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The Austin Co., originally founded in Cleveland by Samuel Austin in 1878, has developed into one of the leading design and construction firms in the world. Its proprietary project approach, known as "the Austin Method," quickly allowed the company to set up branches across the nation, including the Pacific Northwest.
The Austin Co. established its first Northwest operation in the historic Smith Tower in 1924. A year later, Austin moved its offices to the Dexter Horton Building. The firm remained at this location until a third move to Fourth Avenue South in 1947. Currently, The Austin Co. is located across the street from the Sea-Tac International Airport.
George Plaisted was the first general manager of Austin's effort in the Pacific Northwest, and The Austin Co.'s first Northwest projects included several buildings for Columbia River Paper Mills in Vancouver and a large garage in Portland.
From 1924 until World War II, the work carried out in the Northwest region was extremely varied, ranging from projects in the pulp and paper industry to "uptown work" such as the Cheasty Building at First and Pike and another on Third and Pine. Another important milestone was the Hooker Chemical plant in Tacoma.
The Austin Co. has had a long-standing relationship with Boeing, beginning with a project at Plant 1 in 1924. Since then, the firm has completed numerous projects, including the construction of Boeing's 747/767/777 Aircraft Assembly Complex in Everett, recognized as the world's largest building by volume.