Ujamaa Construction, Inc.

08/11/2026

Five interns. Two jobsites. A lot of possibilities. 🏗️

Our 2026 Intern Team — Dazire Peterson, Edward Murphy, Eric Mukiza, Jonathan Thomas and Solomon Huffman — spent the day seeing UJAMAA and the construction industry from a few different perspectives.

We started with a conversation with UJAMAA leadership, toured our Austin HOPE Center project, grabbed lunch together and finished the day experiencing the scale of Bally’s Casino Chicago.

Jonathan Thomas said it best:

“Walking these projects made me realize that there’s so much more to this industry than what you see from the outside. I’m still figuring out where I fit, but I’m excited to find out.”

That curiosity is exactly what an internship should create.

New experiences. New relationships. New questions. And a better idea of where you might want to go next.

Proud to have this crew with us this summer. 🙌🏾

07/30/2026

🏆 Two years in a row!

UJAMAA Construction Southeast is proud to once again be recognized as Clayton County Board of Commissioners’s Most Outstanding Mentor.

This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire Southeast team and the meaningful impact we are making throughout the community.

A special acknowledgment goes to Todd Pressley, MBA for his leadership in shaping and guiding the mentorship cohort. His vision, commitment, and investment in others have helped create a program that opens doors, strengthens relationships, and develops future leaders.

We also celebrate every member of the UJAMAA SE team. Each conversation, volunteer hour, lesson shared, and opportunity created contributed to this achievement.

This is The UJAMAA Way in action: investing in people, cultivating the next generation of leaders, and leaving our communities stronger than we found them.

07/23/2026

We love seeing the projects we build come to life.

Yesterday, our team participated in a career fair at After School Matters’ Orleans facility, a renovation UJAMAA was proud to help build.

Being back in the space and seeing it filled with young people exploring their futures was a full-circle moment.

We had a great time talking with teens about construction, career paths, the trades, project management, and how they can begin finding their place in this industry.

Their questions, curiosity, and energy were inspiring. These are the moments that bring us immense joy.

This is The UJAMAA Way: building spaces that create access, opportunity, and impact long after construction is complete.

Thank you, After School Matters, for continuing to invest in Chicago’s young people.

07/22/2026

At UJAMAA Construction, we believe every project is more than a structure, it’s an opportunity to strengthen the communities we serve.

The PCC Community Wellness Center at Pine & Lake is a reflection of that belief. From the earliest stages of construction to the final details, this project was built with purpose: to create a space that supports health, wellness, and opportunity for the surrounding community.

This video captures that journey; through timelapse footage of the build, aerial views of the finished facility, and interior spaces designed for real impact. What begins as a construction site evolves into something much greater: a place where people will gather, heal, and grow.

This is what we mean when we say:
Rebuilding our community, one block at a time.

Project Location: Chicago, IL
Project Type: Community Wellness Facility

At UJAMAA, our work is guided by unity, purpose, and a commitment to creating lasting impact. The PCC Wellness Center at Pine and Lake stands as a testament to what’s possible when construction is driven by community.

🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF1lRSsseDE
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At UJAMAA Construction, we believe every project is more than a str...

07/17/2026

At UJAMAA Construction, we believe every project is more than a structure — it’s an opportunity to support the people and communities it will serve.

Lawndale Christian Health Center’s new Teaching Health Center reflects that belief. Taking shape in North Lawndale, this 35,000 SF facility is being built to support care, education, and clinical training on Chicago’s West Side.

This exterior preview captures the project in progress — from steel and envelope to glazing and exterior detail — offering a first look at a building designed with purpose. What is rising today will become a place that supports community health, strengthens access to care, and helps train the next generation of healthcare providers.

This is what we mean when we say:
Rebuilding our community, one block at a time.

Project Location: North Lawndale, Chicago, IL
Project Type: Teaching Health Center / Community Health Facility

At UJAMAA, our work is guided by unity, purpose, and a commitment to lasting impact. Lawndale Christian Health Center’s Teaching Health Center is another example of what’s possible when construction is driven by community.

🔗 https://youtu.be/t_Z2lC--q2s?si=tP8X2fWJ6XsK2j29
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At UJAMAA Construction, we believe every project is more than a str...

07/09/2026

Please join us in welcoming Emmanuel Ogunnaike and Sanket Kharade to the UJAMAA Construction team this summer!

We're excited to have these talented students join our national construction team as interns, where they'll gain real-world experience supporting two of our mission-critical data center projects.

