About Thorne Associates
A Family Business
With Four Decades of Experience
Thorne Associates was founded in 1986 by Parker and Dana Thorne, a father-and-son team who understood that specialty contracting is built one trusted relationship at a time. Brothers Dan and Mike Degnan joined early on, and together they secured major contracts in Chicago from day one.
Nearly 40 years later, that same family foundation drives everything we do. Dan’s son Nick and Mike’s daughter Nora joined the leadership team in 2018, carrying forward a culture of accountability, craft, and genuine care for the people we work with.
We operate across Chicagoland, Northern Indiana, and Southern Wisconsin, taking on the commercial projects most contractors find difficult: hospital wings, hotel ballrooms, convention centers, data centers, and the complex scopes that don’t fit neatly into a set of drawings.
We’re an expert general and specialty subcontractor with deep roots in our local community. That means every project gets senior attention, every crew is our crew, and every commitment we make gets kept. Our business has grown almost entirely through referrals and repeat clients, and we intend to keep it that way.
1986
Founded In
500+
Years Combined
Field Experience
45+
Foremen on Staff
Our team
Built From
the Field Up
Our team is built from the field up: estimators who have walked the job, project managers who started as engineers, and a leadership team that’s always involved, down to the smallest details.
Peter Gabriel
Chief Executive Officer
Our team is built from the field up: estimators who have walked the job, project managers who started as engineers, and a leadership team that’s always involved, down to the smallest details.
Peter Gabriel
Chief Executive Officer
Our team is built from the field up: estimators who have walked the job, project managers who started as engineers, and a leadership team that’s always involved, down to the smallest details.
Peter Gabriel
Chief Executive Officer
Our team is built from the field up: estimators who have walked the job, project managers who started as engineers, and a leadership team that’s always involved, down to the smallest details.
Peter Gabriel
Chief Executive Officer
Our team is built from the field up: estimators who have walked the job, project managers who started as engineers, and a leadership team that’s always involved, down to the smallest details.
Peter Gabriel
Chief Executive Officer
Our team is built from the field up: estimators who have walked the job, project managers who started as engineers, and a leadership team that’s always involved, down to the smallest details.
Why Thorne Associates
Thorne is built on a foundation of quality, professionalism, and reliability. With a commitment to doing things the right way, our team delivers thoughtful solutions, strong communication, and consistent results on every project.
Reliable
Partnership
We work with our clients, not just for them. From the first conversation to the final punch list, we bring a problem-solving mindset and stay invested in the outcome. That collaborative approach is why our relationships last well beyond a single project.
Specialized
Expertise
We are regularly trusted with the most demanding portions of a project because our clients know the work will be done correctly the first time. From complex healthcare environments to high-end commercial interiors, we hold ourselves to the highest standard on every scope we touch.
Experience in
High-Stakes Environments
Construction projects in healthcare, data center infrastructure, and hospitality leave no room for error. We’ve spent decades building the expertise, systems, and field precision these environments demand, and we bring all of it to every project we take on.
Proactive
Problem Solving
Before a nail goes in, we’re already looking ahead. We identify risks early, flag gaps in scope, and bring solutions to the table before they become delays or change orders. That level of foresight protects your schedule and your budget.
We Follow-Through
on Our Promises
Our crews are organized, communicative, and accountable. When we say something will get done, it gets done. That reliability keeps your project on schedule and takes the stress off your plate.