About

Our History

Since 1936, R.L. Coolsaet Construction has fostered a reputation for completely projects safely and on time. We have completed projects ranging from ¾” Services and meters to residential homes, all the way to pipelines 42” in nominal diameter.

At the present time, we pride ourselves in working with customers through difficult projects. Inter-City large diameter pipelines, extensive station fabrication, and projects with major design hurdles bring out the best in our employees.

We enjoy a challenge, and hope to find long term solutions to our customers biggest problems.

Since 1936

Early Years

R.L. Coolsaet was founded by Remi L. Coolsaet and his wife Amanda in Dearborn Michigan October 1936. He was a Belgian immigrant and migrant laborer that found roots in the Belgian community in the Detroit. After the completion of the Michigan-Wisconsin Pipeline, and the resulting boom in demand for natural gas, R.L. Coolsaet began installing Natural Gas pipelines for Michigan Consolidated Gas Company. Remi wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and was frequently found on jobsites throwing skids and trying to push the crews towards project completion. He raised two sons, Allan & Remi, to follow in his footsteps.

Second Generation

Allan Coolsaet was the 2nd president and longtime “Chairman of the Board” at R.L. Coolsaet. He graduated from University of Detroit Mercy after serving in the Navy during Word War II.

He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and was able to leverage this knowledge as he built the business into one of the nation’s premier pipeline contractors during his time here.

Allan was a significant member in the Distribution Contractors Association & Pipeline Contractors Association and served as president of each organization respectively in 1972 and 1977.

Third Generation

Jeff Coolsaet was the 3rd president of R.L. Coolsaet Construction. He is one of Allan’s 4 sons that continued the family business.

He, along with his three brothers, Robert, Chris, and Remi, continued to work in the pipeline field completing major projects United States and Canada during their tenures.

Jeff was President of the Pipeline Contractors Association in 1995.