In just under two decades, North & South Construction has evolved from a small family start-up into one of New Hampshire’s most dynamic construction companies. Founded in 2009 by the Johnson family and close friends, the company has grown steadily, fueled by strategic acquisitions, operational innovation, and an ability to anticipate where the industry is headed. With its headquarters now in Newington, New Hampshire, North & South is not only among Business New Hampshire Magazine’s Top 100 Private Companies, but has also surpassed $50 million in annual revenues, a milestone that reflects both its ambition and its focus.
CEO Peter Johnson established the company after selling his previous business, reinvesting the proceeds to create a new venture that would embody family values and long-term vision. The company’s first project came in 2010 in Concord, New Hampshire, and by 2011 it had already hit $1 million in annual revenue. A year later, Business New Hampshire named North & South one of its Top 10 Companies to Watch, following another fivefold jump to $5 million. The early momentum never slowed.
Ben Johnson, Peter’s son and now the company’s Executive Vice President, recalls those early years vividly. “From 2009 to 2014 I was working summers here during that big phase of growth,” he says. “Joining full-time in 2015 was right around when we joined the union—that was big for us, because it allowed us to give the guys more benefits. Joining the union really made a big difference for our carpenters. It gave us the ability to offer them more comprehensive benefits. Additionally, it allowed us to put a lot of manpower on certain jobs as needed, so that was important for us—a kind of turning point.”
That turning point opened doors to larger clients and broader markets. Union affiliation allowed North & South to collaborate with some of the biggest contractors in the Northeast, particularly in Boston, where many large-scale projects are based. From there, growth became exponential, aided by a series of well-planned acquisitions that have positioned the company as a multifaceted force in New England construction.
The first of these came in 2020 with the purchase of Portsmouth Sign, which kickstarted a series of acquisitions that would diversify the company’s capabilities. Today, North & South operates four subsidiaries: SJC Excavating, specializing in dismantling and site contracting; Exeter Lumber, a building materials supplier; Portsmouth Sign, which provides custom signage; and Compass Development, a full-service general contractor. “Those connections gave us the ability for acquisitions,” Ben explains. “Portsmouth Sign in 2020 kickstarted the growth, and now we’ve added SJC Excavating, Exeter Lumber, and Compass. It really broadened what we can do.”
This expansion coincided with the company’s rise into Business NH Magazine’s Top 100 Private Companies for three consecutive years—2022, 2023, and 2024—culminating in breaking the $50 million revenue mark last year. Around the same time, North & South relocated its headquarters from Barrington to Newington, New Hampshire, strategically positioning itself closer to Interstate 95 and within easy reach of both Portland, Maine, and Boston. “This location is ideal for our mandate to serve Portland as well as Boston,” Ben says.
While acquisitions have fueled diversification, the company’s foundation remains its expertise in wood framing—its “bread and butter,” as Ben describes it. From that base, North & South has expanded into cross-laminated timber (CLT), finish carpentry, millwork installation, light-gauge metal framing, and drywall. The addition of panelized building methods has been particularly transformative. “Panelized building allows for materials to be built off-site in a factory,” Ben explains. “That manufacturing change has allowed on-site production to double, and sometimes triple, compared to the usual ‘sticks in place’ approach because much of the labor is already completed.”
The company’s customer base now includes major commercial clients. Exeter Lumber supplies raw materials for in-house projects, while Portsmouth Sign handles everything from small-scale branding to large-scale architectural signage. SJC Excavating contributes to heavy construction work such as wastewater treatment facilities, and Compass Development serves clients in banking, education, and the industrial sectors. This integrated ecosystem allows North & South to keep much of its supply chain in-house—an increasingly valuable advantage in an era of tight schedules and material constraints.
The efficiencies created by this network have also streamlined operations. While the company once employed 300 workers, technological improvements and smarter logistics have optimized that workforce. Ben credits his brother Andy Johnson, North & South’s President of Innovation, for introducing systems that improved job-site efficiency. “Andy helped implement a transportation management system that cuts down on the number of people needed at a site,” Ben says. “For the same building, instead of having perhaps 20 workers on call, there’s now only a need for eight. He’s really knocked it out of the park with his creative approach.”
Equally important is the company’s emphasis on culture and employee loyalty. “It’s not only good management—it’s also good stewardship from the employees in the field that allows North & South to find these efficiencies,” Ben explains. “A dedicated core group of employees has been with the company for over a decade, and they form the backbone of our operations. These individuals consistently deliver results in the field, showing up every day with a strong work ethic and deep expertise. Their reliability and productivity are key to the company’s success. To simply put it they get the job done. Our success is our people.”
“A dedicated core group of employees has been with the company for over a decade, and they form the backbone of our operations.”
Behind the scenes, Chief Operating Officer Michelle Gilmore has helped formalize internal processes and professionalize the company’s operations. “When we were a little bit younger and when we weren’t as big, we kind of cowboyed stuff and just made it work,” Ben admits. “Michelle’s leadership as COO has been instrumental in establishing processes that brought structure and professionalism to how we operate.”
Recent projects highlight the company’s range and technical depth. Among them is Tanager Circle in Concord, a 68-unit condominium development featuring townhomes with luxury finishes such as custom cabinetry, pendant kitchen lighting, engineered flooring, and granite countertops. The seven-acre community also includes a clubhouse and pool, emphasizing quality and livability.
At the Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa, working with PC Construction, North & South delivered the heavy timber framing for a 25,000-square-foot spa and wellness center. Construction continued through the harsh New Hampshire winter, a testament to the company’s resilience and planning. The completed resort has since earned multiple awards for its facilities and design.
Another milestone project is the John W. Olver Design Building at the University of Massachusetts Amherst—the first academic CLT structure in the United States. Spanning 87,500 square feet across four floors, it features floating stairs, spider trusses, a roof garden, and sustainability elements such as heat-recovery systems, LED lighting, and electro-tinting glass. “It was a good learning curve for us to get into heavy timber,” Ben recalls, noting how it helped North & South expand its technical scope.
In Rhode Island, the company is nearing completion of the Department of Children, Youth & Families’ Female Youth Residential Facility, a 35,000-square-foot wood-frame building that includes classrooms, clinical rooms, recreation areas, and a media center. Built in partnership with Gilbane, the project demonstrates North & South’s ability to deliver socially meaningful, complex work. “We’re creating a 35,000-square-foot, wood-frame building with some heavy timber,” Ben says. “It’s a significant project, and one we’re proud to deliver.”
As 2025 unfolds, North & South continues to balance ambition with pragmatism. The company’s acquisitions, workforce development, and process improvements have positioned it for sustained growth without losing sight of its roots. “It’s about staying true to what made us successful,” Ben says. “Hard work, loyalty, and looking out for your people—that’s what drives everything we do.”
From a small family business in rural New Hampshire to a $70 million enterprise with a presence across New England, North & South Construction’s journey has been marked by deliberate, thoughtful expansion. Its foundation remains the same as when Peter Johnson and a small group of partners first opened the doors in 2009: build with purpose, treat people well, and never stop improving.
