Subcontractor Spotlight: Akan Mechanical
Long before co-founding Akan Mechanical (Akan) with friend and mentor Christopher Williams in 2021, Howard H. Hall Jr. had two very different dreams: to play in the National Football League and to study art.
A first-generation American and former U.S. Navy service member, Hall credits his late father, Howard Sr. (“Big Howie”), a longtime pipefitter, for inspiring the career that became his calling. “He always saw the path before I did,” Hall said. “It just took me a little longer to see what he saw.”
Based in Chicago, Akan is an MBE/DBE-certified HVAC mechanical contractor built on craftsmanship, collaboration and community impact. Lakeside Alliance spoke with Hall about his journey to entrepreneurship, his leadership in the trades and what it means to help bring the Obama Presidential Center to life.
Tell us about yourself. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a first-generation American born to Jamaican parents, Howard and Margaret Hall, and raised in the Chicagoland area. My father, a pipefitter, often encouraged me to consider the trades. He saw my potential even before I did. Early on in life, my passions were football and art, which led me to Columbia College Chicago. But when financial realities set in, I knew I needed a new path. That turning point led me to enlist in the U.S. Navy, where I developed the discipline and resilience that still guides me today.
After my service, I joined Pipefitters Local 597 just as my father had advised. I completed the apprenticeship program and quickly earned a reputation for energy and dedication to quality. As a journeyman, I was known to run on the job in my pursuit of being flawless. My family — my wife Andrea and children Howie, Harry and Hayden — became my motivation. When 597 introduced BIM modeling, I seized the opportunity to expand my skills to provide for them. That exposure indirectly introduced me to estimating and project management and sparked my entrepreneurial spirit.
One day, my future business partner Chris and I were talking and we decided to create something better than what we’d experienced in the industry. In October 2021, we founded Akan Mechanical, Inc. It took time and persistence, but people are beginning to recognize what we’ve built and what our company represents.
What sets your business apart?
Akan Mechanical stands out for our respect for the craft, the people and the communities we serve. We build with purpose — Chris and I are humble leaders who care deeply about our team and the quality of our work. We take pride in representing our communities with integrity and delivering results that reflect that pride. Accountability is also central to our culture. I never ask someone to do work I wouldn’t do myself.
What is your role on the Obama Presidential Center project?
We joined the project as advisors and project managers about two years in. It has been an incredible experience: intense, fast-paced and deeply rewarding. Today, there isn’t a single piece of pipe on this project that we haven’t reviewed or verified. The systems at the Center are unlike anything we’ve seen before, truly the “Taj Mahal” of hydronic systems. The ambition behind the design was unprecedented, and for us, the challenge was personal — failure was not an option. Despite the long hours and long nights, I’m proud to have contributed to such a historic and meaningful project.
What excites you the most about being a part of this historic undertaking?
I’m a history guy. If you don’t know your past, you can’t build your future. Seeing what this building represents — a young, African American child raised by a single mother who became President and the representative of our nation — is beautiful. Barack Obama and his story will forever inspire hope. It’s an honor to have contributed to a landmark that will stand long after I’m gone, especially one that embodies the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us.
I also think of my own family, my grandparents and parents who sacrificed to give me this opportunity. This project symbolizes diversity, perseverance and possibility. No one can ever take away the fact that I contributed to this historic monument, something my children and their children can take pride in for generations. What this project represents, and the privilege of being part of it, is what excites me most.
What is your greatest hope for the outcome of the Center?
I hope the Center continues to inspire transformation, just as Barack Obama has. Its location and purpose reflect renewal, diversity and inclusion. I want it to stand as a reminder that, regardless of background, sex, religion or color, anyone can rise, lead, and make an impact.
What advice would you give others thinking about pursuing a career in construction?
Work hard, stay humble and believe in yourself. The trades require dedication and commitment, but they also offer endless opportunities. Stay curious because you evolve by learning from everyone around you. I’ve been shaped by the culture I was raised in, my many mentors, peers, and experiences, but ultimately, success comes from putting in the work. As you find success, pay it forward. Stay humble, honor those who guide you, and be an inspiration by being the best version of yourself for those who may one day be inspired by you.
