STOBG Cares Corporate RESPONSIBILITY REPORT
/ 2025

OUR People OUR COMMUNITIES
OUR ENVIRONMENT
OUr CULTURE OF SAFETY
OUR GOVERNANCE
We are better together. That is, and has always been, our philosophy at STO Building Group. As a family of top-tier builders, we are able to leverage our expertise, relationships, and buying power not only for our clients and their projects, but also for our employees, our communities, and the greater good.
What do we mean by that? With more than 5,100 employees in over 50 locations across North America and Europe, we have reach. We have a culture of giving back that directly impacts our local communities. And we have the expertise and resources to truly move the needle when it comes to reducing our industry’s impact on the environment and improving our industry’s safety record. We aim to make a difference, and we’re proud of the progress we made in 2024. These pages highlight those efforts and celebrate where, together, we were able to learn from each other, lead by example, and be even better corporate citizens.
We are better together. Together is how we build rewarding careers, amazing spaces, and stronger communities. At STO Building Group...
WE STRIVE for a culture where all feel they belong and where all have opportunities to be their best selves.
WE DRAW on the differences in who we are, how we think, and what we experience.
WE CREATE environments where dialogue, solutions, and innovation can occur for our people, clients, and communities.
WE VALUE the talent of our team and the contributions each individual brings.
WE RECOGNIZE that supporting inclusion and belonging is the right thing to do for our people and our business.
WE COMMIT fully to a diverse and inclusive work environment.
In this culture of caring, we focus on:
In 2017, STOBG reorganized the company’s ownership structure to pave the way for employee ownership. Today, employees have the opportunity to buy shares in GISI, STOBG’s parent organization.
By shifting ownership to our employees, we’ve opened the door for our team to become even more invested in the company’s success—literally.
While our people have always been dedicated to our values and our mission, allowing them to actually become owners of the company creates an even greater collective sense of pride and true ownership in the performance of their team and their colleagues.
This approach to ownership is unique for our industry, allowing all employees the opportunity to invest and to be a shareholder. Over half of our people now own shares in the company, which they can purchase directly or through convenient payroll deduction. Currently, the company also offers a 20% RSU (restricted share unit) match on share purchases, which will vest into Class A shares after three years.
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PROGRAM: INVESTING IN STOBG’S SUCCESS
The STO Building Group’s Emerging Leaders program is a leadership initiative designed to develop the next generation of STOBG leaders. Bringing together a diverse group from across departments and disciplines, this year-long program fosters cross-functional collaboration and professional growth through workshops, leadership exercises, and networking. Participants gain deeper insight into STOBG’s culture and are empowered to drive innovation and transformation both within the organization and the wider industry.
STOBG’s Rotational Project Engineer (RPE) Program is a professional development program that guides participants through several rotations across major disciplines, like operations and estimating, over 2.5–3 years. RPEs choose electives in fields such as sustainability, business development, or innovation, gaining a wide range of hands-on skills in construction management. Through quarterly check-ins with HR and BU leaders, cross-functional events, and relationship-building opportunities, the program empowers participants to explore various career paths, enhance their skills, and build a strong network across STOBG, including access and exposure to our senior leaders. For instance, in 2024, 100 RPEs gathered in Tampa, Florida, where they focused on client presentations as part of their development.
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BROWN : 4
Established in 2022, the STOBG Superintendent Roundtable initiative brings together superintendents from across our STOBG family to build a cross-company peer network, share best practices, and develop industry-leading approaches to shared operational challenges.
The goal is to give STOBG superintendents a voice and provide a platform for them to discuss important topics and challenges of their role. This group of experienced field leaders meet regularly and connect in-person twice a year. This year the team focused their attention on a number of topics and initiatives, including:
• Technology in the field
• Safety best practices
• The supply chain
• Training and career development
“Much of the information passed to us had a direct impact on the struggles I work through daily. Hearing the tips and tricks to effective communication, drawing details, leadership skills, and site logistics were extremely helpful.”
– Supers Academy participant
A brainchild of the SRT, the Supers Academy was established to promote the professional and personal growth of our field staff. The academy hosted its first session in 2024, covering everything from effective communication to site logistics, mixed in with hands-on exercises and sharing best practices. The sessions were led by what the team called their “visiting professors” —senior superintendents from across STOBG builders.
No matter your role or how long you’ve been in the business, there’s always more to learn. Learning 360° blends training from across our industry--as well as from our in-house experts--on construction and business topics across the board.
From specific software skills, to improving our client relations efforts, to our in-house safety training, Learning 360° is a collection of learning programs and curated curricula created to help our people and our business be the leaders of our industry, from the inside, out.
We believe that development starts with each employee owning their growth. Learning 360° provides a single place to manage their goals, performance, skills, expertise, industry certifications, and knowledge.
We’re on a mission to make sure STO Building Group remains a great place to work, where every employee feels valued, respected, engaged, and on a career path that inspires them. To help with that, we listen to our employees through a variety of methods:
Our annual employee engagement survey, administered in partnership with Gallup, collects important employee feedback and provides insightful data.
Led by members from across STOBG, these focus groups help our Operations, Purchasing, and VDC teams improve our processes. Last year, we added Scheduling and Estimating to the list.
The Knowledge Exchange is an innovative online internal platform designed to foster collaboration, learning, and information sharing across all levels of an organization. Acting as a central hub for knowledge management, it enables employees to access, contribute, and exchange insights, best practices, and expertise in real time.
At STOBG, we leverage the power of our platform to offer more value to our people.
• Medical
• Dental
• Prescription Drug
• Vision
• Mental Health
• Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance
• Fertility Assistance
• Time Away
• Health Savings Accounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Company Stock Ownership
• Digital Budgeting Tools
• Transit & Parking Accounts
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Accident Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Home & Auto Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Retirement Concierge
• Group Legal
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance We prioritize employee wellbeing in our workspaces. Take a walk through our New York City headquarters with CBS News.
