It was an exciting and tentative time, as Luzerne County native, Christopher L. Borton, P.E. convinced his colleague, and fellow Penn State graduate, Thomas E. Lawson, P.E. to join him in this new venture. Borton, a 1977 Penn State graduate with a B.S. in Water Resource Management, acquired a variety of engineering experience in his position with Smith Miller & Associates, Wilkes-Barre. Lawson earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering in the early 1970’s and had spent five years working with the Army Corps of Engineers on Wyoming Valley flood recovery, as well as at Smith Miller & Associates and The Quad Three Group when Borton’s offer was extended.

The seed soon germinated and together they were able to provide general Civil Engineering, Land Development, and Structural Engineering services to their home town communities. Before long, the budding business added mechanical, electrical, surveying, environmental and transportation specialists, well on its way to becoming a full-service team.

In 2000, the architectural branch of the firm was developed with the addition of Borton-Lawson Architecture, Inc. The firm had grown to 60 members by this time, and further growth was seen in the expansion into a new territory with the development of the Lehigh Valley Office.

Borton-Lawson reorganized its structure into four divisions to streamline project management in 2002. The divisions were Civil, Buildings, Industrial, and Transportation further establishing Borton-Lawson as a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary architectural and engineering firm in the Wyoming Valley.

Today, the Borton-Lawson team has much to be proud of. Their list of award winning projects include work on flood control pumping stations along the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre that earned them the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) award; the Pine Street neighborhood revitalization project in Hazleton that resulted in the construction of 24-single family homes and won a statewide award; the design of the $60 million Great Wolf Resort and Indoor Water Park in Monroe County; extensive bridge work; the Lighting Project in the City of Wilkes-Barre; as well as work on some up and coming large international industrial and commercial facilities.

As the firm continues to grow and mature, there are many evidences of the principal’s desire to see the Wyoming Valley region develop and reach its fullest potential. Not only have the local projects shown their dedication to the area, but both Mr. Borton and Mr. Lawson have committed themselves to serving the people of the community. Mr. Borton is a State Director of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Pennsylvania; National Director to ACEC; Chairman of the United Way of Wyoming Valley Board of Directors; Chairman of the Forty Fort Planning Commission; and member of the Penn State Wileks0Barre Campus Advisory Board and Chairman of its Planning Committee. In addition, he serves on the Council Misericordia of Misericordia University in Dallas, PA, and as Chairman of the Finance Committee of Holy Name/St. Mary’s Church in Swoyersville, PA.

Mr. Lawson has been a long-term member of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, having served as the Chairman of the Board from 2004 through 2005. He served five years as Chairman of the Chamber’s Transportation Task Force; Chairman of the Diamond City Partnership; Founding Co-chair of Focus 81. Tom is also on the Board of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA and the Urban Studies Center at Wilkes University.

In 2008, Borton-Lawson celebrates 20 years of success! The firm continues to grow with 130 staff members serving both Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. The Leadership of Borton-Lawson is and always has been committed to our clients and continues to hold to the core values established 20 years ago.