Michael Baker International, a global provider of engineering, planning and consulting services, announced that the firm’s portfolio company, Akela Engineering and Consulting, is now fully merged into Michael Baker’s Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS) business vertical. The SRS vertical encompasses the firm’s current mechanical, eectrical and plumbing (MEP), structural engineering, telecommunications, cybersecurity, fire protection and architectural services.
The merging of Akela, a national MEP+ firm with deep expertise in California, into Michael Baker offers clients holistic, smart and resilient building solutions across market sectors, the firm said. The action strengthens Michael Baker’s position as the firm focuses on growing private sector work in San Diego and the Southern California region as well as nationally, with the broader SRS team.
The firm plans to expand in sectors including Industrial, Defense OEMs, Aerospace, Data Centers, Semiconductors, Life Sciences, Energy Transition, Higher Education and Healthcare.
“With growth in the MEP space continuing to accelerate, concentrating our Akela and SRS teams into one cohesive entity strengthens our ability to expand our client base and position ourselves to deliver complex smart and resilient buildings, something only a full-service engineering firm can do well,” said Pankaj Duggal, president, Sustainable and Resilient Solutions at Michael Baker International. “The merger will continue to strengthen our competitive position in the growing MEP engineering and consulting market since acquiring and uniting Michael Wall Engineering and DEC Engineers in 2022 to form Akela. This combined team also allows us to offer our clients access to even more expertise and services as we support their businesses and enables us to create and embrace new opportunities that enhance our pursuit of larger, more complex MEP projects.”