Ben Patterson’s journey at STOBG spans locations, businesses, and departments, thanks to the diversity and opportunity in our family of builders. Here he explains in his own words.
When I first arrived in the construction industry, my perspective of it could only be summarized in one defining goal: to build. I found that whenever I had the chance to tell people about what I do, I would always easily say, “I build.” However, as anyone who works in this industry knows, the job is always changing.
And now that I’ve experienced several roles within STOBG, I’ve discovered how truly wrong I was to think that all we do is build.
thing: versatility. In the field, I’ve discovered the important basics of construction management such as forging good relationships with subs and catering to the clients’ needs.
In my time working for STOBG, I worked for Layton as a field intern in Nashville, for STOBG as a corporate marketing intern, and now I’m back in the field as a rotational project engineer (RPE) for Structure Tone New York. These experiences taught me one
As a corporate marketing intern, I put my communications degree to good use, telling the stories of our projects and our expertise. And, by interviewing employees from around the organization, I also discovered how our network of builders can serve as a useful tool to improve own skills and understanding. Whether it’s building partnerships, thought leadership, or buildings, there is never a definitive, general experience at STOBG. These jobs have not only taught me versatility, but they also emphasized its importance.
Benjamin Patterson
Rotational Project Engineer
Structure Tone, NY
When I first started working at STOBG, I thought that my path was set on one destination. But when I look back at the path I was able to take through the organization in the past five years, I know being versatile has made all the difference—especially while I was working nights on a large fit-out for a confidential client (but that’s a story for another time!). I’m learning. I’m learning all the facets of the business. I’m meeting all types of people. My career within STOBG can take whatever direction I want it to go. All I know is that when it does, I’ll be ready.
Mental health continues to be referred to as “the silent epidemic” for construction workers. In fact, suicide rates for people in our industry are three times higher than the United States national average.
At STOBG, we’re working to change that.
The committee created “toolkits” for US and International-based employees that provide a one-stop-shop for mental health. These toolkits include links to such resources as:
• Hotline numbers
• Free courses
• Counseling services
• Articles
• Self-care tools
Our Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee regularly leads campaigns to highlight mental health awareness, encourage checking in on one another, and share the many mental health resources the company provides access to. This year during Construction Suicide Prevention Week , STOBG joined thousands of others across the country in raising awareness and honoring the lives our industry has lost to suicide through a moment of silence on our jobsites.
London’s Onsite Health & Wellbeing Screenings. Empowering the people who deliver our projects through excellent health and wellbeing education continues with Structure Tone London’s onsite health and lifestyle screening, carried out by an experienced wellbeing coach. The comprehensive check includes measuring blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, glucose levels, body composition details and metabolic rate, including lifestyle satisfaction questions, generating a health dashboard for the individual to take away.
It was another great year for STOBG
Building Group
Women in Construction. STOBG WIC is an internal, inclusive group committed to ensuring STOBG is at the forefront of this change by creating professional development opportunities for our staff, offering industry networking opportunities to men and women of all levels, and giving back in ways that benefit the women and girls in our communities who hope to build their own careers.
WIC members from across the US gathered in Salt Lake City for the third annual WIC Summit. From fireside chats with company leadership to discussing the challenges of our industry, this year’s summit brought together the women of STOBG to connect, learn, and celebrate the accomplishments of women in construction.
In October, the STOBG family came together to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From participating in Wear Pink Wednesdays to joining more than a dozen Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk events across the US, we worked throughout the month to educate, inspire, and unite the community.
Together, we raised over $13,000 to bring the fight to a disease that affects 2.3 million women worldwide.
“I’ve been fortunate to gain a wide range of experiences and see how our internal and external inclusion efforts work hand in hand. It’s pretty cool bringing everything together.
”A’Liah Jackson’s journey with Structure Tone began at a Monmouth University golf outing, where she delivered a speech as a student-athlete. Her passion for building community caught the attention of Mike Farrell, Structure Tone New Jersey’s Regional Vice President, who introduced her to the company. That introduction led to a year-long internship with STOBG’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) team, where A’Liah gained hands-on experience fostering inclusion and creating spaces of belonging within the construction industry.
Now a full-time MWDBE Regional Associate, A’Liah works in the Woodbridge, NJ office, focusing on supplier diversity while continuing to support our organization’s overall DEIB initiatives. Whether she’s leading jobsite toolbox talks, facilitating DEIB workshops, or strengthening relationships with trade partners, A’Liah’s new role allows her to continue doing what she loves: bringing people together, building community, and fostering a sense of belonging and respect in the offices and on-site.
A’Liah Jackson
MWDBE Regional Associate Structure Tone, NJ
Diversity of thought makes teams stronger. That’s not just a cliché at STOBG—it’s a core belief. Our builders actively work to engage, mentor, and partner with minority-owned businesses within their communities. Here are just some examples.
To maximize the opportunities for minority-, women-, and disadvantaged-owned business enterprises (MWDBEs) on their projects, Ajax focuses on developing mutually beneficial business relationships with diverse organizations, subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors through their Mentor/Protégé program. This program offers up-and-coming MWDBEs the opportunity to gain hands-on experience managing a large project, which they can use to build their resumes for future project opportunities. The participating companies then partner with Ajax’s community outreach & vendor diversity director to help reach other minority subcontractors and vendors, maximizing local and diverse participation on the project.
Learn more about Ajax’s supplier diversity efforts here.
Just over two years ago, Layton launched its Trade Partner Equity Program (TPEP) with the goal of increasing the diversity and strength of the company’s trade partners. Designed to build trust, eliminate barriers, and ultimately support the growth of MWDBEs, the TPEP is a seven-month program that includes monthly training sessions, mentorship, technical assistance, workshops, and intentional touchpoints.
