Tony Iannessa founded BIG Construction in 2016 after rising to a Vice President position at one of Chicago’s largest construction management companies. At 29 years old, Tony was the youngest VP in company history at that legacy firm, and witnessed the industry’s outdated customs and inflexible traditions. He realized that the construction world was invested in reproducing the status quo; that there was no voice for someone with big ideas. At BIG, he has established a culture where right-fit solutions win over legacy processes. Where the best ideas win, everyone has a voice, and collaboration fuels success. And unlike the industry’s tired, slow-to-adapt leadership, BIG is youthful, agile and responsive to the needs of today’s workforce. 

In 2020, in response to Chicago’s rapidly expanding biotech industry, Tony created Helix Construction, a joint venture partnership with GCI General Contractors. With a cumulative 34 years of experience in the construction industry, Helix combines local real estate knowledge with extensive lab expertise to execute complex projects and contribute to Chicago’s future as a biotechnology hub.