Our History

Ernesto DiSabatino and his sons begin work as stone masons in Wilmington, Delaware.

Bricklayers earned $3 for laying 1,000 bricks in 1908. In 2018, bricklayers earned approximately $3,000.

Wilmington Trust, 9th & Shipley Branch masonry work.

EDiS later completed a 300,000 SF Operations Center on 11th Street for Wilmington Trust in 1998.

St. Anthony’s Church opened for its first Mass on Palm Sunday 1926.

Ernesto received the distinguished Papal Cross for his work to establish the parish for Italian-Americans.

The company built and sold homes (inset photo) within the area of their “office home” at 415 Lincoln Street and they also built many of the area’s finer homes and estates (large photo).

DiSabatino Building, 200 W. 9th St.

This seven-story building, built and owned by the company in 1937, was considered one of the most modern facilities in this part of the country because of the fireproof design, heating controls, cooled-water drinking fountains, and elevators.

During World War II, the company helped major corporations convert their civilian factories over for viable wartime production (pictured here, Speakman Factory).

They also worked on government defense projects as well as wartime housing units.

The 1950s began a decade of building many of Delaware’s schools to educate the “Baby Boomers.”

The company was involved with primary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions for public, private, and parochial schools… a trend that continues today.

Pictured here, Ursuline Academy (larger photo) and Foulk Road Elementary School (inset photo).

Clarence “Sabby” DiSabatino, Jr. receives the “Safest Contractor in the Nation” Award from the President of the Association of General Contractors at their Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

EDiS Company introduces the Construction Management project delivery method to Delaware by building the Delaware Technical Community College’s Stanton, Terry, and Owens Campuses in 1972.

EDiS Constructs the 660,000 SF Hercules Plaza after helping the company with the negotiation on an Urban Development Action Grant to help reduce the cost of building in a downtown location.

EDiS Company acquires the Butler^® pre-engineered building systems buildership to provide a new, cost-effective method of project delivery.

Crystal Holdings, Inc. was then formed to include the three corporate entities: Ernest DiSabatino & Sons (General Contractors), EDiS Company (Construction Managers), and EDiS Building Systems, Inc. (Butler Builder^®).

Asset Management Alliance, a professional property management firm, was created as a joint venture with Bellevue Holding Co. to manage the building assets of many companies in the region.

The emergence of the company’s Interiors Division, which today has over 5.5 million SF of interiors work in place.

EDiS recognizes the potential of Wilmington’s waterfront and develops the four-story Riverwalk Centre at 110 S. Poplar Street which today houses EDiS’ corporate offices.

Peninsula United Methodist Homes, Inc. (PUMH)’s $35 million Heron Point Retirement Community in Chestertown, Maryland was one of EDiS’ largest design-build projects at that time.

EDiS completes the new Galleries Building for long-time client Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.

EDiS completes 75,000 SF Delaware State University Science Annex, home to the school’s biology, physics, and chemistry departments and laboratories.

Christiana Care Health Services Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

EDiS built two major medical areas and many miscellaneous ancillary and supporting spaces at the Christiana Hospital.

In tribute to 90 years in the construction industry, EDiS establishes the biennial, half-day forum, the EDiS Institute.

Generation III Scholarships were also created in 1998 to honor the third generation of DiSabatinos who transformed the company from a small masonry business to a regional leader in construction services.

EDiS signs on to manage the first of seven major referendums for the Appoquinimink School District.

Goldey-Beacom College (GBC) dedicates their new Joseph West Jones College Center. The 38,000 SF Butler building houses a multi-purpose gym, a full-service stage for special events, a fitness center, and athletic facilities, among other spaces.

EDiS completes the Riverfront Market in Wilmington. The year 2000 is roughly the midpoint in all the projects EDiS has completed on the Riverfront:

• Amtrak CNOC (1997)
• Tubman Garrett Park (1998)
• ING (2000)
• Riverwalk (2000)
• Harry’s Seafood Restaurant (2003)
• Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge (2006)

Uniqema Corporate Headquarters project stands as a perfect example of EDiS’ Total Project Solution.

EDiS, as both the developer and construction manager, provided a Butler building and Asset Management Alliance was the property management company for the facility.

New Castle County Courthouse was completed. The company built the $137 million, 572,000 SF, 14-story building over 3.5 years in a joint venture with Jacobs.

The company formalizes their ongoing involvement by creating a “green team” of certified employees to keep EDiS clients up-to-date on green building techniques and sustainable design.

After being brought in as a partner in 2003, final planning commences for the landmark Town of Whitehall, Delaware’s first complete community since the mid-1800s.

EDiS delivered the Delaware Welcome Center (renamed the Biden Welcome Center in 2018) on I-95 just in time for the busy Fourth of July holiday.

EDiS establishes an office in Downstate Delaware to service clients including Beebe Medical Center, Cape Henlopen School District, and others.

The fifth generation of EDiS leadership is welcomed in with the promotion of Andrew DiSabatino III.

Dover Public Library opened, boasting numerous sustainable elements in support of its LEED Silver Certification, including a green roof and geothermal/ice storage heating and air conditioning.

EDiS relocates the Southeastern Pennsylvania office to Malvern, 7 years after first opening in West Chester.

The Barton Malow/EDiS Joint Venture is awarded the construction of Orchard Hall, the first-ever residence hall to be constructed at The Pennsylvania State University Brandywine Campus.

EDiS establishes EDiS BIM Services to bring our clients the newest advances in construction technology.

EDiS relocates the Downstate Delaware office to John J. Williams Highway in Lewes.

EDiS named as the Construction Manager for the Appoquinimink School District’s $267 million 2016 Capital Improvement Program, which included 4 major projects. This marked the continuation of an 18-year partnership building schools for Appoquinimink.

EDiS completes the New Castle County Route 9 Library & Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art community facility designed to spark the revitalization of a long-underserved community.

EDiS wins second place nationally in the Willis Towers Watson Construction Safety Excellence Awards for quality construction safety programs. AGC of America oversees the awards program.

EDiS surpasses the one-million hour mark without a lost-time incident.

Former CEO and third generation DiSabatino, Rick DiSabatino, retires from EDiS Company. Rick began his ‘official’ tenure in 1980 but worked for many years before then to help build the family business.

EDiS completes facility renovations and a new athletic field for Howard High School of Technology who went on to win their DIAA Division II State Championship.

CEO Brian DiSabatino named to the 2019 National Safety Council “CEOs Who ‘Get It’” List. The National Safety Council selects high-performing leaders who demonstrate they not only understand what safety is all about, they make it a top priority for their organization.

The EDiS team, local leaders, Delaware Governor John Carney, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, and many others officially kicked off the renovation of the beloved Rodney Square. The project breaths new life into this iconic Wilmington landmark completed at the end of 2020.

EDiS CEO Brian DiSabatino is chosen as Delaware Contractors Association’s new president for 2020. He served his tenure during the COVID-19 pandemic working to keep the construction industry open in Delaware.

The EDiS website is upgraded to provide visitors with a fresh representation of EDiS, ease of navigation, and a comprehensive understanding of the brand.

EDiS named the 2020 Legacy Award winner of the Delaware Business Times annual Family-Owned Business Awards. The Legacy Award recognizes a business that exemplifies the longevity and innovation of the best of Delaware’s family-owned businesses.

EDiS relocates the downstate Lewes office to Rehoboth Beach.