The program has been so successful in engaging a more diverse pool of quality trade partners that Layton has rolled out the program in Sandy, UT, Nashville, TN, Irvine, CA, Seattle, WA, and most recently Houston, TX. Last year’s graduating class in San Antonio currently has 85% participating in the Retama University Health Project.
Learn more about TPEP here.
LF Driscoll co-chairs Philadelphia Anchor for Growth and Equity (PAGE) – a partnership between the Economy League of Philadelphia, City of Philadelphia, and more than a dozen regional institutions committed to localizing and diversifying their supply chains.
LFD also continues to collaborate with The Enterprise Center in Philadelphia (TEC) by mentoring minority owned construction managers and contractors. TEC has promoted racial and economic equity by supporting the growth of diverse small businesses and partnering with West Philadelphia communities on revitalization strategies.
Read more about the Center here.
We are so proud of our employees’ efforts to those in need, from helping fight hunger, to providing opportunities for children in underserved communities, to raising money for diseasefighting research. Here we highlight just a handful of the many, many ways our employees and our organization invest in the success of those around us. While these numbers are impressive, they don’t include the millions of dollars our employees help raise through their roles as board members and volunteers in charitable organizations across our communities.
15,000 Hours Volunteered
$3.6M+
Additional $10M in fundraising donated through executive board memberships and charitable events
ABBOTT-WASHINGTON TEAM MEMBERS HARD AT WORK, CLEANING UP NEAR THEIR SEATTLE OFFICE TO BRIGHTEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD—GREAT TEAMWORK AND IMPACT!
The Abbott-Washington team came together to clean up the area around their Seattle office, demonstrating their commitment to giving back to the local community. Equipped with gloves, trash bags, and a shared enthusiasm for making a difference, team members fanned out across the neighborhood to pick up litter and create a lasting, positive impact on the environment.
Ohana Hope Village in Kahului, Maui, was led by the Family Life Center and Layton Construction to provide 83 off-grid homes with private kitchens and bathrooms for families displaced by the Lahaina fires. The project aimed to house residents by the end of 2023, addressing Maui’s urgent housing crisis.
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TRANSFORMING HOPE INTO HOMES, OHANA HOPE VILLAGE IN MAUI PROVIDES 83 INDIVIDUAL OFF-GRID DWELLINGS FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE LAHAINA FIRES.
BCCI employees spreading smiles at Family Giving Tree’s Back-to-School Drive, getting backpacks of school essentials into the hands of Bay Area students!
By partnering with Family Giving Tree, BCCI contributed to empowering over 30,000 Bay Area students from low-income families, equipping them with backpacks stocked with essential school supplies tailored to each grade level—from picking up a backpack tag at the Mountain View or San Francisco offices to donating pre-filled packs through the Virtual Giving Tree.
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Structure Tone’s team refreshed two local Dublin schools, providing high-visibility vests and hands-on support to create safer, brighter spaces for students. A true example of community engagement and lasting impact.
Structure Tone Dublin committed to creating a meaningful impact by partnering with two local schools— SBMC and City Quay National School—to refresh their facilities and ensure student safety. By providing high-visibility vests and hands-on support, the team strengthened their ties with the community and made a lasting difference.
Pedal to the metal! RC Andersen employees brought smiles to Edreira Academy’s second grade class.
RC Andersen employees dedicated their time to building 70 bicycles for the entire second-grade class at Edreira Academy in Elizabeth, NJ, bringing joy and promoting healthy outdoor activity. In addition to donating the bikes and helmets, they also provided the children with their first riding lesson, making for an active and rewarding experience!
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At STOBG, we invest in children through programs and partnerships that inspire learning, creativity, and growth. By supporting education and youth development, we help build a brighter, more equitable future. Here are just a few examples.
Structure Tone New York work with the Salvadori Center to deliver STEAM programs to NYC schools.
Our NJ and Philly teams rocked “Bring Your Kids to Work Day,” where young minds unleashed their creativity and discovered what it’s like to build the future—one block at a time!
Fostering creativity and critical thinking, Structure Tone New York collaborates with the Salvadori Center to engage the next generation of builders while creating opportunities within the world of STEAM. STOBG CEO Bob Mullen is on the organization’s board, and employees from the Structure Tone New York office volunteer in such activities as community fundraising, outreach, and, especially, awareness.
Structure Tone’s NJ and Philly teams rolled out the red carpet for our “Bring Your Kids to Work Day,” giving each child a sneak peek into the exciting world of construction. With a lineup of activities that included building block masterpieces, painting hard hats, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of a construction site, the fun-filled day transformed curious kids into future builders.
“In 2013, I joined Big Brothers Big Sisters and was paired with a sweet, creative, and curious young girl named Leslie Beltran, who had a natural eagerness to learn. As her mentor, I helped guide her personal and academic growth, preparing her for the future. Together, we enjoyed activities like baking, crafting, and exploring the museums of Dallas. Over the years, Leslie has become like family to me, and I’ve had the privilege of watching her graduate from middle school, high school, and ultimately earn her college degree.
Last summer, she interned with Structure Tone Southwest, and today, she works full-time in the accounting department. The journey we’ve shared has been incredibly rewarding, and I am immensely proud of the remarkable person she has become.”
– Ivette Fenton, Director of Marketing, Structure Tone Southwest
We are proud to harness the power of teamwork to drive charitable efforts that create meaningful, lasting change. From fundraising events to programs that uplift communities, we champion initiatives that make a difference far beyond the game.
Structure Tone London’s The Mighty Hikers team completed their 26-mile marathon in the Peak District, raising over £13,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Structure Tone London’s London Campus
3 (FT) Team hosted a charity football tournament at Powerleague Shoreditch, raising £2,700 for Hollydale Primary School.
In an inspiring display of teamwork, Structure Tone Dublin employees united for the 4 Peaks Challenge, climbing 3,634m in under 24 hours and raising over €35,000 for St. Francis Hospice Dublin.
