Brennan breaks ground on new office building

La Crosse company Brennan announced plans Wednesday to build a new office building at its French Island headquarters to support its rapidly-growing marine construction business.

The 93-year-old family business is actually two companies: Brennan Marine provides harbor services like barge transfer; the larger J.F. Brennan does marine construction, building harbors and dredging channels throughout the eastern United States.

Brennan's workforce has nearly doubled to about 250 since moving into the field of remediation 10 years ago, said marketing director Glenn Green.

Industrial cleanup now accounts for up to 70 percent of the company's business, Green said.

Brennan recently secured a 7-year contract with the federal Environmental Protection Agency that will allow it to be one of a select group of bidders on $150 million worth of cleanup in the Great Lakes.

The new three-story, 30,000-square-foot office building will allow Brennan to put about 75 local employees under one roof and eliminate several trailers providing temporary office space and accommodate anticipated growth.

River Architects and Fowler and Hammer, both local companies, are handling the design and construction.

"This will support well-paid union construction jobs," said Matt Binnsfeld, chief operating officer for J.F. Brennan.

Gov. Scott Walker was on hand Wednesday to celebrate the expansion and promote his job creation record.

Read more about the expansion in Thursday's Tribune.

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Brennan breaks ground on new office building