Total mergers and acquisitions in the AEC industry hit 171 in 2012, up slight from the 169 deals in 2011, according to consulting firm Morrissey Goodale, Newton, Mass. (www.morrisseygoodale.com).
One recent acquisition: Gantt Huberman Architects, a 26-person architecture/interiors firm in Charlotte, N.C., by Bergmann Associates, an architecture-engineering-planning firm headquartered in Rochester, N.Y. This makes the twelfth office for Bergmann and gives it a toehold in the Carolinas, according to Morrissey Goodale. Bergman now has 375 employees.
Meanwhile, supergiant Canadian A/E design firm Stantec, Edmonton, Alb. (2011 revenues: $463,300,000) was set to close on the acquisition of Greenhorne & O’Mara, a 520-employee engineering firm in Laurel, Md. Stantec also said it would pick up 21-person Architecture 2000, Moncton, N.B.
Other recent M&A activity of note:
- Moseley Architects (Richmond, Va.), known as a specialist in public-sector work, merged with BeeryRio (Springfield, Va.), a specialist in the design of senior housing.
- Haskell, an integrated designer, engineering, and construction firm based in Jacksonville, Fla., purchased H.R. Gray (Columbus, Ohio), a program management and construction services firm specializing in municipal projects.
- Canadian giant IBI Group (Toronto) finalized the deal for M-E Companies (Columbus, Ohio), an 80-member CE firm. +
Related Stories
| Dec 9, 2012
Modular classroom building makes the grade
SAGE modular classroom opens eyes, minds at Greenbuild 2012.
| Dec 9, 2012
14 great solutions
Welcome to the third installment of Building Design+Construction’s “Great Solutions,” highlighting 14 innovative technologies and products that you can put to work in your next project.
| Dec 9, 2012
AEC professionals cautiously optimistic about commercial construction in ’13
Most economists say the U.S. is slowly emerging from the Great Recession, a view that was confirmed to some extent by an exclusive survey of 498 BD+C subscribers whose views we sought on the commercial construction industry’s outlook on business prospects for 2013.
| Dec 7, 2012
Structural glazing sealant protects solar-rooftop stadium in Taiwan
Designers of the Kaohsiung World Games Main Stadium in Gaoxiong, Taiwan, powered by almost 9,000 rooftop solar panels, required an effective panel fixing design offering optimum energy transfer rate, plus thermal and weathertight performance. Dow Corning specialists recommended a four-sided structural sealant solution featuring Dow Corning 983 Structural Glazing Sealant.
| Dec 6, 2012
Ziegler Cooper names Soto as Director of Design, Broadens Design Capabilities
Soto will oversee design efforts, bringing a high level of quality and problem solving capabilities through active engagement with clients and studios firm wide.
| Dec 5, 2012
Gilbane publishes Winter 2012 construction economic report
Report outlines impact of recent events; predicts continued movement, while slow, toward recovery.
| Dec 5, 2012
Gehry-designed New York City tower receives Emporis Skyscraper Award
8 Spruce Street is now the third New York tower to win the Emporis Skyscraper Award.
| Dec 4, 2012
MKK’s Denver Human Services Eastside Building wins ACEC Excellence Award
MKK provided mechanical, plumbing and fire protection consulting services on this LEED-NC Gold project.
| Dec 4, 2012
Thornton Tomasetti opens new office in São Paulo, Brazil
The move to São Paulo is strategic and timely, as the country continues preparations for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