Structure Tone Dublin swung into action at our annual Golf Classic at the K Club, proudly supporting “Rory’s Wish to Walk” and driving home an impressive €60,000 for the cause! Hats off to Dublin’s construction community for teeing off together for a great purpose.
Over 30 Abbott team members and their families came out to support Bloodworks Northwest at the Seattle office, donating blood and giving the gift of life. Their selfless act of generosity is having a direct impact on those in need, with their donations helping save lives.
Employees from Ajax participated in the Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk. The team showed up in full force, bringing their energy, enthusiasm, and support for breast cancer awareness while walking with purpose and pride, honoring survivors and remembering those who were lost.
On #WorldMentalHealthDay, Structure Tone London partnered with Band of Builders (BoB) to highlight the mental health challenges faced by many in the construction industry, hosting an impactful talk, sharing eyeopening statistics about mental illness within the field and encouraging open conversations.
THE TORONTO GOVAN BROWN CARES TEAM IN ACTION, REFRESHING THE STOP COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE’S SPACE TO SUPPORT THEIR MISSION OF INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD WITH DIGNITY.
Members of the Toronto Govan Brown Cares team returned to The Stop Community Food Centre with a mission to make a difference. After a meaningful visit, the team was eager to refresh The Stop’s public-facing space, where food banks and community programs come to life. Their goal? To ensure the space felt just as welcoming as the organization’s inspiring mission to increase access to healthy food while maintaining dignity.
Structure Tone London proudly contributed 45 volunteer hours to our partnership with Aldgate Food Club, supporting families in need by providing access to food worth £15 for just £4 weekly, reducing food waste and insecurity.
Pavarini North East’s Community Service teams—Green, Red, and Blue—joined forces to combat food waste and insecurity, including supporting the Food Rescue US, the Mill River Park Collaborative, and Filling in the Blanks’ Unite to Fight 5K Run/Walk in the fight against childhood hunger. Each team contributed their time and energy, making a strong impact on each cause.
We’re committed to managing our environmental impact as an integral part of our operations. We are taking sustainable measures like the following across our organization and industry: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Our organization intends to explore the measurement and analysis of emissions from our operations. We aim to cooperate with clients in exploring potential solutions for GHG (Greenhouse Gas) reductions, focusing on efficiency improvements, such as reducing fuel usage and considering electrification as a preferred option.
Our efforts include managing waste generation in our operations and business activities. We strive to increase diversion and reuse, promoting the responsible management of waste and recycling as integral steps in our circularity journey.
Projects will adhere to applicable EPA (and/or local authority) standards for preventing pollution through our construction activities. Such measures are often found in our site-specific safety manuals in the Environmental Protection section. We will endeavor to address pollution from our operations by promoting the use of ecofriendly technologies, processes, and materials.
We will explore adoption of energy and water efficiencies as new technologies become available. Through our projects, we will seek to work with our clients and partners to plan for responsible resource use and to offer suggestions that enhance energy, water, and resource conservation.
Through our Safety 360⁰ program, we focus on indoor air quality, hydration, nutrition, and the mental health of our employees and business partners.
We strive to engage and inspire our employees, clients, and partners to make positive impacts on the environment and educate our staff to make them aware of the environmental impacts of their work and how to manage them where possible. We will work to be an environmentally responsible neighbor and act to correct conditions within our control that may endanger health, safety, or the environment.
As a leader in the construction industry, we will evaluate our environmental performance and identify areas for improvement. 11 10 9 8 7 Biodiversity
We will help raise awareness around biodiversity, mitigation, and adaptation principles with our industry partners and take action, where appropriate. This will be demonstrated through commitments, efforts, and achievements.
We require our visitors to comply with health and safety regulations applicable to STOBG employees and the governing STOBG location, as set out in our site-specific safety manuals and STOBG’s Visitor Policy.
We will endeavor to understand and comply with environmental laws, regulations, and standards applicable to our operations, as well as any other requirements that we may agree to with our clients or stakeholders.
Everyone is entitled to fundamental human rights and dignity, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic. We are committed to upholding these rights, and we recognize that this responsibility extends beyond the workplace and into the broader community. Our Human Rights Policy endeavors to protect human rights, to create a more just and equitable world for all.
We promote an atmosphere in which employees feel safe to engage in open and honest communication. Any employee who wishes to report a concern about potential or actual environmental impacts of our operations, or inappropriate, unethical, or illegal conduct, can contact one of several company resources.
By its nature, the construction process often involves debris—which becomes waste. STO Building Group is constantly improving our processes and piloting new tools to help us reduce waste, conserve resources, and share lessons learned with our partners.
Our Structure Tone London team has made the three Rs a central focus of their operations, from the bottom to the top.
Ceiling tiles. Our project teams are piloting SAS International’s ceiling tile take-back scheme. Under the scheme, the manufacturer collects redundant suspended ceiling tiles from our projects and repurposes them into new tiles.
Light fixtures. A total of 250 fixtures from one jobsite alone were saved and reused by listing them through the Recolight reuse platform.
Wood. Our projects collaborate with the social enterprise Community Wood Recycling, where waste timber is collected and repurposed in their community workshops. The reclaimed timber is upcycled into new furniture.
Brick. At our Bloomsbury Quarter project, almost 10,000 bricks were reclaimed and reused on-site. If laid end-to-end, these bricks would stretch over 2km.
Recycling and reusing construction materials IS possible, and STOBG teams are leading the way. On many of our projects, crews separate waste using designated bins, which can often be reused. Discarded wallboard trim scrap material, for example, is fed back into the manufacturing process to help create new gypsum products.
Structure Tone Boston led the construction of CarGurus’ new LEED Gold headquarters. The project also won a Built Environment Plus Green Building Showcase Award for its successful construction site separation. Our team developed specific construction waste site separation programs to reduce the landfill burden of commingled construction waste and maximize landfill diversion. Over 51% of all waste leaving the site was able to be site separated and sent directly to material recyclers.
