WARREN, NJ — PS&S, a full-service architecture, engineering, design, surveying, and environmental firm with more than a 60-year history, announced that it has purchased Stout & Caldwell Engineers, LLC, Cinnaminson, a civil engineering firm focused on residential and commercial real estate and Becica Associates LLC, Cherry Hill, an architectural firm with a reputation for excellence in the design of public buildings.
“In 2020, we set forth a five-year plan to grow PS&S -- organically and by acquisition -- with new and expanded capabilities, as well as greater geographic presence and reach,” said PS&S president and CEO John Sartor. “These acquisitions do exactly that. With the addition of these two, well-regarded firms PS&S has roughly doubled its headcount in Southern New Jersey, strengthened its civil survey practice and added important experience for the design of public sector buildings.”
Stout & Caldwell Engineers LLC
Since its inception in 2004, Stout & Caldwell has served as the site and survey team for residential sub-divisions, including single family, multi-family and mixed-use communities for home-building clients such as Conifer Realty LLC and Lennar Corporation.
On the commercial side, the firm has designed over 5.5 million square feet of commercial space, spanning Gloucester, Union, Burlington and Cape May counties. Projects include the design of retail power centers, corporate headquarters, educational facilities, churches and privately held projects.
“Over the last 20 years, Bob Stout and Dan Caldwell have established themselves as the best in the business for civil survey and site plans with an impressive range of both residential and commercial projects,” said Sartor. “The addition of the Stout & Caldwell team gives PS&S new breadth and depth in civil engineering, survey and site planning in South Jersey, as well as our greater geographical footprint. We are thrilled to welcome Bob, Dan and their team to PS&S.”
Notable clients of Stout & Caldwell in the South / Southwestern NJ region include Lockheed Martin Corporation and The Michaels Organization. Most recently, the firm was responsible for a 1.5 million s/f warehouse in Cinnaminson.
“After two decades as a civil survey and site planning firm, we now look to the future as part of a top architecture and engineering firm that shares our commitment to delivering the absolute best to our clients,” said Dan Caldwell, principal. “This is a well-considered move for our team and the clients we serve – some of whom have been with us since we started.”
Including its principals, Stout & Caldwell will bring 15 new team members to PS&S in the areas of civil engineering and site survey.
“Corporate culture was an important consideration for us as we looked to take our firm to the next level,” said Robert R. Stout, PE, CMS, LS, and principal. “We believe PS&S shares our work ethic and drive, which makes this a great fit for our team.”
“One of the objectives of our five-year strategic growth plan has been to increase PS&S’ in-house capability for survey,” said Sartor. “With the addition of Stout & Caldwell – through organic growth and acquisition – we have increased our headcount in survey by five-fold to 50 professionals all under the same umbrella.”
Continued Sartor, “From a geographic standpoint, Stout & Caldwell is known as the ‘go-to’ firm for navigating the land use approval process in Southern Jersey, which is of tremendous benefit to us -- and everyone in the greater community of residential and commercial real estate developers in our state.”
Becica Associates LLC
With roots that date back to 1964, Becica Associates is a second-generation firm of architects and engineers that was formed in 2000 by Ivan Becica, P.E., F.ASCE, Steven Becica, AIA, LEED AP and John Middleton, P.E.
“Becica Associates is known as the ‘go to’ firm for public buildings—whether that is K-12 schools and higher ed—or government projects at the state and even Federal level,” said Sartor. “Having this team join is significant for PS&S as we look to build our presence in both education and South Jersey where Becica is particularly well known and highly regarded.”
In the education sector, Becica has worked with more than 50 different Boards of Education in New Jersey. Projects include K-12 and higher education, as well as Abbott Districts and early childhood.
“We are delighted to now be evolving our firm to the next level of growth with PS&S, who we have long felt would be a perfect partner,” said Steven Becica, principal. “As a result of this combination, our team will now have virtually all the architectural and engineering solutions needed for public buildings of all kinds – under one roof. It’s a plus for us, our clients and the larger community of developers in New Jersey.”
In the government sector, among Becica’s notable projects is the seven-story 180,000 s/f Mitchell H. Cohen Federal Courthouse in Camden.
“As we look out to the future of our firm and the State of New Jersey, we see important opportunities -- and indeed necessary steps to be taken – in addressing the problem of aging infrastructure,” said John Middleton, principal. “The built environment stock in the public sector is getting older and, together with PS&S, our focus will be on repairing, replacing and maintaining public buildings for the future.”
Sartor concluded, “The acquisition of Becica is a step forward in our plan to broaden our services and presence in South Jersey, and we heartily welcome Steve, John and their team to the PS&S family.”
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