Global engineering services leader DeSimone Consulting Engineering has announced a new steel procurement service that it said will offer greatly enhanced cost and delivery efficiencies for clients. Structural engineer and steel design and procurement expert Dain Drake will lead the new venture as a principal based in the company’s Houston, Texas, office.
DeSimone’s new service will transform how the company accesses high quality steel products to deliver best-in-class structural design and delivery services for complex engineering projects, particularly in the infrastructure and industrial sectors, the company said.
“With a dedicated steel procurement practice, our clients will benefit from combined DeSimone resources that drive efficiency, value, and certainty of execution while advancing sustainability in construction materials,” said Stephen DeSimone, chairman and CEO of DeSimone Consulting Engineering. “Dain Drake’s unique experience in steel procurement will be critical to providing expanded and enhanced services to our clients.”
Drake will lead direct sourcing of steel to build economies of scale across the DeSimone platform, which last year acquired Canada-based Dowco Group of Companies to provide 3D modeling, steel detailing and other pre-construction services. DeSimone’s steel procurement capabilities further strengthen its position as a leader in global engineering at a pivotal time when macroeconomic factors ― including inflation and critical supply scarcity ― continue to impact traditional industry operating models.
“As the steel market continues to undergo significant shifts, we’re bringing another piece of the building process in-house,” said DeSimone. “Aligning these critical functions will give us more control over supply and cost while building on our track record for developing innovative, sustainable solutions for our clients.”
Drake brings 25 years of steel design and fabrication experience to DeSimone. Prior to joining DeSimone, he operated his own firm providing end-to-end steel design and fabrication services to a range of clients. He began his career with United Structures of America, Inc., one of the largest manufacturers of pre-engineered metal buildings in the United States.
Among his most recent projects, Drake is leading steel procurement and fabrication for the $1.2 billion Trumbull Energy Center in Lordtown, Ohio, which will help power nearly one million homes and meet growing demand for energy in the region. He also worked on the $200 million factory expansion for sustainable packaging company Genera Energy Inc. in East Tennessee and the massive Blue Sky Water Reclamation facility in Taylor, Texas.