What does site separation look like? Learn more from our Structure Tone Dublin team here.
“ The CarGurus fit-out project challenged entrenched practices of waste management in construction—requiring education, buy-in, and follow through that will hopefully follow these team members on many projects to come.”
—BE+ award judges
Our builders leverage a variety of tools and technologies to help track, improve, and enhance our sustainability performance. Each of these tools focuses on a specialized area, creating a robust foundation for tracking live data across our operations. This access to real-time data gives us excellent insights into how effective our processes are and allows us to work with our partners to adjust as needed.
NORMATIVE:
Provides comprehensive carbon accounting and reporting
THRIVE:
Focuses and measures our social value activities and impact
SMARTWASTE:
Monitors waste management and resource efficiency
GREEN BADGER:
Streamlines LEED certification and enables teams to report jobsite-level ESG metrics
EC3:
Helps teams evaluate and compare materials’ embodied carbon to reduce a project’s overall carbon footprint
Mass timber construction is picking up steam as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional building materials like steel and concrete. With engineered timber products and systems offering plenty of benefits, from speed and cost to structural performance and carbon emissions, building high quality mass timber structures is a win-win. Here are some of pros of incorporating mass timber construction:
Between concrete production, transportation, pouring, and curing, a typical five-story concrete structure may have an emission level of 1,000 tons of CO2.
The reduced emission levels of a five-story timber building are equivalent to removing approximately from the road 600 cars
The big advantage of mass timber lies in its diminished carbon impact. Trees actively sequester carbon, and as a result, a mass timber structure substantially curbs emissions when compared to conventional concrete and steel. The latter materials emit carbon during both manufacturing and installation. Even in hybrid mass timber buildings—where concrete, steel, and timber are combined—there’s significantly less concrete involved.
Many components of mass timber structures can be prefabricated off site, meaning faster assembly and more efficient construction. This added efficiency may require less manpower, reduce costs, and expedite schedules.
Strength, versatility, and dimensionality offer architects and designers a wide range of possibilities when incorporating mass timber into a building’s design. Plus, the natural aesthetic of the wood can create warmer and more welcoming environments.
Mass timber is designed to meet modern fire codes, with engineered components that char on the outside to protect the structural core, offering fire resistance comparable to traditional materials.
With a high strength-to-weight ratio, seismic resilience, and acoustic insulation, mass timber structures provide excellent load-bearing capabilities. The inherent rigidity and stability of mass timber contribute to safe and durable buildings from tall to large-span structures.
Software company ServiceNow has made environmental stewardship a core part of their business. The company created its own Sustainable Design and Construction Standards (SD&CS), incorporating elements from both LEED and WELL to track carbon, manage waste, reduce water and energy use, and create a healthy environment for their employees. The new office in Dublin was the first to apply the SD&CS in Europe, and Structure
Tone Dublin helped them adjust the US-based standards to align with their European equivalents. The project also marked Structure Tone’s first endeavor in actively tracking carbon emissions.
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Google’s NYC offices at the historic St. John’s Terminal push the limits of sustainable building. Already LEED Platinum certified, the building is pursuing ILFI
Zero Carbon Certification thanks to a carbon reduction strategy that repurposed an historic building and focused on lowcarbon materials, energy-efficient systems, and renewable energy sources. During construction, the Structure Tone New York team implemented a robust waste management plan that diverted over 75% of construction waste from landfill and saved nearly 10,600 gallons of water.
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Project teams across our family of builders are using both tried-and-true and innovative new approaches to reducing the environmental impact of a building and how it’s built.
Here are just a few examples.
The DSIT building on the University of Florida campus is striking—not only for the unique façade but also as a symbol of UF’s commitment to sustainability. Built by Ajax, Malachowsky Hall is on track to be certified LEED Platinum, marks the 100th LEED building on campus, and features the largest solar array for the university, powering nearly 11% of the building’s needs.
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Abbott Construction helped revitalize Lake Union Piers, an iconic Seattle destination and growing home of several tech firm offices. The Abbott team partnered with the developer and architect to meet their “EMission Zero” initiative, which targets the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions generated from upfront construction. To meet this goal, the partners agreed to purchase carbon offsets to cover their respective one-third shares of upfront emissions. After completion, the project was estimated to generate approximately half the emissions that would be produced through new construction.
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Pavarini McGovern led the construction of the largest project in the US to convert an office building into residential apartments—a game-changer in the movement to adapt and reuse existing building stock.
Developed by GFP Real Estate, the 1960s office and storage building features a 10-story overbuild that allows for 1,300 units full of natural light and with modernized mechanical and electrical systems that bring the building to more efficient, sustainable standards.
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Layton and STO Mission Critical helped Aligned Data Centers achieve Green Globes for New Construction certification from the Green Building Initiative for their SLC-03 hyperscale data center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The recognition highlights the team’s commitment to sustainable design and construction, resource efficiency, and reducing environmental impact.
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This global effort intends to drive ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling organizations to set science-based emissions reduction targets. Two STOBG builders—Structure Tone and Structure Tone International—have signed a commitment to the SBTi, which means they are setting goals that work toward both near-term carbon reductions and long-term netzero targets in each type of carbon emission category.
Structure Tone is phasing in electric vehicles and/or using renewable fuel sources for jobsite equipment and company-owned vehicles to reduce the amount of carbon fuel we directly consume.
The Structure Tone offices have implemented energy efficiency measures, and purchased renewable electricity credits for the remaining kWh to help offset or reduce the amount of fossil fuels we use through traditional electricity, heating, and cooling.
