Today Abbott Construction announced that they have merged with STO Building Group to become a member of the STO family of companies. The merger will allow both firms to leverage each other’s geographic reach to better serve clients with multiple locations and enhance the services and areas of expertise they can offer across that expanded footprint.
“We see joining the STO family as an exciting next step in what we can offer our clients and our employees without sacrificing who we are and have been for the past 35-plus years,” says Troy Stedman, president and CEO of Abbott. “We know from first-hand experience working together that our companies value integrity, collaboration, and a client-first way of doing business, so formally joining forces makes perfect sense.”
“From our existing relationship working with Abbott on two significant joint venture projects, we are confident that this merger is a great fit for both companies,” says David Layton, president and CEO of Layton Construction, who Abbott will report through. “And with Layton’s proximity to the Pacific Northwest and existing presence in Southern California, we’re looking forward to helping Abbott grow in those core markets.”
Founded in 1983, Abbott is a West Coast commercial builder known for superior planning and execution. They work with clients in a variety of sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, education, non-profit, retail, and tenant interiors. Some of their most notable recent projects include the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and University of Puget Sound Welcome Center in Tacoma, WA; FAA Northwest Mountain Regional Headquarters in Des Moines, WA; Big Fish Games Seattle headquarters, the UCLA Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios in Culver City, CA, and h. Club Los Angeles.
“The Pacific Northwest has been a key strategic market for the STO Building Group, and Abbott is a terrific addition to our family of companies,” says Robert Mullen, STO Building Group CEO. “By joining forces, both firms can leverage each other’s geographic reach and take advantage of each other’s strengths, relationships, geographies, and resources to better serve our clients across the globe.”
Formerly operating as the Structure Tone Organization, STO restructured as the STO Building Group in 2018 to provide a platform for growth that allows each of its member companies to maintain their cultural identity while leveraging the strengths of a multicompany organization. In the last four years, Canadian firm Govan Brown and US firms Ajax Building Company, BCCI Construction, and Layton Construction have merged with STO Building Group.
“The opportunity to merge with such an incredible firm as Abbott is exactly why we shifted our structure to STO Building Group,” says James Donaghy, STO Building Group executive chairman. “We value the reputation and heritage of the firms who merge with our organization, and each has kept its identity as a way to honor that legacy. As we continue to grow, we want to respect that history, but also reflect the collective expertise our companies offer and allow our employees to benefit from the larger organization’s resources.”
Now part of the STO Building Group family of companies, Abbott will keep its identity, and its current leaders will retain an ownership position in the organization and maintain their roles as the senior leadership team of the business. It is anticipated that new job opportunities will be created as a result of the merger to support the company’s projected growth for 2021 and beyond.
Related Stories
MFPRO+ News | Nov 21, 2023
California building electrification laws could prompt more evictions and rent increases
California laws requiring apartment owners to ditch appliances that use fossil fuels could prompt more evictions and rent increases in the state, according to a report from the nonprofit Strategic Actions for a Just Economy. The law could spur more evictions if landlords undertake major renovations to comply with the electrification rule.
Codes and Standards | Nov 21, 2023
Austin becomes largest U.S. city to waive minimum parking requirements
Austin, Texas recently became the largest city in the United States to stop requiring new developments to set a minimum amount of parking. The Austin City Council voted 8-2 earlier this month to eliminate parking requirements in an effort to fight climate change and spur more housing construction as Texas’s capitol grapples with a housing affordability crisis.
MFPRO+ News | Nov 21, 2023
Underused strip malls offer great potential for conversions to residential use
Replacing moribund strip malls with multifamily housing could make a notable dent in the housing shortage and revitalize under-used properties across the country, according to a report from housing nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners.
Giants 400 | Nov 16, 2023
Top 80 Science + Technology Facility Construction Firms for 2023
DPR Construction, Austin Industries, Whiting-Turner, and Gilbane top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) facility general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking factors revenue from all science and technology (S+T) buildings work, including laboratories, research buildings, technology/innovation buildings, pharmaceutical production facilities, and semiconductor production facilities.
Retail Centers | Nov 15, 2023
Should retail developers avoid high crime areas?
For retailers resolute to operating in high crime areas, design elements exist to mitigate losses and potentially deter criminal behavior.
Contractors | Nov 15, 2023
Clune Construction expands Southwest reach with launch of Phoenix office
Clune Construction (Clune) is pleased to announce its newest location in Phoenix, marking another milestone in their national growth. The official move comes after several years of sustained success in the Phoenix region.
MFPRO+ News | Nov 15, 2023
Average U.S multifamily rents drop $3 to $1,718 in October 2023: Yardi Matrix
Multifamily fundamentals continued to soften and impact rents last month, according to the latest Yardi Matrix National Multifamily Report. The average U.S. asking rent dropped $3 to $1,718 in October, with year-over-year growth moderating to 0.4%, down 40 basis points from September. Occupancy slid to 94.9%, marking the first decline in four months.
MFPRO+ Special Reports | Nov 14, 2023
Register today! Key trends in the multifamily housing market for 2024 - BD+C Live Webinar
Join the BD+C and Multifamily Pro+ editorial team for this live webinar on key trends and innovations in the $110 billion U.S. multifamily housing market. A trio of multifamily design and construction experts will present their latest projects, trends, innovations, and data/research on the three primary multifamily sub-sectors: rental housing, senior living, and student housing.
Giants 400 | Nov 14, 2023
Top 50 Justice Facility Construction Firms for 2023
Turner Construction, Whiting-Turner, STO Building Group, Clark Group, and CORE Construction top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest justice facility general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes revenue from all public safety/justice facilities buildings work, including correctional facilities, fire stations, jails, police stations, and prisons.
Market Data | Nov 14, 2023
The average U.S. contractor has 8.4 months worth of construction work in the pipeline, as of September 2023
Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 8.4 months in October from 9.0 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2. The reading is down 0.4 months from October 2022. Backlog now stands at its lowest level since the first quarter of 2022.