Sundt was founded in 1890 by Mauritz Martinsen Sundt, a Norwegian ship carpenter who immigrated to the United States.

The company’s early projects were homes and farms. Their first major project was the construction of the Agua Pura Dam outside Las Vegas, New Mexico in 1911.

By the 1920s Mauritz’s son Thoralf was designing buildings for the company, while son John opened and operated an office in Tucson, Arizona calling it M.M. Sundt Construction Co.
 

A New Generation Commands the Helm In the 1930s John bought out his father’s interest and Tucson became the headquarters for M.M. Sundt Construction Co. while the operation in Las Vegas became the New Mexico Division.

Between 1940 and 1950, the company was well established as one of the leading general contractors in the Southwest. Gene Sundt, Mauritz’s grandson and head of the New Mexico Division was approached by the United States Government to build the top-secret community now known as Los Alamos. This was their first military project. By 1946, the New Mexico Division was closed and Albuquerque Gravel Products, Inc. was opened.

During the 1950s with yet another grandson, Robert, in the ranks, the company grew rapidly building schools, hospitals, retail stores and gained ground with the construction of sewers, water lines and utilities in and around Tucson.

In 1957, Robert’s brother, H. Wilson joined the firm and again the Sundt’s military expertise was called into action for the construction of the first underground ballistic missile launching facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California — which later became the prototype for all Titan I Missile installations throughout the country.
 

Sundt Goes International The company ventured into the international arena in 1962 with the construction of sewage treatment facilities in Trinidad, West Indies. Sundt expanded the materials business, by purchasing an interest in Tucson Rock and Sand Company in 1964. The unexpected death of John Sundt in 1965 forced M.M. Sundt Construction Co. to find a leader who would assure the company continued success. William Naumann was named chairman of the Board of Directors and Duane Anderson, president and chief executive officer. Wilson Sundt was named executive vice president and Robert Sundt, vice president and manager of the Building Division.

The 1970s were explosive years for the company with more than 700 projects completed within the decade, including the relocation of the London Bridge to Lake Havasu, Arizona. Sundt also expanded its overseas operations, formed and acquired subsidiary companies and opened branch offices.

In 1972, after several successful joint-venture projects with the Novato, California-based C.R. Fedrick, Inc., the company was acquired as a wholly owned subsidiary.

A decade-long business relationship began with Saudi Arabia in 1975. First came a labor and management contract to build 485 condominiums for the Arabian American Oil Company; then came a second contract a year later for more condominiums, detached homes, schools, petroleum engineering facilities, and the first highway bridge ever built in that part of Saudi Arabia. In 1977, another contract was awarded to build a wide variety of needed facilities, including more schools and hospitals. This work lasted into the mid 1980s.

By the end of the decade, Sundt was formed as a holding company. Wilson Sundt was named president in 1980 and in 1983 he took on additional duties as chief executive officer, while his brother, Robert, replaced him as president. By 1983, C.R. “Dick” Fedrick was elected to the board of directors, and in 1989, Ninteman Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, merged with Sundt.
 

Venturing Into the New Millennium The 1990s saw establishment of Sundt Corp. Building Division Special Projects Division, and Heavy Civil Division. By mid-decade, Sundt expanded into Northern California with the acquisition of Earl Construction Company. Sundt has remained active in the international market place with recent completion of projects in the Philippines.

After more than a century of operation, Sundt has emerged as a highly diversified construction company, consistently ranked in the top 100 firms by ENR magazine. The projects completed have taken the company to 21 states and 11 foreign countries.

The new century promises to be just as climactic with challenging projects all over the globe.