To reduce the emissions associated with Structure Tone’s supply chain, employee travel, and other general operations, the team has begun:
> reducing unnecessary travel
> salvaging materials prior to demo
> recycling to the highest extent possible
> requiring environmental product declarations (EPDs) for building materials
> guiding subcontractors to source products with the lowest global warming potential (GWP)
Structure Tone and BCCI use EcoVadis, a globally recognized assessment platform that rates businesses’ sustainability based on four key categories:
> environmental impact
> labor and human rights standards
> ethics
> procurement practices
Learn more about the SBTi on their website.
Structure Tone and Structure Tone International have benchmarked their 2023 carbon footprint in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and their data has been QA checked by a dedicated, thirdparty Climate Strategist. We can now allocate emissions to their clients according to the goods or services that we provided them with the data that we collect.
179+ MILLION SF OF LEED REGISTERED SPACE
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PARTNERS WITH CREATORS OF THE WELL™ BUILDING STANDARD
$4.49B OF ANNUAL GREEN CONTRACTING REVENUE IN 2023 FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE WELL LIVING LABORATORY 15 WELL ACCREDITED PROFESSIONALS MEMBER OF THE IRISH GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
301 GREEN BUILDING CREDENTIALED PROFESSIONALS MEMBER OF THE US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL #3 IN ENR’S TOP 100 GREEN BUILDING CONTRACTORS FOR 2024 41 BREEAM UK REGISTERED PROJECTS 45 WELL BUILDING STANDARD REGISTERED PROJECTS
MEMBER OF THE UK GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
1015+ LEED PROJECTS
5 WELL HEALTHSAFETY RATING CERTIFIED PROJECTS MEMBER OF THE CANADA GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
3 LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE CERTIFIED PROJECTS
Safety 360° is a pillar of STOBG’s identity. This philosophy embraces encouraging behavioral change and taking a 360-degree view of safety on the job and in our personal lives. The program empowers all of us—from the office to the jobsite—to be safety champions. The key principles of this philosophy are:
The program fosters a 360-degree view of safety, physically and philosophically. We expect active engagement from all employees in their immediate environment, as well as awareness of what’s happening above, below and next to them. It also means that we look out for one other’s physical and mental safety, speak up about potential safety issues, and are as invested in safety as our safety staff
Each and every employee receives safety coaching. We believe that the best way to increase awareness and action is to increase responsibility, so our superintendents, project managers, and even our office-based employees are as engaged in safety as our dedicated safety department team members.
Safety 360° relies on positive reinforcement to inspire project teams and employees at all levels to achieve the highest level of safety. Company leaders set the example by discussing safety with their teams on a regular basis, walking through project sites, holding principals’ meetings with subcontractors, and hosting five-worker lunches. The program also recognizes projects, teams, and individuals for exemplary safety performance. Regular feedback, engagement, and coaching are at the program’s core and drive STOBG’s efforts to foster a lasting and positive safety culture across the organization.
Behavior is the primary contributing cause of over 80% of accidents. With that in mind, the primary goal of our Safety 360° approach is to avoid risky behaviors altogether. Through behavior-based safety coaching, we are helping staff take a more active role in supporting a strong safety culture that solicits feedback, engages the workforce, and empowers people to make a difference.
Upon joining STO Building Group, new staff attend Safety 360° coaching to learn about our safety culture of caring and engagement. We also work with our clients to make sure they understand and play a role in this culture of safety. Our strong Safety 360° culture—which includes sharing email reminders, safety moments, safety stories, and lessons learned—resolutely supports our efforts to protect our staff, our workers, and the public.
Our safety teams are informed, empowered, and overseen by collaborative groups within our company structure to help ensure we hold true to our safety philosophy and standards and learn lessons from each other to continue to lead the way in our industry.
In addition to Safety 360° philosophy, our corporate Safety & Health Program defines safety and loss prevention management and the implementation requirements for our construction operations. This manual, which is available as a reference at all STOBG offices and project sites, serves as the foundation for our project-specific programs.
As part of the daily course of our construction management services, we monitor the standards and procedures for protecting the safety of the public, local residents, and our construction crews throughout the project. We conduct thorough audits to make sure our teams are adhering to our standards and procedures and that everyone has a voice in keeping our sites safe.
Our employees—from jobsite crews to our executive leadership—are invested in leading the industry when it comes to safety. That’s why our CEO, Bob Mullen, created the STOBG Safety Council, a group of STOBG executive leaders, industry partners, and client representatives who share information and examine new ideas and best practices. The Safety Council, for example, led the development of videos for subcontractors and site leaders about setting up effective pre-task plans. The Council also launched our annual Safety 360º Awards of Excellence. These are just two examples of their goals to reward positive safety behaviors, promote our safety culture, consider solutions to safety challenges, and assess and investigate opportunities to create safer work environments.
Our board of directors’ Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality (SHEQ) committee focuses not only on those topics, but also training, social responsibility, measurement, and progress. This year, the committee:
• Addressed distractions to focus attention on core safety priorities
• Oversaw efforts to improve data analytics
• Required executive leadership engagement in all “lost time” accident reviews
Our Safety 360° culture supports our journey of working with trade partners to reduce—and ultimately eliminate—safety incidents across our industry. We’re proud of our commitment to safety, and our results prove it’s working. Even with 50 million hours worked in 2024 on our projects, our safety rates on jobsites consistently outperform industry averages in every category.
STOBG + ALL SUBS STOBG ONLY
*TRIR: Total Recordable Incident Rate
*EMR: Experience Modification Rating
*LTIR: Lost Time Incident Rate
STOBG + ALL SUBS STOBG ONLY
Now in its second year, the STOBG Safety 360° Excellence Awards recognizes teams who went above and beyond to prioritize jobsite safety. The winners were announced at our annual all-staff Town Hall.
(under $10M)
LF Driscoll
Dulles 4 Endoscopy project (Philadelphia, PA)
The LFD team at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has gone above and beyond on the Dulles 4 Endoscopy project, achieving the prestigious 5-year recertification as an OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) site. Every trade partner on the project is also a participant in the VPP program and worked with the LFD team to review the VPP documentation and sign a commitment letter. During the survey, OSHA praised the team for their commitment to safety.
