Sordoni's History
1910-1920: Humble Beginnings 1910-1920: Humble Beginnings
1920-1930: Establishing a Reputation 1920-1930: Establishing a Reputation
1930-1940: Managing Tough Times 1930-1940: Managing Tough Times
1940-1950: Setting a Foundation for Growth 1940-1950: Setting a Foundation for Growth
1950-1960: Expanding Capabilities and Geography 1950-1960: Expanding Capabilities and Geography
1960-1970: Transitioning Leadership 1960-1970: Transitioning Leadership
1970-1980: Emerging from Turmoil 1970-1980: Emerging from Turmoil
1980-1990: Exploring New Markets 1980-1990: Exploring New Markets
1990-2000: Developing Community Institutions 1990-2000: Developing Community Institutions
2000-2010: Building for the Future 2000-2010: Building for the Future
2010: Celebrating Our Centennial 2010: Celebrating Our Centennial

1910-1920: Humble Beginnings

The Sordoni story began in 1910, when Andrew J. Sordoni started a business with a team of borrowed horses, a second-hand harness, and two wagons. He hauled coal, removed ashes, and dug cellars by hand. Through hard work and meticulous attention to quality, Sordoni quickly became known as an honest, capable contractor. The company specialized in residential work, but word quickly spread, staff was hired, and capabilities expanded. By the end of the decade, Sordoni had developed an expertise in power line construction, providing the infrastructure for electricity throughout the region.

1920-1930: Establishing a Reputation

The 1920’s was a decade of rapid growth. From modest beginnings just ten years earlier, the company was now well-established and grew in expertise, equipment and employees. The company added to its Line Division by establishing a Building Division to handle larger, commercial structures. Sordoni added a registered architect and engineers to strengthen its Building Division. Kingston High School was the company’s first major commercial project to be constructed. In 1926, Andrew J. Sordoni was elected the Pennsylvania State Senate, further expanding the company’s presence through the Common- wealth. Mr. Sordoni became known as “The Senator”, a reference that lasted throughout his lifetime.

1930-1940: Managing Tough Times

During the difficult era of the Great Depression, the company continued to be entrepreneurial and resumed some of the labor intensive tasks of its earlier years. Building projects were few and far between, so trucks were modified to haul coal and manure from the mines. Sordoni managed to keep most of its employees on the payroll and forged permanent commitments between the company and its personnel.

In the second half of the decade, an upswing in college and hospital construction enabled Sordoni to refine its expertise in the institutional sector. Significant projects were completed for the Wilkes-Barre YMCA, Moses Taylor Hospital, Bucknell University, College Misericordia, and Mansfield and Bloomsburg Teachers Colleges.

1940-1950: Setting a Foundation for Growth

With the advent of the Second World War, manpower and equipment were required to support the war effort. Sordoni was busy with major construction projects in Middletown, Pennsylvania and Aberdeen, Maryland.

In 1946, the Senator’s son, Andrew J. “Jack” Sordoni, Jr., returned home from war and joined the company. With a business acumen and drive similar to his father’s, Jack was instrumental in setting the future direction of management and growth.

Sordoni grew its expertise, scope and client list to include companies of national reputation, including DuPont, Bethlehem Steel, BFGoodrich, F. W. Woolworth Co., and Pittsburgh Corning.

1950-1960: Expanding Capabilities and Geography

The post-war boom fueled significant corporate growth in America. Sordoni’s reputation and visibility continued to grow, and most of the company’s work focused on large industrial projects.

Sordoni became known for strict adherence to schedules and budgets. The company utilized an automated punch card system for accounting and cost reports on jobs in progress.

Seven projects totaling nearly a million square feet were completed for IBM in New York State. Other significant clients of the decade included Metropolitan Edison, Vanadium Corp., Foster Wheeler, and Eberhard Faber.

1960-1970: Transitioning Leadership

In 1960, Sordoni celebrated its 50th anniversary with an optimistic outlook for the years ahead. Unfortunately, the Senator passed away in 1963, and just four years later Jack Sordoni died unexpectedly at the age of 50. Despite the loss of the company’s first two generations of leadership, the foundation for a modern organization had been built by the Senator and Jack.

A young Andrew J. Sordoni III took over for his father, and the company’s solid, experienced management team continued to run the company in terms of day to day operations. Despite two devastating blows to the company, Sordoni had the leadership to continue on and to innovate and deliver quality projects across all sectors.

