PS&S acquires 2 firms in South Jersey, expanding capabilities, headcount and geographic footprint

Cherry Hill-based PS&S, an architecture, engineering, design, surveying and environmental firm, on Thursday announced it purchased two other South Jersey firms — Stout & Caldwell Engineers LLC in Cinnaminson and Becica Associates LLC in Cherry Hill.

With the addition of the new businesses, PS&S has roughly doubled its headcount in South Jersey, strengthened its civil survey practice and added important experience for the design of public-sector 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,” PS&S CEO and President John Sartor said.

Including its principals, Stout & Caldwell will bring 15 new team members to PS&S in the areas of civil engineering and site survey. Notable clients of Stout & Caldwell in the south/southwestern New Jersey region include Lockheed Martin Corp. and the Michaels Organization. Most recently, the firm was responsible for a 1.5 million-square-foot warehouse in Cinnaminson.

Since its inception in 2004, Stout & Caldwell has served as the site and survey team for residential subdivisions, including single family, multifamily and mixed-use communities for home-building clients such as Conifer Realty LLC and Lennar Corp. 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,” 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.”

Becica Associates has roots that date back to 1964, and this second generation of architects and engineers was formed in 2000 by Ivan Becica, Steven Becica and John Middleton.

“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.”

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. Meanwhile, in the government sector, among Becica’s notable projects is the seven-story 180,000-square-foot Mitchell H. Cohen Federal Courthouse in Camden.

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.”