Avant Construction Group announced July 21 it had acquired Ladson Construction, bringing two Jacksonville-based builders under one ownership.
“This is a significant moment for both teams and for the clients who trust us,” said Alan Cottrill, CEO of Avant Construction Group, in a news release.
“Jessie (Ladson) and his team have built something exceptional in our community: a culture of high performance, strong relationships, and a track record that speaks for itself. Together, we will be able to serve our clients and our city at a higher caliber.”
Jessie Ladson said in the release that the acquisition was “the right decision at the right time.”
“Both companies were built on the same belief that your team is your greatest investment. Our clients, our trade partners, and our design teams … those relationships matter. This combination gives all of us more room to grow, and more capacity to give back to the community we’ve both called home.”
Avant said Ladson began operating as part of Avant Construction Group July 16. Operations will continue uninterrupted for both companies’ projects, the release said, with the combined team to be located at Avant’s office in San Marco.
Avant’s recent projects include the $17 million historic renovation of The Greenleaf in Downtown Jacksonville, also known as the Greenleaf & Crosby Building, and The Raven Jax, the resurrection of the Pratt Funeral Home in Downtown as a 13-room lodging establishment.
Those two are among several adaptive reuse projects Avant has completed Downtown, positioning it as one of the more active firms in efforts to revitalize the historic core.
It is involved in others, including a proposed renovation of the former Mag’s Cafe property at 231 N. Laura St. and an adjacent property at 38 W. Monroe St. In April, Jacksonville City Council approved a combined $3.53 million in largely forgivable loans for that project.
Ladson’s portfolio includes the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Nordstrom Rack Jacksonville Beach and the Control Southern Manufacturing Facility, according to the release.
Ladson was founded in 2018. The company was listed as No. 23 on the Daily Record’s 2026 Top Contractors list, with $31 million in local revenue.
Avant, founded in 1997, did not submit information for the annual listings.