National construction giant launches Sarasota team

A national construction company is putting together a team in Sarasota. 

Suffolk, which built the mixed-use Aster & Links project on Main Street in downtown Sarasota, announced the development of the team July 23 to support existing work and promote future growth in Sarasota.

Headquartered in Boston, Suffolk has Florida offices in Tampa, Miami, Estero and West Palm Beach. The company does $5.5 billion a year in revenue and has some 2,800 employees, according to its LinkedIn profile. It was founded in 1982. 

“Suffolk is recognized for its strong and diverse national portfolio that includes some of the most complex projects in the country,” Andrew Pierce, vice president of operations in Suffolk’s Tampa region, says in a statement.

Among its projects are Great Wolf Lodge in Naples, Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor and the Residences at 400 Central in St. Petersburg.  

In Sarasota, the company recently opened Aster & Links, a mixed-use project consisting of two towers and 424 residences at 1991 Main St. And that is not it's only local endeavor.

“Suffolk is currently managing preconstruction for a number of additional projects in the Sarasota area, including Siesta Promenade, a 414-unit multifamily project with Benderson-Bozzuto near the entrance to Siesta Key, University Town Center Phase 2 office buildings with Benderson Development, and 1660 Ringling (site of the former Sarasota County Administration Center) with Benderson Development,” Pierce says in an email.

The projects are expected to keep coming: Suffolk officials note Sarasota was ranked among the fastest-growing cities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, coming in at No. 2 for 2023-2024 and No. 10 for 2024-2025, based on U.S. Census net migration data.

To lead the Sarasota team, Suffolk named Brian Stathers its project executive. He is a 12-year industry veteran, according to a statement.

“Our Sarasota team is largely made up of individuals hailing from the local workforce, and we are proud to contribute to the continuous growth of Sarasota by nurturing relationships with both clients and the community, further stimulating economic development,” Stathers says in a statement.

The team will also include Suffolk personnel from around the nation, according to Pierce.

Having leadership based in Sarasota will help Suffolk “meet the growing demand for projects in the aviation, K-12 and higher education, healthcare, residential and hospitality sectors,” the company says in a statement.

“While some construction sectors continue to struggle in Florida, other sectors are thriving and showing signs of rapid growth," Pierce says in an email. "Suffolk’s sector diversification strategy has allowed us to manage and deliver quality projects in active sectors. Our vast project experience, including The Edition and Asher Residences on Water Street in Tampa, … Elbert Elementary School in Polk County, a design-build expansion and renovation to Airsides A and E at Tampa International Airport, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Tampa, and the iconic guitar-shaped Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, have established Suffolk as a prominent player in the region capable of shaping the Sarasota skyline as the city grows.”

Says Pierce: “We are excited to support the growth of Sarasota during this unique moment in its history.”