One of the big national AEC stories of 2007 was the number of top design firms acquired by larger companies last year. Sixteen firms “disappeared” from the ENR Top 500 Design Firms list due to acquisitions.

The trend to instantly create companies that can provide a full range of services — from planning and design through construction and even operations and maintenance — has been fueled by larger projects and clients who want single source delivery.

The U.S. dollar’s fall against foreign currencies is another factor that makes acquisition of U.S. firms by foreign companies look more enticing than ever. European companies can get 30% more for their money by using Euros in the U.S.

Still, there’s a lot to be said for the stability, integrity and commitment of firms owned by their founders, management teams or ESOPs (employee stock ownership plans). Among such successful companies in St. Louis are McCarthy, Walton Construction, Guarantee Electrical, Lawrence Group, Clayco, Kwame Building Group, Graybar Electric.

These companies and many others have found ways to provide the broad range of services owners want while still maintaining local ownership.

What other local AEC firms can you add to the list?

St. Louis-based Lawrence Group and Austin Tao & Associates have merged, combining two successful, well-respected St. Louis design practices that have been teaming on national and international projects for many years.

The Lawrence Group board of directors approved the acquisition as a move to expand services both nationally and internationally. Austin Tao joined Lawrence Group as a principal and is responsible for the firm’s growing international work.

“We’re picking up Austin’s Beijing, China, office as part of this acquisition,” said Lawrence Group CEO Steve Smith.

“The combination of our practices will allow us to more effectively grow our international business, where we both already have significant design assignments.”

Walton Investors, LLC has appointed Dan Frisbee of St. Louis as chief operation officer of Walton Construction Company, LLC. As CEO, Frisbee will provide overall direction and vision for the company, whose corporate offices are in Kansas City, Missouri. He also will continue to oversee and support the operations of Walton’s five divisions nationwide.

Frisbee told me “The past year was a very active and positive year for our company. In addition to our leadership transition, we’ve built the largest backlog of work ever in our history, thanks to the hard work of our division and corporate staff.”

Frisbee has more than 35 years experience in the construction industry and previously was chief operating office of Walton Construction. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of the Walton St. Louis Division, which he opened in 2002. In its first year, the Walton St. Louis Division had seven employees and revenues of $30 million. That division has grown to more than 100 employees with revenues of $175 million in 2007.

Frisbee became an owner when he joined Walton Investors in September 2006. He was the first executive outside of Kansas City to join the company’s ownership group.

Steve Biederman has succeeded Frisbee as president of the Walton St. Louis office.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development has approved four St. Louis projects for a total of $2,539,070 in Brownfield Redevelopment tax credits. The credits will be used to renovate and rehabilitate contaminated commercial or industrial sites that are abandoned or underutilized.

Tudor Retail Partners, LLC - up to $216,324 in remediation tax credits to redevelop the Tudor Building at 1901-1933 Washington Ave. into retail and commercial office space, creating 65 jobs. The property is proposed as “blighted” by the city of St. Louis and is under a proposed redevelopment plan. Over 90 percent of the building has not been occupied for at least 10 years.

1911 Locust Partners, LLC, - remediation tax credits for up to $592,340 to redevelop a two-story commercial warehouse building at 1911 Locust St. and a vacant lot at 1921 Locust St. into residential, retail and commercial office space, creating 53 jobs. The building has been underutilized for at least 10 years and the lot at 1921 Locust St. has been abandoned for over 30 years.

MB Lofts, LLC - up to $1,424,818 in remediation tax credits to redevelop the Metropolitan Building, 500 North Grand Blvd. into hotel, retail and commercial office space, creating a projected 102 jobs. The 97,078 square foot building has been vacant for at least five years.

1426 Washington Avenue, LLC - remediation tax credits up to $305,588 to redevelop the Monkey Building Building, 1426-1430 Washington Ave. into retail and commercial office space, creating 87 jobs. The 30,000 square foot building has been underutilized for at least 10 years and has been occupied only by an 800 square foot real estate office in recent years.