Williams Design|Build and Williams Construction Management of St. Charles, Ill., announced it has acquired Vasilion Architects of Batavia, Ill. The two firms will now serve as a single source for architecture, design/build, and construction management under the new name Prairie Forge Group. Prairie Forge Group will be led by Thomas M. Tristano as president, David V. Stermetz as vice president and director of construction, and Steven J. Vasilion as director of architecture.
“We have aligned four decades of experience with the expertise of new, innovative team members to further enhance the service offerings we provide to our clients,” said Tristano. “The acquisition of Vasilion Architects was a natural step in our evolution. As we build upon our past resources and success, we remain focused on the core values upon which we established our firm decades ago – quality, people, and service.”
Prairie Forge Group is headquartered in St. Charles, with an office in Kansas City, Mo. The firm provides owners and clients throughout the Midwest region with innovative, timely and economical turnkey solutions. Areas of practice include municipal, parks and recreation, healthcare, commercial, multifamily, historic preservation, and religious and education sectors.
“Regardless of complexity, Prairie Forge Group works to serve as the project advocate from beginning to end,” said Stermetz. “While each project is addressed individually and solutions are tailored to job specifics, one thing remains consistent across the board: we serve our clients efficiently and effectively.”
Prairie Forge Group's completed projects include the Lake Forest Municipal Services Facility in Lake Forest, Ill.; St. Charles Fire Station No. 1; the Schwiebert Riverfront Park in Rock Island, Ill.; and the Bob & Edna Meadows Regional Cancer Care Center at St. Joseph Provena Hospital in Elgin, Ill. The firm has also completed projects for many park districts, recreation departments and municipalities throughout the state of Illinois.
“I am eager to join forces with Tom Tristano and his team,” said Vasilion. “Their vast knowledge and construction expertise is a tremendous resource. I believe in design|build and am thrilled to join forces on this new adventure.” +
Related Stories
MFPRO+ New Projects | Oct 30, 2024
BIG’s One High Line finally reaches completion in New York City’s West Chelsea neighborhood
One High Line, a luxury residential project spanning a full city block in New York’s West Chelsea neighborhood, reached completion this summer following years of delays related to investor lawsuits.
Urban Planning | Oct 30, 2024
Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans
Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.
MFPRO+ New Projects | Oct 30, 2024
Luxury waterfront tower in Brooklyn features East River and Manhattan skyline views
Leasing recently began for The Dupont, a 41-story luxury rental property along the Brooklyn, N.Y., waterfront. Located within the 22-acre Greenpoint Landing, where it overlooks the newly constructed Newtown Barge Park, the high-rise features East River and Manhattan skyline views along with 20,000 sf of indoor and outdoor communal space.
Libraries | Oct 30, 2024
Reasons to reinvent the Midcentury academic library
DLR Group's Interior Design Leader Gretchen Holy, Assoc. IIDA, shares the idea that a designer's responsibility to embrace a library’s history, respect its past, and create an environment that will serve student populations for the next 100 years.
Resiliency | Oct 29, 2024
Climate change degrades buildings slowly but steadily
While natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires can destroy buildings in minutes, other factors exacerbated by climate change degrade buildings more slowly but still cause costly damage.
Office Buildings | Oct 29, 2024
Editorial call for Office Building project case studies
BD+C editors are looking to feature a roundup of office building projects for 2024, including office-to-residential conversions. Deadline for submission: December 6, 2024.
Healthcare Facilities | Oct 28, 2024
New surgical tower is largest addition to UNC Health campus in Chapel Hill
Construction on UNC Health’s North Carolina Surgical Hospital, the largest addition to the Chapel Hill campus since it was built in 1952, was recently completed. The seven-story, 375,000-sf structure houses 26 operating rooms, four of which are hybrid size to accommodate additional equipment and technology for newly developed procedures.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 28, 2024
A case for mid-rise: How multifamily housing can reshape our cities
Often referred to as “five-over-ones,” the mid-rise apartment type is typically comprised of five stories of apartments on top of a concrete “podium” of ground-floor retail. The main criticism of the “five-over-one” is that they are often too predictable.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Oct 24, 2024
Stadium renovation plans unveiled for Boston’s National Women’s Soccer League
A city-owned 75-year-old stadium in Boston’s historic Franklin Park will be renovated for a new National Women’s Soccer League team. The park, designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted in the 1880s, is the home of White Stadium, which was built in 1949 and has since fallen into disrepair.
Laboratories | Oct 23, 2024
From sterile to stimulating: The rise of community-centric life sciences campuses
To distinguish their life sciences campuses, developers are partnering with architectural and design firms to reimagine life sciences facilities as vibrant, welcoming destinations. By emphasizing four key elements—wellness, collaboration, biophilic design, and community integration—they are setting their properties apart.
