TEMPE, AZ – Sundt Construction, Inc. (www.sundt.com) has promoted Ryan Abbott to Senior Vice President and Southwest District Manager.

In his new role, Abbott provides direction to the district’s leadership team and is responsible for overall performance of its building projects, including acquiring and executing work in Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. Meanwhile, former Southwest District Manager Marty Hedlund has accepted the challenge of a new Regional Director role, overseeing the company’s building work throughout the Phoenix valley.

Abbott began his career at Sundt more than 15 years ago as a field engineer, working his way through every level of project management and eventually becoming project development manager prior to his recent promotion. He has played a key role in many notable Sundt projects, including the $256 million Arizona State University (ASU) Sun Devil Stadium transformation in Tempe (a joint venture with Hunt Construction), the $400 million Banner – University Medical Center Tucson tower in Tucson (a joint venture with DPR Construction), and the $113 million Interdisciplinary Science & Technology Building 4 at ASU in Tempe.

As a modern construction leader, national lecturer and educator on alternate project delivery methods, Abbott has had his work published both locally and nationally in many industry-leading periodicals.  He seeks to redefine the contractor’s role in solving society’s grand challenges, believing that the problems being faced today require a new multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach.  Under his leadership he has proven that when a constructor focuses on the success of its clients and community, it too will prosper.

Abbott was named one of the 2012 Building Design + Construction 40 Under 40 and the 2011 Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 20 under 40 for his extensive professional accomplishments and active role in the industry and community.

Abbott holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from ASU, where he remains active as an ASU Alumni Association board member and a National Alumni Council member. He currently serves as co-chair of the American Institute of Architects/Associated General Contractors Joint Committee.

TUCSON, AZ — Sundt Construction, Inc. (www.sundt.com) has promoted longtime Sundt employee Ian McDowell to vice president and Southern Arizona Regional Director.

Sundt Construction, Inc. (www.sundt.com) is one of the country’s largest and most respected general contractors. The 126-year-old firm is known nationally for its commitment to quality and innovative approach to construction services.

A Sundt veteran of more than 20 years, McDowell previously served as Preconstruction Manager for Sundt’s Southwest Building District, overseeing its team of estimators and support personnel as well as handling the coordination of all preconstruction activities such as estimating, procurement, contracting and subcontractor selection. In his new role, he is responsible for advancing Sundt’s strategic growth throughout Southern Arizona.

McDowell has been in the construction industry since 1990, joining Sundt in 1995. He began his Sundt career working as a field engineer on the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering building at the University of Arizona. In his time with Sundt he has held nearly every position in the company, splitting his time between the operations group and the preconstruction group working on projects valued from $500,000 to more than $350 million.

Beyond Sundt, McDowell has been heavily engaged in groups dedicated to advancing the construction industry, including the Associated General Contractors, the American Minority Contractors Association and the U.S. Green Building Council, for which he has served as a board member. He has been a frequent volunteer for the Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA) and is a 2008 graduate of ABA’s Leadership Development Forum.

McDowell holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from New Mexico State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona.

Sundt currently is ranked the 75th largest construction company in the United States by ENR, the industry’s principal trade magazine. The general contractor has offices in Tempe and Tucson, Arizona; San Antonio, Fort Worth and El Paso, Texas; and Sacramento, San Diego and San José, California.

TEMPE, AZ – The Friendship House at Royal Oaks Memory Care facility in Sun City, Arizona, recently was named Best Medical Office Project of the Year by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, Arizona Chapter. NAIOP is one of the largest and most prestigious real estate organizations in North America.

Led by Sundt Construction Inc. (www.sundt.com) as the general contractor, the $13.6 million project received the high honor for its construction as a superior facility that provides memory care in a residential setting, moving away from the skilled-care model that has been the standard in retirement communities.

The 53,000-square-foot facility, located near the center of the 38-acre Royal Oaks community, was designed to provide lifestyle-focused accommodations for residents with varying levels of cognitive needs. The new design concept allows for more efficient staffing and flexibility in a comfortable setting that stresses the individualized needs of residents. Personalization is achieved through four “neighborhoods” of 14 residents each that have distinct interior design themes and create smaller scale living environments.

Since 2000, Sundt has been the general contractor for numerous projects on the Royal Oaks campus, including the construction of new garden homes, an assisted living and life enrichment center, dining and wellness venues and a two-level parking structure. Sundt also renovated the Health Care Center.

The architect for Friendship House was Todd & Associates with interior design services by Thoma-Holec Design, both from the Phoenix area.