About Us

Scaffolding Specialists

Since 1966

Designed Equipment Corporation was founded in Chicago in August of 1966 by Leon Zygmun. Over the first 40 years, DEC grew from a small startup local scaffold supplier in the Chicagoland area to a prominent Midwest seller, renter, and installer of complex engineered scaffold systems.

Within five years, DEC had captured a significant market share in the pipe and suspended scaffold business in the Chicago area. The company began to design, fabricate, and manufacture customized specialty items that broadened its range. DEC originally started in the scaffolding business, and as technology developed, they expanded into powered suspended scaffold (swing stages).

In 1986 Leon Zygmun acquired Hi-Lo Climbers, a leader in suspended scaffolding or powered swing stages. This acquisition allowed DEC to consolidate manufacturing in Chicago and become a prominent national player in suspended scaffolding or powered swing stages across the US.

Over the first 40 years, DEC successfully won large scaffolding contracts on significant new buildings, including First National Bank (Now Chase Bank), IBM, Standard Oil (AON), Water Tower Place, and O’Hare Control Tower. These successful projects led to customers requesting DEC’s expertise in other cities, including Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Miami, and San Diego.

A Designed Equipment hoist hanging from a monorail beam high above downtown Chicago and the Lake Michigan shoreline

In April of 2007, Jeff Hughart acquired DEC and took it to a new level. Significant investment in inventory, manufacturing, and engineering allowed the company to grow significantly, tripling in size despite a substantial downturn in the industry during the Great Recession.

DEC participated in many significant new construction projects requiring complex scaffolding and engineering challenges during the next decade, including the RUSH Hospital, One Museum, O’Hare SW Control Tower, Block 37 New Tower, and McCormick Marriott Marquis. Major façade and interior rehab projects include Chicago City Hall and multiple annual projects across Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Archdiocese Churches, and various Universities (Northwestern, Loyola, DePaul, and the University of Chicago).

In 2019 DEC was sold to Jacob Bergstresser, who has a career in construction and running projects at heights. DEC continues its heritage of working on complicated access projects in the Chicago market with ongoing projects such as VISTA, NEMA, and O’Hare. As DEC continues to grow, we have begun to inject new product lines such as Layher systems scaffold into our fleet; DEC looks to be the comprehensive scaffold provider for the Chicagoland market.

Scaffolding and plywood panels on the crown of a glass high-rise under construction, with Chicago neighborhoods stretching to the horizon

Scaffolding and blue safety netting on top of an enclosed glass pedestrian bridge over a busy city street

Three workers in hard hats and fall-protection harnesses beneath steel outrigger beams at the top of a high-rise

Scaffolding around the dome of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Chicago

Scaffolding up the full height of the Gothic bell tower of St. Alphonsus Church in Chicago

Frame scaffolding with work platforms and stairs around a tall dark chimney under a blue sky

Swing stages suspended on the curved glass facade of a high-rise

Aerial view looking straight down a glass high-rise to scaffolding around the rooftop mechanical equipment

Outrigger beams and a suspended swing stage on the upper floors of a glass building, with city streets and a sports field below

A row of steel outrigger beams on scaffolding at the edge of a high-rise roof, high above the Chicago skyline

Frame scaffolding and a protective deck across the columned stone facade of a large civic building

Workers on suspended scaffolding beneath the steel roof trusses of a glass-walled hall at the Shedd Aquarium

Workers assembling a galvanized systems scaffold stair tower against a red brick wall

Swing stages on the limestone facade of Northwestern University’s Montgomery Ward Building in Chicago

Workers in hard hats silhouetted on scaffold platforms against a blue sky

A glass supertall tower under construction beside Lake Michigan, with Navy Pier in the background

A sidewalk canopy with a Designed Equipment sign over the entrance of the Union West building

A frame scaffold tower with stairs wrapping a tall brick chimney beside a brick building, with a flatbed truck below

A tall chimney wrapped in scaffolding, silhouetted against a cloudy sky

The walkway of a riveted steel bridge over a river, with a brick apartment building beyond

Scaffolding inside the slanted diamond-shaped crown of a Michigan Avenue tower