National firm acquires Tampa builder behind prominent projects

The Tampa-based construction firm behind such iconic downtown destinations as Oxford Exchange, Armature Works and Sparkman Wharf has been acquired by a national firm. 

Moss, a national construction management firm based in Fort Lauderdale, announced Monday it has purchased Tampa’s Ellison Construction. Moss had $3.18 billion in revenue in 2023, according to the Engineering News-Record.

Moss has projects throughout downtown Tampa’s Water Street, along Clearwater Beach and in Ybor City’s upcoming Gasworx District. A sales price for Ellison Construction was not disclosed. 

According to a release, acquiring Ellison Construction is meant to strengthen Moss’ already strong presence in the Tampa Bay region, which it described as one of the nation’s fastest-growing, by bringing together two “highly regarded builders with deep roots in Florida and a shared passion for delivering transformative projects that shape cities, serve communities and stand the test of time.”

“(Ellison Construction’s) values and commitment to quality make them a natural fit with the culture and long-term vision that guide our work,” Scott Moss, CEO of Moss, says in the release. 

Cory Ellison, president of Ellison Construction, will join Moss alongside the rest of the Ellison Construction team. "This was a thoughtful decision about future growth and what best serves our people and clients," Ellison says in the release. 

Founded in 2007 as EWI Construction, there are three lines of service under the “Ellison” umbrella: Ellison Construction, Ellison Advisors and Ellison Development. While Ellison Construction will be absorbed by Moss, the other two will remain independent entities. Casey Ellison will remain CEO of Ellison Development and his father, Sam Ellison, will continue to lead Ellison Advisors. 

Moss’ acquisition of Ellison Construction will allow remaining leadership at Ellison Development to heighten their focus on the growth of the newly announced ARK Ellison fund established by St. Petersburg-based investor Cathie Woods and her ARK Investment Management LLC, the release says, as well as three major master-planned developments in Ellison’s pipeline: The Central in St. Petersburg, the Heights Redevelopment in Tampa Heights, and The Fletcher District at the University of South Florida. 

Moss is a privately held construction firm with regional offices across the U.S. The company focuses on construction management, solar EPC and design build, the release says, and its diverse portfolio includes a wide range of projects from luxury high-rise residential buildings to landmark mixed-use developments and sports complexes. 

This story was updated to reflect Moss' correct annual revenue.