($10M–$100M)
L’Oréal Research & Innovation Center (Clark, NJ)
L’Oréal’s state-of-the-art Research & Innovation Center is a complex, multiphased project spanning over 235,000sf. Structure Tone’s project team hosted multiple Safety Lunch & Learns, held toolbox talks focused on our “culture of caring,” and collaborated with safety partners like Milwaukee, Colony Hardware, and Armor Guys to foster open conversations about new innovations and best practices in on-site safety.
($100M or more)
Disney Project Galaxy (New York, NY)
The Disney Project Galaxy project spanned over 1.2Msf in the tight confines of Manhattan and ultimately hosted over 800 workers on the job. In a significantly complex urban environment, the Structure Tone team managed to foster a safety culture by holding dozens of on-site training sessions, hosting Safety Week events with full participation from trade partners, and collecting over 17,000 pre-task plans.
• 2024 ABC Step Platinum Level
• AGC Award in Salt Lake City, UT
• QTS Bronze Safety Award
• Aligned Data Center
• Utah Safety Council Award of Merit
• GCA of Hawaii Safety Awards 2024
• Building projects with 50,000 to 109,999
• Best in Category (GCA)
• Zero Incident Rate (AGC & GCA)
• CEA Excellence in Safety Award (13th year in a row)
• Excellence in Health & Safety (2024 Fit Out Awards)
• Excellence in Sustainability (2024 Fit Out Awards)
• Alphonse Engelman Safety Award, contractors with 750k work hours or more (Tilt-Up Concrete Association)
• COR 2020 Award – for implementing a comprehensive Health & Safety Management System
While Google is known for keeping billions of people safe online, the company also prioritizes safety in the physical environment. That’s why they launched the Construction Stewardship Safety Award, given to general contractors who successfully integrate safety into their businesses and exceed safety expectations. Structure Tone New York was selected for inaugural awards in the East Coast Americas region and Best Overall for the Americas. Not content to rest on their laurels, the team plans to compete in Google’s global program, expected to launch in 2025. Read more here.
We’re always looking for ways to improve, and keeping our jobsites safe is no exception. This year we explored several new tools and techniques to help reduce or eliminate injuries.
In 2023, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released findings indicating that safety helmets are more effective at protecting worker’s heads than traditional hard hats due to increased side protection, improved ventilation, and potentially life-saving chin straps. As a result, OSHA announced later that year that the agency would be switching to safety helmets for all employees who visit inspection sites. In 2024, STOBG rolled out helmets to all employees. In 2025, everyone (STOBG and our subs) on a new project jobsite will be required to wear a helmet.
Despite warning labels and PPE requirements, the sharp edges of metal studs can pose a sometimes-unnoticed threat to workers and site visitors. Keith Haselman, senior vice president of corporate safety for STOBG, reached out to ClarkDietrich about creating a safer drywall stud. They collaborated on a deburred product that was safe, functional, and met the approval of both parties. The result was ClarkDietrich’s Smart Edge technology, now a standard feature of their ProStud Drywall Framing System— which they rolled out nationwide at no extra cost to buyers.
Falls from ladders are one of the leading causes of construction accidents. To address this issue, Otto Tech Systems developed the SmartLadder, a new technology-enabled ladder that offers in-the-moment warning sounds, a companion app, and digital analytics to support monitoring and planning. Ajax and Stucture Tone New York partnered with Otto for field tests on a jobsite. In addition to providing Otto with helpful feedback and real-world data, Both teams saw a reduction in several undesired ladder behaviors.
For several years, a number of STOBG’s builders have had a 100% glove policy as part of their PPE requirements. After realizing these companies tended to have a lower number of safety incidents, STOBG rolled out a companywide glove policy, making hand protection mandatory on all new project job sites. The policy took effect in spring 2024, requiring all personnel—including visitors and staff—to wear protective gloves with a cut level of 4 or higher when on a construction site.
Across our organization, we regularly provide trainings, stand-downs, and resources to our employee and our jobsites. Our trainings, while important in saving a life, also emphasize our Safety 360⁰ culture—encouraging everybody, everywhere, every day to look out for one another within and beyond the workplace.
Construction’s long hours, demanding schedules, and high-pressure environments can take a heavy toll on mental health. In a field that prizes toughness and resilience, it can be difficult to speak about concerns such as anxiety, substance abuse, or suicidal ideation. Seeking to break the stigma, a Layton employee used a safety moment to discuss his own mental health struggles during an all-hands event attended by more than 100 people. Since then, Layton has facilitated a series of mental health events, ranging from workshops facilitated by experts to teambuilding efforts designed to develop trust among staff members. These efforts show how Safety 360° is contributing to our culture of safety—both on and off the job.
Construction has the second-highest rate of pain medication/opioid misuse of any industry in the US. The Pavarini North East team has been facing that challenge head-on by hosting educational safety stand-downs on jobsites focused on how to spot an opioid overdose and how to use the antidote, Narcan. The team also distributed Narcan nasal spray kits to everyone on-site.
Our business units continue to offer AED/ CPR training to all of our employees. At Abbott, every employee is trained in CPR, first aid, and AED usage. At Structure Tone Dublin, AED training literally saved a life on the job, when two of our employees jumped into action when a jobsite crew member went into cardiac arrest. And in Boston, a Structure Tone employee used his training in his personal life when a hockey teammate collapsed in the rink.
We are always looking for ways to strengthen engagement with our employees, partners, and clients in upholding our “clients first, integrity always” mantra. With that in mind, the structure and oversight of our Compliance & Ethics program are designed to reflect its significance and independence within our organization. STRONG LEADERSHIP
Seven independent directors sit on our twelve-member board, which has overall authority for the Compliance & Ethics Program.
