History Fort Lauderdale, proud steward of our community’s past by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors, has announced The Miller Family of Miller Construction Company as honorees for its 28th annual History Makers fundraiser set for Wednesday, February 6, from 6 – 8 p.m. This yearly special event, taking place at Galleria Fort Lauderdale (2414 East Sunrise Blvd.), recognizes individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to the growth of the City of Fort Lauderdale.
“For the past 50 years, Miller Construction Company has helped build solid foundation in Broward County and beyond with a remarkable dedication to contributing to corporate and tourism growth,” said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale. “As leaders in the building industry, they have fostered an unmatched spirit of community and philanthropy. We are proud to highlight their achievements and honor them as our 2025 History Makers.”
Florida natives Thomas J. Miller and Harley W. Miller established Miller Construction Company in 1973. Since then, through a combination of determination, commitment, progressive foresight and creative planning, Miller Construction has completed more than 600 impactful commercial projects for the private sector in Florida, including office buildings, industrial, manufacturing & distribution hubs, automotive, retail, healthcare, higher education, and hospitality that bolstered South Florida’s economic prosperity. Their impactful projects of note include the construction of Lago Mar Hotel & Club, multiple projects for Holy Cross Hospital over three decades, the design-build of Airbus Flight Simulator Training Facility, KOS Pharmaceuticals manufacturing and testing facility, and building two of the nation’s first fully digital TV facilities – WTVJ NBC 6 and WPLG Local10. In 1992, they were a vital part of the rebirth of and revitalization of Las Olas Blvd with the construction of the award-wining 888 Las Olas Building and expansion of the historic Riverside Hotel and parking garage. A long-standing relationship with South Florida’s top-selling furniture retailer City Furniture led to working on retail showroom construction and renovations from South Miami through Vero Beach, and in Naples and Fort Myers. In 2013, Miller Construction completed Nova Southeastern University’s Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Research $200 million facility, the nation’s only research facility dedicated to coral reef ecosystems. The following year, the company completed the massive $50 million, multiphase renovation of the world-class Broward Center for the Performing Arts, a milestone for Fort Lauderdale’s cultural future. Recently, Miller Construction completed an innovative, six-level automated drystack F3 Marina in Fort Lauderdale’s 17th Street Causeway marine district for owner Founders 3. The nation’s second fully automated drystack marina of its kind, F3 Marina features an automated crane that lifts and stores or retrieves boats as long as 46 feet in under five minutes – a breakthrough for the marine industry
Since its founding, Miller Construction Company and its founders have also sought to make a positive, long-lasting difference in the communities they serve. By building community partnerships and through employees’ own hands-on involvement, Miller has raised funds for vital causes and nonprofit organizations including American Cancer Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Coastal Conservation Association, Habitat For Humanity, Henderson Behavioral Health, Holocaust Learning Center, Junior Achievement, Lighthouse of Broward, Pace Center For Girls, United Way, Winterfest and many more. The company’s spirit has made Florida a better place to live for many children and families.
Previous honorees of the History Makers fundraiser have included notable organizations and individuals such as Galleria Fort Lauderdale, Kelley Shanley, Ted Drum and the Drum, Clark and Cox families, Denison Yachting, the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, the Forman family, “Alligator Ron” Bergeron, City Commissioner Steven Glassman, developer Dev Motwani, H. Wayne Huizenga, Chris Evert and Jimmy Evert, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Winterfest, and Susan and Buddy Lochrie.