Engineering Services Acquisitions in Maryland

HFA Architecture + Engineering has acquired Chesapeake Design Group (CDG), a boutique Baltimore-based architecture firm, bringing CDG's team and regional expertise into HFA's national platform. The deal expands HFA's Mid-Atlantic footprint and strengthens its architectural capabilities to pursue new projects, particularly in the restaurant and commercial sectors.

Grace Design Studios, a Bernhard Capital Partners-backed AEC platform, has acquired CRGA Design, a Baltimore-based architecture, interior design and planning firm specializing in healthcare facility design. The add-on expands Grace's healthcare capabilities and footprint in the Mid-Atlantic (Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina) while CRGA will operate as a Grace Design Studio with its leadership remaining in place.

Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI), a Rockville, Maryland-based engineering and construction consulting firm, has acquired DesignTech, Inc., a Kensington, Maryland firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire suppression systems design. The acquisition expands GPI's building systems capabilities and strengthens its presence in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation completed the acquisition of WSC, Inc. for approximately $34 million in cash. WSC, a Frederick, Maryland–based provider of nuclear and process plant simulation and digital twin technology with roughly $15 million of 2023 revenue and about 45 employees, will operate within Curtiss-Wright's Naval & Power segment to expand its advanced simulation and digital capabilities for commercial nuclear, process and defense end markets.

Atwell, a national consulting, engineering and construction services firm headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, has acquired Bay Engineering, Inc., an Annapolis, Maryland-based engineering, surveying and environmental consulting firm. The acquisition strengthens Atwell’s Mid-Atlantic footprint and expands its land development, surveying and environmental capabilities; terms were not disclosed.

TranSystems Corp. has acquired Whitney Bailey Cox & Magnani, LLC (WBCM), a Baltimore-based multidisciplinary engineering, design, and construction management firm with ~225 employees. The deal expands TranSystems' Mid-Atlantic presence and capabilities; Sentinel Capital Partners continues to team with TranSystems as it grows its transportation and infrastructure platform.

SAM Companies, a leading provider of geospatial and inspection solutions, has acquired AXIS GeoSpatial and AXIS GeoAviation, a national geospatial mapping and airborne data acquisition firm headquartered in Easton, Maryland. The acquisition expands SAM's airborne geospatial data acquisition, LiDAR and imagery capabilities and broadens its client base across utilities, transportation, forestry, environmental and government sectors.

SAM Companies (SAM) acquired MTPLS Surveying & Mapping, a Baltimore-based geomatics and surveying firm, to expand its geospatial, unmanned aerial mapping, and inspection capabilities in the Mid-Atlantic and utility markets. The MTPLS team, including owner and president Michael Trent, will join SAM as part of the company’s ongoing inorganic growth strategy to broaden technical capabilities and geographic presence.

Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: BWMN) acquired Richter & Associates, a Rockville, Maryland–based dry utility infrastructure engineering firm. The acquisition expands Bowman's utilities and power engineering capabilities, is expected to add roughly $5.5 million of annualized net service billing, and was financed with cash, seller notes, and equity.

Exacta Land Surveyors, a Summit Park portfolio company, has completed the acquisition of Snider & Associates, a Germantown, Maryland-based residential surveying firm. The deal expands Exacta’s presence in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. markets and is the company’s fourth add-on acquisition under Summit Park ownership.

Atwell has acquired Ben Dyer Associates, Inc., a Maryland-based civil engineering, land planning, and surveying firm with roughly 60 employees. The acquisition expands Atwell's geographic footprint into the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and strengthens its capabilities to support land development and power/solar projects in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. has acquired the assets of Kibart, Inc., a Towson, Maryland-based MEP engineering and commissioning firm. The acquisition strengthens Bowman's building services and MEP capabilities, expands cross-selling opportunities, and is expected to be immediately accretive, contributing approximately $6.3 million of annualized net service billing.

The Kleinfelder Group, a Wind Point Partners portfolio company, has acquired Century Engineering, a Hunt Valley, Maryland-based multidisciplinary engineering firm with approximately 600 professionals across 18 offices. The acquisition expands Kleinfelder's Mid-Atlantic footprint and service capabilities; Century will be integrated into Kleinfelder's East Division while retaining its existing leadership.

Network Connex, a Chicago-based provider of mission-critical network deployment solutions, has acquired Advantage Engineers, a Columbia, Maryland-based nationwide engineering and design firm serving telecommunications infrastructure projects. The deal expands Network Connex's engineering and professional services capabilities and strengthens its East and West Coast footprint; First Capital Partners and Patriot Capital exited their investments in Advantage Engineers as part of the transaction.

NewHold Enterprises, a long-term investment holding company, announced an investment in PRIME AE Group, a U.S.-based architecture and engineering firm. Financial terms were not disclosed; PRIME AE will continue to be led by President and CEO Kumar Buvanendaran (who remains the largest individual shareholder) while NewHold supports the firm's organic and acquisitive growth and national expansion.

Blue Wolf Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, acquired Kirlin Design Build (KDB), a Rockville, Maryland-based engineering-led construction firm focused on large, complex federal and private sector projects. Management partnered with Blue Wolf for the investment; Mike Miller will become CEO, Doug Makosy remains President, and John Boncher will serve as Executive Chairman to support KDB's next phase of growth with a stronger balance sheet and operating resources.

Century Engineering, Inc. has acquired Baltimore-based civil engineering and surveying firm Little & Associates, Inc. The deal — for which Chesapeake Corporate Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to Little & Associates — adds land development and surveying capabilities to Century's diversified engineering services.

Timmons Group, a Richmond-based civil and geospatial engineering firm, has acquired Robert H. Vogel Engineering, Inc., a civil engineering, land development and surveying firm based in Ellicott City, Maryland. The acquisition expands Timmons’ Maryland footprint and adds local surveying and land-development capabilities; Chesapeake Corporate Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to Vogel Engineering.