Thornton Tomasetti, the international engineering firm with practices in structural engineering, building performance and building skin design, acquired California-based DASSE Design Inc., a structural engineering firm focused on the health care, education, government and corporate sectors.
The February 19, 2009, acquisition of the 60-person DASSE operations in San Francisco and Oakland adds to Thornton Tomasetti’s existing presence in Irvine, Los Angeles and San Francisco, bringing the firm’s California workforce to more than 100 people.
“Our combined expertise will make California our center of excellence for performance-based design, as well as enhance our ability to serve clients in the health care and education markets,” said Daniel A. Cuoco, P.E., president & CEO of Thornton Tomasetti.
DASSE Founding Principals William Dasher, S.E. and Joseph Sutton, S.E. will continue with Thornton Tomasetti as senior vice presidents, based in Oakland and San Francisco, respectively. The California operation will be overseen jointly by Thornton Tomasetti Principals John Abruzzo, P.E. and Bruce Gibbons, S.E., CEng., who are based in San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively.
DASSE was founded as a California corporation in 1986 and currently has more than 100 major active projects throughout the state. Its staff of 60 includes 38 engineers, 25 of which are registered. Thornton Tomasetti began its California presence with operations in Irvine in 1999. Today the firm has 213 active projects in the state, with expertise in educational, cultural, commercial and transportation facilities, including the structural design of the new intermodal transit terminal in San Francisco’s financial district.
DASSE has designed hundreds of educational facilities in California, ranging from complete K-12 campuses to major facilities for the University of California and the California State University systems. Many California hospitals have been remodeled or expanded by DASSE throughout its 23-year history. Most recently, these have included replacement facilities for El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Washington Hospital in Fremont, San Mateo General Hospital and Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento.
About Thornton Tomasetti
Thornton Tomasetti provides engineering services to clients worldwide on projects of all sizes and complexity, with practices in building structure, building skin and building performance. From the tallest buildings and the longest spans, to innovative building systems and materials, we are committed to creating the best solutions through our technical ingenuity, pursuit of excellence, and responsiveness to client needs. Founded in 1956, today Thornton Tomasetti is a 650-person organization of engineers and architects collaborating from offices across the United States and in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
