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Our Story
The history and inspiration behind Martin Restoration dates all the way back to 1996. There is a very good reason the company founder, Martin Bazula, is as
comfortable on a construction site as he is meeting with clients. This third generation Mason comes from a long line of craftsmen who taught him the value of hard work and imbued him with the sense that it isn’t enough to merely perform a craft trade, but to strive to do it better than anyone else. As a young boy, he would accompany his father to jobs – not just because he enjoyed the opportunity to spend time together, but because he loved watching buildings being restored and brought back to their original glory.
Martin officially got his start in construction at the age of 15 as a summer laborer on job sites. He quickly worked his way up to a mason – where he learned the importance of “measure twice, cut once” and started honing his skill as a perfectionist. In the years following, his attention-to-detail and commitment to owner satisfaction have been integral to his success in Masonry Restoration and Preservation. In 2023, he followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by creating his own company – Martin Restoration.
Although Martin represents more than 25 years’ experience of his own, he has
assembled a team of skilled and seasoned industry professionals who embrace
his company’s culture of uncompromised customer service, quality craftsmanship, safety, and integrity. Regardless of the stature of the client or size of the project, Martin strives for the project to end with an owner who is
completely satisfied with the product delivered, enjoyed the process, believed
their thoughts and ideas were incorporated into the end-result, and felt he was
always accessible, genuine, and professional.
Before starting his own company, Martin worked as a Senior Project Manager for Berglund Construction – Restoration Division and as a Historic / Commercial Masonry Restoration Manager for Structural Preservation Systems, both in Chicago. He also spent a total of 16 years as a Project Estimator / Manager for Marion Restoration and Bral Restoration. Notable restoration portfolio projects during his career include the Ford Motor Building, Indiana World War Memorial, Art Institute of Chicago, University of Chicago – Oriental Institute, Brown County Courthouse, Palmer House and Drake Hotel to name a few.
Martin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Law and Sociology from Dominican
University in River Forest, IL, and is a member of the Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Institute, Illinois Landmarks, and Indiana Landmarks.
