IBI Group buys Markham-based consultancy Cole Engineering
IBI Group, a Toronto-based, global architecture and engineering consultancy, has acquired Cole Engineering, a Markham, ON-based civil engineering consulting firm.
Founded in 2003, Cole Engineering delivers planning, engineering, and public-private partnership consulting services in the areas of water, transportation, urban development, and environmental. The firm’s extensive capabilities in the water sector cover modeling and planning, design and construction management water infrastructure facilities, pipelines and tunnels, and operations and management.
Cole has approximately 180 staff across offices in Markham, Oakville, and Hamilton, Ontario.
IBI’s acquisition of Cole will expand its presence in Southern Ontario, while adding complementary capabilities in the areas of urban development and water. Cole’s expertise in industrial, commercial, and institutional urban development and land engineering will enable IBI to offer additional site development services to property developer clients. Meanwhile, Cole’s water master planning practice will bring additional background in water and wastewater demand modeling and planning, as well as water infrastructure and facilities design.
IBI and Cole have previously worked together on several infrastructure projects, including the Eglinton Crosstown LRT in Toronto.
“With its rich expertise in linear infrastructure and water management, this acquisition strengthens IBI’s capabilities and competitiveness across all areas of our business, allowing us to bring more services to bear on our major public-sector projects, and deepen our relationships with our private-sector developer clients,” said Scott Stewart, CEO of IBI Group.
Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Toronto, IBI delivers consulting services in architecture, engineering, planning and urban design, landscape architecture, interior design, and smart cities systems. The company has more than 2,700 professionals across 60+ global offices.
“The combined IBI/Cole team will be one of the most significant infrastructure engineering teams in Canada. With a client service focus, cultural synergies and growth opportunities for employees across organizations, IBI’s transformative digital strategies, and strengthened project delivery capabilities, I am confident this transition will bring tremendous value to our stakeholders,” said Moshen Mortada, CEO of Cole.
IBI last year acquired Aspyr Engineering, a BC-based provider of ICT technologies for smart buildings and cities. The move strengthened IBI’s 300-person software development team.
Other recent significant moves in the engineering consulting space include Aecom’s divestment of its civil construction practice and WSP’s acquisition of environmental consultancy Golder.
