Thornton Tomasetti, Weidlinger merge to push Innovation

Thornton Tomasetti, Weidlinger
merge to push Innovation

by ROB McMANAMY | Sep 9, 2015

For more than half a century, two international engineering thoroughbreds have strode the same New York streets, aware of the other and always respectful, but rarely in direct competition. Still, as the decades flew by and the awards piled high, the sometimes rivals developed a mutual admiration and increasingly came to see themselves as kindred spirits with distinct strengths, but a shared reverence for the profession and a zeal for innovation and R&D.

Yesterday, they finally yielded to the attraction and moved in together, as structural engineer Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. and consulting engineer Weidlinger Associates, Inc. announced a formal merger. The move creates a combined firm under the Thornton Tomasetti name, but now with 1,200 total employees, and offices in 34 cities around the world. Both firms are privately held, so terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to data reported by them to ENR magazine, however, Thornton Tomasetti logged some $180 million in 2014 contracts, while Weidlinger booked about $60 million.  

As Thornton Tomasetti Chairman & CEO Thomas Scarangello told ENR, "[In] most mergers people start with balance sheets. We started with cultures and goals, which we found were similar.”

In a statement, Weidlinger President & CEO Raymond Daddazio echoed that assessment. “While no two firms are exactly alike, ours bear many similarities – including the drive for innovation, long-standing entrepreneurial spirits, and shared values in philanthropy, employee enrichment, embracing challenges and a desire to make lasting contributions," he said. "We’re also different enough in ways that our combination will inspire us to think and work in new and exciting ways.”

Daddazio now becomes co-president of the combined firm, along with longtime Thornton Tomasetti veteran Robert DeScenza. Scarangello continues as chairman & CEO. Of note, Daddazio and two other Weidlinger board members, Grant McCullagh and Tod Rittenhouse, will join Thornton Tomasetti's 11-person board of directors.

Three amigos: From left, Chairman Scarangello and Co-Presidents Daddazio and DeScenza.  Photo by Bess Adler.

“Combining our firms brings together two highly respected and recognized talent pools, creating significantly greater potential for growth and innovation than either firm could achieve alone," added Scarangello in a statement. "Both our cultures have a 'one firm' approach, bringing the best qualified team to bear on any challenge presented by any client. [Now] our more diverse merged expertise allows us to address a wider range of client needs, while offering enhanced breadth and depth of services and extended geographic reach.”

In its press release announcing the merger, Thornton Tomasetti also noted the following:

Key Points

• The combined firm’s 10 practices allow it to deliver a broader range and higher level of service to its clients. It will also be better positioned to capitalize on its geographic reach and diverse talent pool, while providing growth opportunities for its employees;

• The new firm will operate under the Thornton Tomasetti name; three practices continue to be marketed with the Weidlinger brand where it carries strong industry recognition: Weidlinger Applied Science, Weidlinger Protective Design, and Weidlinger Transportation;

• The firm will remain headquartered in New York City, with offices at the current 51 Madison Avenue and 40 Wall Street locations;

• Thornton Tomasetti benefits from the well-established Weidlinger practices that add technical depth, new geographic presence and market advantage to the company’s existing practices and markets. In addition, Weidlinger brings long-standing ties as a government contractor in the US and UK;

• Weidlinger benefits from significantly expanding its geographic reach, market access and project diversity, and access to a robust platform for innovation and growth;

• Weidlinger’s Applied Science and R&D development teams complement Thornton Tomasetti’s CORE studio and R&D initiatives, and accelerate the firm’s ability to innovate. The Applied Science team also deepens Thornton Tomasetti’s analytical offerings across all its design and forensic services;

• To incubate, develop and market product and service innovation, the firm will establish an R&D holding company.

Supporting Materials

» Thornton Tomasetti
» Weidlinger Associates

About Thornton Tomasetti
Thornton Tomasetti is a leader in engineering design, investigation and analysis serving clients worldwide on projects of all sizes and complexity. With practices in Structural Engineering, Façade Engineering, Forensics, Renewal, Construction Engineering, Property Loss Consulting and Sustainability, Thornton Tomasetti addresses the full life cycle of a structure. We have supported clients working in more than 50 countries, with projects that include the tallest buildings and longest spans to the restoration of prized historic properties. Founded in 1956, today Thornton Tomasetti comprises more than 950 engineering, architecture, sustainability and support professionals who collaborate from offices across the United States and in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

About Weidlinger Associates
For more than half a century, Weidlinger Associates has been known for its professionalism, innovative solutions and diversified practice. As a leading structural engineering and applied mechanics consultant, Weidlinger Associates designs and rehabilitates buildings, bridges and infrastructure, and develops advanced analysis software. The firm also offers special services in vulnerability assessment; risk analysis; forensic, earthquake, wind and blast engineering; soil/structure interaction; and sustainability.

Contact:  James Kent, Assoc. Principal & CMO, Thornton Tomasetti, JKent@ThorntonTomasetti.com