Draft:Salas O'Brien

Salas O'Brien
Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and technical services consulting firm founded in 1975. The firm provides services in engineering, commissioning, ESG consulting, environmental consulting, alternative funding, energy resilience, process design and integration, and other technical consulting areas. As of August 2023, the company employs over 2300 people in more than 70 offices across North America.

The company has been recognized in multiple industry rankings and publications, most recently ranking #54 on Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) Top 500 Design Firms list in 2023, #8 on Building Design and Construction's (BD+C's) list of top engineering and architecture firms in 2023, and #11 on Consulting-Specifying Engineer's (CSE) MEP Giants list in 2023. It has also placed on the Inc. 5000 list for 11 straight years.

History
Salas O’Brien was founded in 1975 by Dan O’Brien as O’Brien & Associates, during the height of the 1970s energy crisis. Shortly after O’Brien founded the firm, Carl Salas, Roy Goodman, John Salas, and Louis Ortega joined the team and aided in the early stages of development.

The firm adopted the name Salas O’Brien and established a reputation for providing technical solutions for clients across California and expanded its reach in key markets, including education, government, utilities, commercial, high-tech, and healthcare. Salas O’Brien’s client portfolio grew to include Fortune 500 companies and notable institutions such as Stanford University, Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System, Stanford Medical Center, and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

Darin Anderson has served as Chief Executive Officer of Salas O’Brien since 2006. Dan, Carl, Roy, and John remain active members of the company.

In 2008, Salas O’Brien was first highlighted on Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s MEP Giants list at #97. As the company gained industry attention, merger and acquisition activity increased.

Mergers & Acquisitions
Salas O’Brien has grown through a mix of organic and acquisitive growth, combining with more than 25 businesses since 2019. CEO Darin Anderson refers to each deal as a “merger” to reflect the firm’s partnership philosophy. Below is a selection of notable merger activity.

MEP Associates
In 2019, Salas O’Brien strengthened its technical expertise in district energy systems, campus utilities, geothermal, energy modeling, and commissioning through this merger with midwestern firm MEP Associates.

KPW Structural Engineers
Salas O’Brien’s structural engineering expertise advanced with the KPW Structural Engineers merger in 2020. KPW Structural Engineers held expertise in data centers, healthcare, and science and technology.

Stephenson Engineering
Salas O'Brien expanded into the Canadian market through a merger with Stephenson Engineering in Toronto, Ontario, in 2020. Stephenson’s expertise in high-rise buildings, healthcare, and transportation added to Salas O’Brien’s structural engineering service offerings.

PCI Skanska
In 2021, Salas O’Brien purchased 100% ownership of PCI Skanska from construction and project development company Skanska. The merger expanded Salas O’Brien’s expertise in manufacturing, life sciences, food and beverage, utilities, and other process-driven markets.

SIA Solutions
SIA Solutions joined Salas O’Brien in 2021, bringing extensive expertise in the federal government market.

IGRL Consultants
In early 2022, Salas O’Brien announced its completed merger with IGRL Consultants, adding to the company’s expertise in the food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Idibri Consulting
Idibri Consulting merged with Salas O’Brien’s workforce in 2021. Headquartered in Addison, TX, this firm brought expertise in technology, acoustics, and theater consulting.

DPB Engineers
In 2022, Tustin, California-based DPB Engineers joined Salas O’Brien, bringing specialized electrical engineering expertise for healthcare and data center facilities to the firm.

Nelson Engineering
In 2022, Florida-based Nelson Engineering merged with Salas O’Brien, expanding the firm’s work with the science and technology and federal government markets. Nelson Engineering was named a 2021 Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year by NASA.

Plus Group
This engineering and architecture firm based in Cincinnati, OH, joined Salas O’Brien in 2023, bringing industry-leading expertise in manufacturing, industrial, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, and agribusiness market spaces. Plus Group was repeatedly recognized as a Top Workplace, System Integrator of the Year, and an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Company in the Midwest.

Epsten Group
Atlanta-based Epsten Group expanded Salas O’Brien’s technical expertise in sustainable design, consulting, and commissioning services with a merger in 2023.

Crossey Engineering
The 2023 merger between Salas O’Brien and Crossey Engineering further expanded the firm’s international presence and added to the firm’s mechanical, electrical, lighting, audiovisual, commissioning, and sustainable design expertise.

Higher Education

 * Carleton College in Northfield, MN (geothermal and renewables, MEP, fire protection, 2021)
 * Princeton University Central Energy Plant in Princeton, NJ (geothermal and renewables, 2018)

Entertainment and Arts

 * St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto, ON (MEP, expected to be completed by 2028)
 * Electric Owl Studios LEED Gold Studio Campus in Atlanta, GA (sustainability consulting, 2023)
 * Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA (technological advancements, 2021)

Food and Beverage

 * Labatt Brewing in Montreal, QC (MEP, fire protection, district systems, process engineering, 2021)
 * Infarm Indoor Urban Farming USA in Everett, WA (architecture and interiors, 2020)

Government

 * U.S. Department of Defense Historic S-IGSA (Statewide Intergovernmental Support Agreement) in Texas
 * NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett, CA (structural, 2008-present)

Healthcare

 * Kaiser Permanente San Marcos Medical Center in San Marcos, CA (electrical, 2023)
 * St. Mary’s Hospital in Kitchener, ON (MEP, technology, ongoing as of 2023)
 * Hamilton Health Services West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby, ON (mechanical and plumbing, expected to be completed by 2025)
 * Hamilton Health Sciences Juravinski Hospital site in Hamilton, ON (MEP, energy modeling consulting, expected to be completed by 2027)
 * Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife, NWT (MEP, lighting, technology, commissioning, 2019)

Science and Technology

 * Gilead Sciences LEED Platinum Wellbeing Center in Foster City, CA (structural, 2021)
 * BioMarin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Gene Therapy Manufacturing Facility in Novato, CA (structural, 2018)
 * National Institutes of Health (NIH) in multiple locations and states across the U.S. (asset management, sustainability, building envelope, ongoing)

Awards

 * Ranked #8 in EC&M’s (Engineering, Construction, and Maintenance) 2023 Top 40 Electrical Design Firms list. Highlighted on the list for three consecutive years.
 * Ranked #54 on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms list in 2023. Ranked annually since 2015.
 * Ranked #3 on Zweig Group Hot Firms 100 fastest-growing AEC firms in North America list in 2023. Named a top firm since 2020.
 * Ranked #11 on CSE's 2023 MEP Giants Top 100 MEP Firms in North America. Recognized annually since inaugural ranking at #97 in 2008.
 * Ranked #140 on ENR’s Top 225 International Design Firms in 2023.
 * Named an 11-time honoree by Inc. 5000 in 2023.
 * Ranked #8 on BD+C Giants Top 35 Engineering/Architecture Firms list in 2023. Listed annually since 2019 on both top E/A and sector ranking lists.
 * CFSEI (Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute) Design Excellence Award in 2023 for Park Union Bridge in Colorado Springs, CO.
 * Awarded multiple U.S Department of Energy (DOE) Awards from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Envelope Campaign (BEC) in 2023.
 * Won an Award of Merit from Connecticut Building Congress in 2023.

Founders & Leaders

 * Dan O’Brien (Founder)
 * Carl Salas (Founder)
 * Darin Anderson (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer)