Committed to construction

For alumnus John Tishman, the family business has a long history. Tishman Construction dates back to 1898 when his grandfather, Julius Tishman, purchased the tenement building where he lived. Under John L. Tishman’s management, the company erected the world’s first three buildings of 100 or more stories – the John Hancock Center in Chicago and the World Trade Center’s twin towers – as well as other national icons such as Madison Square Gardens and Disney’s Epcot Center.

Committed to arming the next generation of construction managers with the cross-disciplinary expertise that they would need to see great buildings of the 21st century through from blueprint to completion, Tishman (BSE EE ’46, D. Eng Hon. ’00) endowed U-M’s construction management program at Michigan Engineering in 2011. In addition to strengthening connections with related schools and departments, such as architecture and electrical engineering, the endowment established the U-M Construction Industry Alliance Program.

In honor of John L. Tishman’s legacy, Dan and Sheryl Tishman have provided a gift that will expand the scope and impact of the construction management program. Their gift will create a new professorship focused on construction management and sustainability. It will also provide scholarships for students and discretionary support for the construction management program.

“John was so enthusiastic about his founding and involvement in the construction management program. He looked forward to coming to campus each year to meet with the professors and students and share his wealth of experience. Sheryl and I are so happy that we are able to secure the future of this program in John’s name,” said Dan Tishman, John Tishman’s son.[k1]

“We are thrilled by the Tishman gift to support our top notch faculty, facilities and growing emphasis in sustainability education,” said Kim Hayes, the Arthur J. Decker Collegiate Professor and Donald Malloure Department Chair of civil and environmental engineering. “The impact of the gift on the construction engineering and management program will be felt for many years to come.”