🔹 Emmanuel Oggunaike is a Construction Management student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is working alongside our project team in the greater Omaha, Nebraska area, gaining firsthand experience in field operations, project coordination, and project delivery.

🔹 Sanket Kharade is pursuing his master's degree in Construction and Facilities Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This summer, he's supporting one of our data center projects in the greater Charleston, South Carolina market, learning what it takes to successfully deliver complex, fast-paced infrastructure projects.

At UJAMAA Construction, we believe the future of our industry is built by investing in the next generation of builders and leaders. Through meaningful, hands-on learning experiences, our internship program helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the jobsite reflecting The UJAMAA Way of developing people, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for growth.

Welcome to the team, Emmanuel and Sanket! We're excited to be part of your journey and look forward to seeing all you'll accomplish this summer.

06/25/2026

Every great project has a story. This is ours.

When UJAMAA Construction joined Lakeside Alliance, we weren't just taking on one of the most significant projects in the country, we were embracing an opportunity to demonstrate what can happen when purpose, partnership, and possibility come together.

Being part of the team that delivered the Obama Presidential Center has always been about more than construction. It has been about creating opportunities for diverse businesses, investing in people, strengthening our communities, and helping redefine what leadership in our industry looks like.

That is The UJAMAA Way.

The UJAMAA Way means leading with integrity, building through collaboration, and creating a legacy that extends well beyond the structures we build. It means understanding that every project is an opportunity to open doors, mentor the next generation, and leave our industry stronger than we found it.

We're proud of the role UJAMAA played in the Lakeside Alliance story and even prouder of the impact this journey will continue to have for years to come.

We invite you to watch The Story of Lakeside Alliance and see how a shared vision became a lasting legacy.

06/16/2026

I Helped Build That | Mrudul Patil

Every landmark project is built through thousands of decisions, countless hours of coordination, and teams working together toward a common goal.

As part of our 'Our Block. Our History' campaign, we're proud to spotlight Mrudul Patil, Assistant Project Manager at UJAMAA Construction, whose contributions helped bring the Obama Presidential Center from vision to reality.

Serving as part of the team responsible for coordinating critical building systems and supporting project delivery, Mrudul experienced firsthand the dedication required to deliver a project of this magnitude.

"When I say, 'I helped build that,' I'm reminded of the hard work, dedication, and countless hours our team invested to bring this project to life."

The significance of the work extends far beyond the technical challenges and coordination efforts that took place throughout construction.

"Knowing I contributed to a project that will inspire future generations is one of the proudest moments of my career."

While the completed Center will stand as a symbol of leadership, history, and community impact, what resonates most with Mrudul is the journey that made it possible.

For Mrudul, the experience reinforced that great projects are not defined solely by the structures they create, but by the people who help bring them to life.

UJAMAA Construction is proud to be one of the five firms that make up Lakeside Alliance, builder of the Obama Presidential Center.

As we celebrate the Center's opening, we're honored to recognize the individuals behind the work; the professionals whose expertise, commitment, and teamwork helped create a place that will educate, inspire, and serve generations to come.

Because some projects define a career. Others become part of a legacy.

06/16/2026

Project of the Year. Purpose in every detail.

Last week, UJAMAA Construction joined the Federation of Women Contractors at WomenRock, where Lakeside Alliance was honored with Project of the Year for the Obama Presidential Center.

For us, this recognition represents partnership, leadership, and the power of building something that will serve Chicago for generations.

As part of Lakeside Alliance, UJAMAA is proud to help bring this historic project to life while creating opportunity and capacity in the communities we serve.

That is The UJAMAA Way.

Congratulations to the full Lakeside Alliance team and thank you to FWC for an unforgettable evening celebrating excellence in construction.

06/10/2026

We build spaces, but we are really here to build community.

This weekend, Team UJAMAA joined our partners at Northwestern Medicine for the Cancer Survivors’ Celebration Walk & 5K in Grant Park, standing alongside survivors, caregivers, families, and supporters who carry powerful stories.

It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning. Fresh air, a beautiful crowd, and a reminder that showing up matters.

Because of survivors, supporters, volunteers, and teams across the city, the event raised a record-breaking $572,000+ for cancer treatment and research at Northwestern Medicine. We are proud to be part of that impact, and proud to support Northwestern Medicine not only as construction partners, but as community partners.

This is what our culture looks like outside the jobsite: unity, care, and people stepping up for something bigger than themselves.

Shoutouts:
Dave and Dawn Wegner for leading our fundraising efforts
Justin, Marcus, and Robert White for running the 5K

Proud of this team. Proud of this partnership.