Engineering Services Acquisitions in Illinois

Arora Engineers, a portfolio company of Jacmel Partners, has acquired J.A. Watts, LLC (JWI), a Chicago-based construction, program and project management firm. The add-on strengthens Arora's capabilities in program and construction management—particularly in aviation and transportation—enabling integrated services across planning, design and construction execution.

Reserve Advisors, a Milwaukee-based national consulting firm specializing in reserve studies and property wellness solutions, has acquired Waldman Engineering Consultants, Inc., a Lisle, Illinois-based engineering and building inspection firm. The transaction closed on December 18, 2025 and expands Reserve Advisors’ engineering and building evaluation capabilities for homeowner associations, condominiums, high-rise buildings and private clubs.

BCP-backed Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D) and Project Management Advisors (PMA) have merged to form an integrated institutional program management and real estate advisory platform. The combined firm—supported by Bernhard Capital Partners—brings together more than 450 professionals and expands geographic reach and sector capabilities across higher education, healthcare, life sciences, civic projects and energy infrastructure.

Signal Hill Equity Partners has made a strategic growth investment in Kluber Architects + Engineers, an Aurora, Illinois-based architecture and engineering firm. Kluber will remain led by its existing leadership team and will join Signal Hill’s growing A&E platform alongside CSArch and ZMM Architects to expand the firm’s geographic reach and capabilities across government, education, and healthcare markets.

Atwell has acquired Manhard Consulting, a nearly 400-person engineering and surveying firm headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The deal—Atwell’s largest in its 120-year history—expands Atwell’s geographic footprint in key regional markets (including Illinois, Colorado, and Texas) and into new markets such as Tennessee and Nevada; terms were not disclosed.

Global engineering and consulting firm Egis has merged with U.S.-based infrastructure firm Lochner, positioning Lochner as the cornerstone of Egis' U.S. expansion. The combined organization brings together Lochner’s more than 1,100 professionals and Egis’ U.S. team to pursue organic and acquisitive growth across transportation, water, energy, and environmental markets.

Gannett Fleming TranSystems has acquired Chicago-based architecture firm Muller & Muller Ltd. (M2), a team of about 65 professionals with offices in Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and Peoria. The deal, announced Dec. 3, 2024, adds architectural, planning and structural engineering expertise—particularly in transit and aviation—to Gannett Fleming TranSystems’ service offerings as a PE-backed platform.

NV5 Global, Inc. acquired Technical Design Services, Inc. (TDSi), a Chicago-based provider of data center and technology infrastructure design and consulting services. The deal (cash and stock) expands NV5's capabilities in data center, audiovisual, security, and telecommunications design, adds recurring revenue (approximately 80% of TDSi's revenue), and strengthens NV5's relationships in the aviation and government sectors.

Neuberger Berman Alternatives agreed to acquire a significant minority stake in ENTRUST Solutions Group, joining existing investor Kohlberg & Company which will retain a majority ownership. Terms were not disclosed; the investment is intended to support ENTRUST's strategic growth as the Illinois-headquartered engineering and consulting platform (3,000+ professionals across 36 locations) continues serving utility and infrastructure end markets.

Stantec has signed an agreement to acquire Environmental Systems Design, Inc. (ESD), a 270-person Chicago-based engineering firm specializing in mission critical and data center design. The deal—terms undisclosed and expected to close June 30, 2023—deepens Stantec's mission-critical/data center capabilities and expands its U.S. MEP and structural engineering practice by roughly 40%.

Deloitte has acquired substantially all of the assets of Optimal Design Co., a Chicago-area product engineering services firm specializing in industrial design, hardware and embedded software for smart connected products and IoT devices. The deal expands Deloitte’s product engineering services capabilities and adds multidisciplinary design, prototyping and hardware/embedded software expertise to its engineering portfolio.

RINA has acquired 100% of Patrick Engineering Ltd., a Chicago-based engineering consultancy active in infrastructure, transport and renewable energy. The deal brings approximately $82 million of annual revenue and 340 employees into RINA Consulting and expands RINA's footprint and capabilities in the US infrastructure market.

