstanding service on six projects in the Cape Kennedy / Merritt Island / Patrick Air Force Base areas
  • 1968
    Johnny High dies of a sudden heart attack. His son, 24-year old Steven W. High, assumes the presidency of the company
  • 1976
    H. J. High is awarded the Florida Hospital Diagnostic and Treatment Facility project in Orlando, Florida. This project was the first in Central Florida to utilize the Construction Management method of building
  • 1980
    H. J. High adds Design/Build as part of their core services
  • 1982
    H. J. High completes Lockheed-Martin’s 200,000 SF headquarter building utilizing the Design/Build delivery method.
  • 1985
    H. J. High completes the 6,000-seat sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Orlando. The sanctuary is the largest in Florida at the time. The project is the start of a relationship that continues to this day
  • 1985
    H. J. High is awarded the 11-story Florida Hospital Patient Towers project
  • 1987
    H. J. High completes the 5,500-seat sanctuary for Calvary Assembly of God
  • 1987
    H. J. High completes SYSCO Food Service’s freezer, cooler, and office addition project utilizing the Design/Build delivery method. Over the next 9 years H. J. High completes 5 additional projects for SYSCO Foods totaling over 400,000 sf
  • 1989
    H. J. High completes the Walt Disney World Casting Center which becomes the official center for employment and recruiting for the Walt Disney World Resort
  • 1991
    H. J. High completes WESH Channel 2 Studios located on Wymore Road and visible from I4
  • 1991
    H. J. High completes the 121,000 sf addition to the Orange County Convention and Civic Center
  • 1992
    H. J. High begins their long standing relationship with Indian River State College with the construction of the Science Center on their Fort Pierce Campus. The project is the start of a relationship that continues to this day
  • 1993
    H. J. High completes the 216,000 sf expansion to McLane Suneast Inc.’s Food Service Distribution Center. This is an addition to the 177,000 sf food service facility that H. J. High completed in 1985
  • 1995
    H. J. High completes the UCF Solar Energy Center and Auditorium Project in Cocoa, Florida. The project was subsequently awarded “The World’s Most Energy Efficient Building” by Building Design and Construction Magazine
  • 1996
    Bart Sontag joins H. J. High as Project Manager
  • 1997
    H. J. High is chosen as Design/Builder for National Freightways’ Office and Warehouse Facility in Orlando. The 359,000 sf distribution center is built utilizing tilt-wall construction
  • 1998
    H. J. High is selected as Volusia County School’s first construction manager The DeLand High School project lasts four phases and 10 years. The project is the start of a relationship that continues to this day
  • 1999
    After graduating from Rollins College with a Masters in Business Administration, Robert High joins H. J. High
  • 2001
    Bart Sontag is appointed Vice President of H. J. High
  • 2005
    H. J. High completes Indian River State College’s Kight Center for Emerging Technologies and is honored with Associated Builders and Contractor’s Eagle Award for Excellence in Construction
  • 2006
    Robert High is appointed President of H. J. High. Steve High becomes Chairman
  • 2009
    H. J. High enters into their first Joint Venture with Batson-Cook Company of Atlanta to construct the Mitsubishi Power Systems Savannah Machinery Works Project. This design/build project is for a new 30,000 square foot office facility and two bays of manufacturing facilities to be built totaling approximately 150,000 square feet. This is the largest project in Southeast Georgia in 2010
  • 2010
    High Quality Building Care, LLC is established offering Preventative Maintenance Services
  • 2011
    H. J. High celebrates their 75th Anniversary