DALLAS—Backed by a hefty growth market of DFW, one engineering firm has kicked it up another notch to ensure client evolution. In a move toward adding service capabilities in the federal and corporate markets, JQ has acquired the Dallas-based structural engineering firm, Baldauf Herrin & Associates Inc. The acquisition will also enable JQ to add industry veterans to its senior leadership team, according to JQ's CEO Stephen H. Lucy.

“We have been fortunate to experience strong organic growth and are well positioned in our core markets across Texas,” Lucy tells GlobeSt.com. “However, in order to meet the requests of our clients, we will continue to look for opportunities to expand through strategic acquisitions and key personnel hires which align with our goals of regional geographic growth, market share expansion and diversification of services.”

Founded in 1984, JQ provides structural and civil engineering, geospatial and facility performance services throughout the southern United States. It has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and Lubbock. Steve Baldauf and Tom Herrin will join JQ as principals and will office out of JQ's corporate headquarters in the Design District.

“I have known Tom Herrin and Steve Baldauf for more than 30 years,” says Lucy. “We were looking for experienced, technically competent professionals who could support and grow our business relationships and mentor our younger leadership team. Our cultures align, and we share common values and a vision of how to serve our clients. The acquisition presents great opportunities for JQ to continue the sustained growth of the firm.”

BHA clients are concentrated in the federal and corporate markets, sectors that JQ has targeted for continued growth. The firm's clients are located primarily in Texas, but federal work can also reach the national level. Through the years, some notable BHA projects include Harrison Hall Academic Building at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, the Four Seasons Resort Villas and Pool in Irving, TX; Hancock County Emergency Operations Center in Mississippi, the Volar Barracks renovation in Fort Hood, TX, and numerous projects for a global telecommunications company.

“The merger gives us confidence that our clients will benefit immensely from the combination of our resources and the bench strength of JQ's professional, technical personnel to support their project needs,” says Herrin.

Previously, Herrin was engineer of record for the Exxon world headquarters and EDS world headquarters, and Baldauf was supervising structural engineer on the Superconducting Super Collider. After working together since 1996, Baldauf and Herrin formed BHA in 2005 to provide structural engineering services for the design of new buildings, as well as for evaluations, expansions, renovations and remediation of existing structures. BHA has completed work for SLA Architects, BSA Design Group, HKS, Gensler, Neiman-Marcus and The Beck Group.

Instant Insights /

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