The AFR Committee serves as the governing authority for the Compliance & Ethics Program, with our Senior Vice President & Director of Ethics, Compliance & Audit reporting directly to the AFR Committee Chair, reinforcing the program’s independence and accountability.
The Compliance & Ethics Department oversees daily program operations through a team of 10 full-time, highly experienced compliance and audit professionals.
Our policies and written guidance establish clear expectations for employees and business partners through:
> User-friendly policies available in multiple languages.
> Easy access to policies internally via our intranet and externally on our website.
> A risk-based training curriculum, refreshed annually and tailored to each employee’s role, location, and responsibilities.
> Ongoing employee communications that keep ethical considerations top-of-mind with real-world case studies and practical examples.
Our internal controls are designed to proactively prevent, detect, and address compliance and ethics risks. Developed by our in-house compliance professionals in collaboration with external experts, these controls provide a strong framework for maintaining integrity across our operations.
In partnership with Convercent, we offer a confidential, 24/7 compliance & ethics helpline available to anyone—employees, partners, or the public—via phone or online. It provides a platform to ask questions or report concerns anonymously.
We use a multi-tiered, risk-based prequalification and due diligence process to assess a business partner’s health and minimize risks that could adversely impact our operations, projects, or clients. Through Exiger’s Insight 3PM platform, we receive real-time alerts to any potentially adverse information, enabling us to respond quickly and proactively.
Our proprietary CMiC system tracks and manages project expenses, ensuring funds are allocated in line with legal and client requirements.
Our CM Guidelines establish clear principles and standards for project teams, promoting transparency and effective management.
We take a multi-faceted approach to detecting, managing, and addressing risks across our organization, drawing on a range of tools, internal resources, and industry best practices.
We regularly conduct enterprise risk assessments (ERA) to identify, evaluate, and manage organizational risks, enhance our risk management programs, and assess control effectiveness. Led by external counsel and supported by a Big Four accounting firm and internal stakeholders, our recent ERA involved interviews with over 200 company leaders and a review of key data, including audit reports, litigation history, and industry trends.
We’ve established an independent Internal Audit (IA) Department to objectively evaluate the company’s compliance with policies and procedures, adherence to contractual and regulatory requirements, and risk management procedures and internal controls. The IA team works closely with the Compliance & Ethics and Legal Departments, as well as external auditors, advisors, and industry experts.
STOBG is a member of the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), founded by Ethisphere, the global leader in defining and advancing standards of ethical business practices. BELA unites governance, ethics, and compliance leaders from more than 390 organizations to advance best practices. STOBG is also a member of the Construction Industry Ethics & Compliance Initiative (CIECI), a non-profit association of US construction industry participants dedicated to the promotion of integrity and ethical conduct.
As builders, we acknowledge our influential role in the environment. Thus, we align our initiatives with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, using them as a guiding framework. This report outlines how our programs contribute to these objectives.
1. NO POVERTY
Building for Hope
Family
2.
3. GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Our Environmental Policy
Care About Our People
Mental Health at STOBG
Employee Benefits
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Mighty Hikers
Charity Football
4 Peaks Challenge
Rory ’s Wish to Walk
Stepping into Wellness
Safety 360º Philosophy
Setting Standards & Raising the Bar
Safety 360º performance
STOBG Safety Awards
Celebrating Safety
Protec ting Our People
Taking Care
4. QUALITY EDUCATION
Family Giving Tree
Our Environmental Policy
City Quay School
5. GENDER EQUALITY
Care About Our People
Women in Construction
6. CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
Our Environmental Policy
7. AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
Our Environmental Policy Building for Hope
8.
Care about Our People
Employee Ownership
Emerging Leaders
RPE Program
Mental Health at STOBG
Network of Opportunity-A’Liyah Network of Opportunity-Ben
SRT/Supers Academy
Supporting Diverse Businesses
Women in Construction
Bring Kids to Work
Safety 360º Philosophy
Setting Standards & Raising the Bar
Safety 360º performance
STOBG Safety Awards
Celebrating Safety
Protec ting Our People
Taking Care
Governance
Structure and Oversight
Policies, Training & Communication
Internal Controls
Risk Assessment & Monitoring
9. INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Building for Hope
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Mass Timber
Protec ting Our People
10. REDUCED
Care about Our People Network of Opportunity-A’Liyah
Women in Construction
Family Giving Tree
Wish for Wheels
City Quay School
11. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
Our Environmental Policy Network of Opportunity-A’Liyah Network of Opportunity-Ben
Supporting Diverse Businesses
Building for Hope
Neighborhood Clean Up
Family Giving Tree
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Wish for Wheels
City Quay School
The Tech Advantage
Mass Timber
ServiceNow Dublin
Google Offices, NYC
UF Malachowski Hall
Lake Union Piers
25 Water Street
Aligned Data Center
SBTi
12. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Our Environmental Policy Building for Hope
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Mass Timber ServiceNow Dublin Google Offices, NYC
UF Malachowski Hall
Lake Union Piers
25 Water Street
Aligned Data Center
13. CLIMATE ACTION
Our Environmental Policy Building for Hope
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
The Tech Advantage
Mass Timber ServiceNow Dublin Google Offices, NYC
UF Malachowski Hall
Lake Union Piers
25 Water Street
Aligned Data Center
SBTi
14. LIFE BELOW WATER
Our Environmental Policy
15. LIFE ON LAND
Our Environmental Policy
16. PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
Care about Our People Building for Hope Governance
Structure and Oversight Policies, Training & Communication Internal Controls
Risk Assessment & Monitoring
17. PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Neighborhood Clean Up
Family Giving Tree
Wish for Wheels
Bring Kids to Work Make-A-Wish
City Quay School
Mighty Hikers
Charity Football
4 Peaks Challenge
Rory ’s Wish to Walk
Stepping into Wellness
Feed the Need
The Tech Advantage
SBTi
www.stobuildinggroup.com
info@stobuildinggroup.com