Midwestern Construction Company Acquires Local Architecture Firm

Williams Design|Build and Williams Construction Management of St. Charles, Ill., announced it has acquired Vasilion Architects of Batavia, Ill. The two firms will now serve as a single source for architecture, design/build, and construction management under the new name Prairie Forge Group. Prairie Forge Group will be led by Thomas M. Tristano as president, David V. Stermetz as vice president and director of construction, and Steven J. Vasilion as director of architecture.

“We have aligned four decades of experience with the expertise of new, innovative team members to further enhance the service offerings we provide to our clients,” said Tristano. “The acquisition of Vasilion Architects was a natural step in our evolution. As we build upon our past resources and success, we remain focused on the core values upon which we established our firm decades ago – quality, people, and service.”

Prairie Forge Group is headquartered in St. Charles, with an office in Kansas City, Mo. The firm provides owners and clients throughout the Midwest region with innovative, timely and economical turnkey solutions. Areas of practice include municipal, parks and recreation, healthcare, commercial, multifamily, historic preservation, and religious and education sectors.

“Regardless of complexity, Prairie Forge Group works to serve as the project advocate from beginning to end,” said Stermetz. “While each project is addressed individually and solutions are tailored to job specifics, one thing remains consistent across the board: we serve our clients efficiently and effectively.”

Prairie Forge Group's completed projects include the Lake Forest Municipal Services Facility in Lake Forest, Ill.; St. Charles Fire Station No. 1; the Schwiebert Riverfront Park in Rock Island, Ill.; and the Bob & Edna Meadows Regional Cancer Care Center at St. Joseph Provena Hospital in Elgin, Ill. The firm has also completed projects for many park districts, recreation departments and municipalities throughout the state of Illinois.

“I am eager to join forces with Tom Tristano and his team,” said Vasilion. “Their vast knowledge and construction expertise is a tremendous resource. I believe in design|build and am thrilled to join forces on this new adventure.” +

Rural hospitals present unique opportunities and challenges for healthcare facility operators. Oftentimes, the infrastructure and building systems have not been updated for years and require significant improvements in order to meet today’s modern medical demands. Additionally, as these smaller, more remote hospitals are acquired by larger regional and national healthcare systems, the first step by new ownership is often to update and rehabilitate the building. But how can this be done thoughtfully, economically, and efficiently in ways that allow the engineering and facility staff to adapt to the changes? And how can the updates accurately reflect the specific needs of rural communities and the afflictions with which these areas most commonly face?