1970-1980: Emerging from Turmoil

Out of the tragedy of Hurricane Agnes that thoroughly flooded the Wyoming Valley, Sordoni emerged as a new company guided by the third generation of the Sordoni family. The company’s intensive involvement in flood cleanup, renovation of structures, and reconstruction of downtown Wilkes-Barre provided a tremendous challenge and unique opportunity for the new management team.

Sordoni sharpened its skills in Construction Management and leveraged this expertise into hospital construction. Projects in the latter part of the decade included major expansions of Geisinger Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, Community Medical Center, and Nesbitt Hospital.

1980-1990: Exploring New Markets

By the early 1980’s, Sordoni’s qualifications and expertise allowed the company to expand into the rapidly developing New York Metro area. In a short time a client base was established, and Sordoni constructed world headquarters and research facilities for several global companies, including Schering-Plough, Warner-Lambert, Mobil Chemical, and PepsiCo.

Under the leadership of William B. Sordoni, the company implemented sophisticated technology to facilitate cost estimating and operations. Services now included conceptual estimating, and extensive historical cost library, value engineering, in-house mechanical and electrical expertise, and computerized scheduling and cost control capabilities.

1990-2000: Developing Community Institutions

As the New York regional market matured, Sordoni capitalized on an opportunity to strategically sell New Jersey operations to Skanska, one of the world’s largest construction companies. The deal represented the first U.S. acquisition for Skanska and allowed Sordoni to leverage other business interests.

With the benefit of the experience gained in a larger market, Sordoni returned to its roots in Forty Fort with enhanced capabilities. The company built structures at all the major colleges and universities in the region, and also constructed much of the new corporate development in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

2000-2010: Building for the Future

The twenty-first century brought with it an interest in rejuvenating urban communities and rebuilding downtowns. Public/private partnerships were created, with developers, public agencies, and Sordoni working together to revitalize our cities.

The company’s commitment to community was formalized through the creation of the Sordoni Volunteer Program, which enables employees to share their time, talent, and resources to build, grow, and give back to the community.

As the decade progressed, an evolving executive team hired new talent and key management. In New Jersey, a sister company was reestablished to build upon the reputation that had been firmly established in that market more than twenty years earlier.

2010: Celebrating Our Centennial

In 2010, Sordoni celebrates A Century of Service: Clients, Employees, Community. This milestone coincides with a renewed sense of energy and a commitment to the core values upon which the company was founded: Integrity, Client Focus, Safety, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Community.

Following the retirement of his father, William B. Sordoni, William E. Sordoni became president of Sordoni Construction Services in January 2010, representing the fourth generation of active family management.

With a combination of seasoned construction professionals and a fresh outlook, the company is poised to broaden horizons while always delivering quality, value, and superior service to each of our clients.

The Sordoni Story

Andrew J. Sordoni founded the company in 1910 with a team of borrowed horses, a second-hand harness, and two wagons. He hauled coal, removed ashes, and dug cellars, and with honest, industrious effort he built a reputation and a clientele. A hundred years later, Sordoni Construction Services, Inc., has grown into Northeast Pennsylvania’s largest construction manager and general contractor, building projects for the healthcare, education, corporate and industrial sectors.

Sordoni marked its 100th year with a series of events to celebrate the company’s rich history and to share the organization’s vision for the future with employees, clients and business partners. A commemorative logo graced Sordoni’s signature orange trucks and job site signs.

The highlight of the year-long celebration was a home built by Sordoni employees and volunteers for Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity. In addition to the Habitat House, Sordoni expanded its longstanding commitment to the community through a newly created Sordoni Volunteer Program. Sordoni’s community service effort has been recognized with multiple awards from the United Way of Luzerne County and the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties.

In 2010, Sordoni Construction Services, Inc., reached a significant milestone celebrating A Century of Service: Clients, Employees, Community.

Quality, Integrity, and Superior Service

since 1910


A Century of Clients


A Century of Clients

Why Sordoni?

Why Sordoni?

bulletTRUSTED PARTNER - We make the complex building process straightforward, friendly and transparent.



bulletCOMMUNITY DRIVEN - We are an integral part of our community and work together to create a sustainable future.



bulletSTRONGER TOGETHER - We inspire, challenge and support each other.



bulletTRUE NORTH - We do the right thing, always. We are open, honest, fair and reliable.



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