PS&S CEO President and John Sartor
By Joshua Burd
PS&S is marking another major expansion of its engineering and design platforms and its geographic footprint after acquiring two firms based in southern New Jersey.
The professional services firm, which is headquartered in Warren, said the additions include Stout & Caldwell Engineers LLC of Cinnaminson, which brings a civil engineering team focused on residential and commercial real estate. In the second deal, PS&S acquired Cherry Hill-based Becica Associates LLC, an architectural firm with a strong platform in the public sector.
They’re among the latest additions for PS&S, a full-service architecture, engineering, design, surveying and environmental firm founded more than 60 years ago.
“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,” PS&S CEO President and John Sartor said. “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.”
PS&S said that, since its inception in 2004, Stout & Caldwell has served as a site and survey team for residential subdivisions, including single-family, multifamily and mixed-use communities for homebuilding clients such as Conifer Realty LLC and Lennar Corp. On the commercial side, the firm has designed more than 5.5 million square feet of commercial space, spanning Gloucester, Union, Burlington and Cape May counties for projects including 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,” Sartor said. “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 Stout & Caldwell clients in South Jersey region include Lockheed Martin Corp. and The Michaels Organization. Most recently, the firm was involved in designing a 1.5 million square-foot 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 Caldwell, a principal with the firm. “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 Stout, also a principal with the firm. “We believe PS&S shares our work ethic and drive, which makes this a great fit for our team.”
Sartor added: “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.”
“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.”
With roots that date to 1964, Becica Associates is a second-generation firm of architects and engineers that was formed in 2000 by Ivan Becica, Steven Becica and John Middleton, according to a news release.
“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,” Sartor said. “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 school boards in New Jersey, with projects including 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, a 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.”
Becica’s notable projects in the government sector include the seven-story, 180,000-square-foot 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 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 said: “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.”