TYLin has acquired Chicago-based Greeley and Hansen, a century-old engineering firm focused on water, wastewater and environmental engineering, to strengthen its water-sector capabilities across North America and Latin America. Greeley and Hansen will operate as "Greeley and Hansen, A TYLin Company," with several senior leaders transitioning and some retiring as part of the integration.

Woolpert has acquired Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates (SNHA), a Chicago- and London-based architecture firm known for mission-critical and technically challenging projects serving commercial, civic and education clients. The acquisition expands Woolpert's global presence — adding European capabilities — and enhances its design expertise in areas such as data center and computational design.

GoEngineer, a portfolio company of Court Square Capital Partners, has acquired Computer Aided Technology, Inc. (CATI) from CIVC Partners. The add-on deal expands GoEngineer's CAD and additive manufacturing capabilities and increases its footprint in the Midwest and Eastern U.S.

RTM Engineering Consultants has acquired BRiC Partnership, a 42-person Illinois-based engineering firm with offices in Belleville, Springfield (IL), St. Louis (MO) and Evansville (IN). The deal, advised by Blackcastle Partners and closed in mid-May 2022, expands RTM's Midwest footprint and adds BRiC's MEP, fire protection, IT systems design and commissioning capabilities; terms were not disclosed.

Atlas Technical Consultants has acquired TranSmart Technologies, Inc., a Chicago-headquartered transportation engineering and consulting firm. The deal, facilitated by sell-side advisor Woodbridge International, will expand Atlas’s ITS, traffic and transportation engineering capabilities and extend TranSmart’s services into larger projects and new U.S. markets.

Terracon, an employee-owned engineering consulting firm based in Olathe, Kansas, has acquired Wang Engineering Inc. of Lombard, Illinois. The acquisition brings Wang’s 25-person geotechnical, construction inspection, and materials testing team into Terracon to expand capabilities for transportation and infrastructure clients across Illinois and Indiana.

TranSystems Corp., a national transportation consulting firm backed by Sentinel Capital Partners, has acquired OMEGA & Associates, a Chicago-based engineering firm specializing in construction engineering and program management. OMEGA’s ~80-person infrastructure team will join TranSystems’ national workforce, expanding the firm's capabilities and presence in the greater Chicago transportation marketplace.

NV5 Global, Inc. acquired Global Realty Services Group LLC (GRS) in an all-cash transaction to expand NV5's real estate transaction services and bolster its market position in real estate due diligence. The acquisition adds GRS's property condition, environmental assessment, and zoning capabilities and approximately 154 full-time equivalent personnel, and is expected to be immediately accretive to NV5's earnings.

Genuen, a Lenexa, Kansas-based provider of end-to-end test solutions, has acquired Versatech, an Effingham, Illinois engineering firm that designs and integrates robotic and production automation equipment. Versatech will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary with existing offices and management remaining in place, expanding Genuen's ability to integrate production-line automation with test solutions.

Anser Advisory, a portfolio company of RTC Partners, has acquired Ascent, a 30-employee capital program delivery and project management consultancy headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The acquisition expands Anser's capabilities and geographic coverage across healthcare, transportation and education markets and brings Ascent's program controls and finance consulting expertise into Anser's national platform.

Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc. acquired Mount Prospect, Illinois-based Amset Technical Consulting, Inc., a mechanical and electrical engineering consulting firm. The acquisition expands Rimkus’ forensic engineering capabilities and technical expertise to better serve insurance companies, law firms and corporate clients.

CIVC Partners has made an investment in Computer Aided Technology (CATI), a Buffalo Grove, Illinois-based provider of 3D design and engineering solutions, partnering with the company's existing management team which will retain a meaningful ownership stake. The capital will support CATI's organic growth and enable the company to pursue strategic acquisitions and expand its service offerings across CAD/PLM, 3D printing, and related engineering services.