KARL SPEKTOR’S 21-year-old company, MOD Construction, and 11-year-old son, Brooklyn, have something in common: Both are “batting” 1.000.

“Brooklyn,” Spektor insists, “has never had a bad day in his life. You should see him. He’s always smiling, always happy.”

Chicago-based MOD Construction, meanwhile, has never failed to complete a project—commercial or residential—since its launch in 1999, pleasing and awing an impressive and wide range of clients via a concierge-laden approach to both building and remodeling.

“We will finish the job, no matter how left or how right it might go during the process,” says Spektor. “We take the headaches out of construction for the customer. Our customers are worry-free,
as we work with them to accomplish their goals and dreams. What drives me, what drives all of us, is to hear a customer say, ‘I had a really good experience building my house or my restaurant, or my car dealership, or my private airplane hangar.’ Yes, even an airplane hangar. There’s nothing we haven’t built.”

Spektor’s award-winning enterprise has been the steadfast assembler behind a bevy of striking spaces, including projects at Chicago restaurants Market, RPM Steak, and RAMENSAN. The company has also executed several projects in Chicago’s Palmolive Building, Four Seasons Residences, and Ritz Carlton Residences. Chicago’s chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) bestowed Special Recognition honors to MOD Construction for its glowing work on a Pearson Street residential property in the city.

A resident of Chicago since his late teens, Spektor— who grew up in Buffalo Grove, attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, and toiled briefly in the restaurant industry—and his sterling reputation moved to Lake Forest last July. Since the move, MOD Construction’s number of residential clients expanded significantly. Homeowners from Lake Forest, Glencoe, Winnetka, and Lake Bluff, among other villages, sought MOD Construction’s experience, knowledge, and deft touch.

“A home is becoming more of a sanctuary for many,” says Spektor, alluding to an increasingly entrenched way of living during the pandemic. “People are working more from home, and kids are learning from home. Homeowners want bigger home offices, along with a designated classroom space, and a gym. We’re adding makeup rooms and spa rooms. There’s that desire to have a hotel experience at home.”

For a three-month stretch in 2020, Spektor, who’s a self-taught contractor, and his resourceful employees could not enter high-rise buildings in Chicago because of restrictions related to COVID-19. That allowed the company to devote more time and energy to ground-level projects and beautiful homes in the suburbs.

Today MOD Construction’s projects are split evenly between city and suburban sites.

Spektor and his team note that working in the suburbs has its advantages. Projects are easier to complete with the ability to work longer hours and on weekends. The lack of delivery windows, parking restrictions, and high rise elevators are an added bonus.

Spektor loves living in Lake Forest. Loves everything about it. “This area is great; I couldn’t be happier,” he says. “I wanted more space and that’s what I found in Lake Forest. And I’ve made some really good friends.”

MOD Construction has a tremendous social media presence, particularly on Instagram. The company has been adept at keeping up with trends and innovations since its inception. Spektor’s relationships in construction circles mean the world to him, in part because some of his friends in the industry live on the other side of the world.

But each connection trails, by miles and miles, to Spektor’s special bond with his happy-forever son.

“Brooklyn,” the proud father says, “keeps telling me he wants to take over the company whenI retire.”

MOD Construction’s office is located at 917 West Washington Boulevard, Suite 275, in Chicago. For more information, call 847-235-2115, visit mod-construction.com, or follow @modconstruction on Instagram.