Eduardo Salgado is a civil engineer and business owner leading an architectural woodshop blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technologies to deliver high-quality woodworking solutions.

My name is Eduardo Salgado and I am the Owner and CEO of CS Architectural Woodworking. My story begins in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico where I was born and raised until the age of 14. In 1990 my family moved to Elgin, IL because of a family illness. In high school I enjoyed mathematics and decided to pursue an engineering degree. I graduated from Purdue University in 1999 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation, I started working for general contractors in the Chicagoland area. Although I had started my career, my education continued at nights at Keller University where I earned my MBA in 2008.

My parents have always been very successful in their careers, partly due to their dedication and commitment to ongoing education in their respective fields. Needless to say, their example made me strive to always get better, be dedicated and to further education. That encouragement became my MBA. This degree has proven to be invaluable. It helped me understand to operate a business rather than just knowing the business. Armed with these tools, I was ready for my next professional chapter.

After 13 years of working for various construction companies, and finally gaining the necessary knowledge and real world experience, I founded Built Rite Construction in 2012. In 2013, recognizing an opportunity to diversify our revenue streams, the company ventured into the architectural woodworking market and rebranded as CS Architectural Woodworking.

Fast forward. Who are we now? Although Built Rite Construction is still around, we operate under CS ARCHITECTURAL WOODWORKING. We are a custom architectural woodshop focused on educational, healthcare, institutional and multi-unit residential sectors. We perform work for general contractors, subcontractors and directly to end-users (school districts, government agencies). We are MBE certified with various agencies, we hold a DBE certification through IDOT, and are licensed participants in the AWI Quality Certification Program. Additionally, we are members of the US Green Building Council and FSC Certified.

Vision – To mix timeless traditions with time-saving technologies to create custom solutions in woodworking that maximize customer satisfaction time after time.

Mission – To develop the strongest possible woodworking TEAM. (TEAM: Training-based Excellence and Accountability in our Manufacturing)

Some of our work can be found in these awards winning and nominated facilities:

• Esperanza Health Centers

  • American-Architects 2020 US Building of the Year

  • The Chicago Building Congress Merit Awards 2021 – Healthcare

• Williams Park Fieldhouse

  • 2021 Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design

  • American-Architects 2020 US Building of the Year – Finalist

• Jane Addams Park Fieldhouse

  • The Chicago Building Congress Merit Awards 2021 – Finalist

We are also privileged to leave our mark at other iconic Chicago area locations:

• Navy Pier

• O’Hare International Airport – Terminal 5

Although we now have awards for our work, it has not been easy getting to this point nor has every project gone perfect. As with a lot of current business owners, we are struggling with the labor shortage. Fortunately, in our case, we have been able to invest in technology and automation to maximize our production. Investing in the latest technologies has not only added to our output but has also provided a safer work environment for our team. In addition to using technology to mitigate the problems related with labor shortages, we have partnered up with Revolution Workshop to establish a pipeline for future talent. Revolution Workshop is a not-for-profit organization focused on training individuals in underserviced neighborhoods for jobs in the building trades.

My goals for the future of the company is to be able to provide all my employees with not just a job, but a career. I want my employees to represent the community and will always strive to maintain a diverse workforce. I am the first generation of this company and I believe this is only the beginning. CS ARCHITECTURAL WOODWORKING with our hard work, commitment and strategic plan will become synonymous with quality architectural woodworking. I echo the sentiment of Alexander Hamilton: "I want to build something that’s going to outlive me."

Company Facts:

• Founded in 2012

• Owner & CEO – Eduardo Salgado

• Total # of employees – 30

• Location – Montgomery, IL

• Plant Size >30,000 SF

Capabilities

• In-house drafting / engineering

• Turn-key project management

• Plastic laminate

• Solid surface

• Wood solid / veneers

• Casework

• Millwork

• Finishing