MINSTER – Garmann/Miller Architects-Engineers can look back at 2019 as a year of accomplishment. Among the firm’s goals were to achieve an industry top 100 ranking, earn best-places-to-work honors and hire a full-service design team at its new Columbus-based location. Check the box on each.
For the first time in the company’s 27-year history, it entered the national top 100 ranks by landing at No. 91 on Building Design+Construction’s Giants 300 Report—an annual list that ranks businesses for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work. The firm has done design projects in nearly half of the state’s 88 counties with educational, municipal and state programs.
“2019 was a very successful year for GMAE,” said CEO Eric Baltzell. “We continue to serve many K-12 districts in Ohio including two large projects that are over $100 million in construction.”
GMAE also achieved national recognition for being an outstanding workplace in the architecture, engineering and construction industry by being named to the Zweig Group’s 2019 Best Firms to Work For list. Firms are evaluated on culture, practices, benefits, retention rates, professional development and more from management and team perspectives. It ranked third overall nationally in the 50-99 employee category.
“Being named as a national Best Firm to Work For is a powerful statement,” said Zweig Group CEO Chad Clinehens. “With recruiting and retention being the No. 1 challenge for AEC firms, this award provides a great platform to promote culture and employee experience, offering these firms a strong competitive advantage.”
GMAE also has grown its portfolio in higher education and has built a strong partnership with The Ohio State University. With a full design team now in its Columbus office, Baltzell is excited about opportunities in the central Ohio region. The firm added 11 new team members in 2019, which brings its total to 64 professionals.
Baltzel’s report continues:
The construction industry has been booming, and he doesn’t see that slowing down in 2020. GMAE will continue to serve many K-12 districts in Ohio while growing its client base in higher education.
In addition, we have a number of projects planned with our county and municipal clients, which includes the new $8 million Hancock County Probate/Juvenile Court building. We are committed to having a positive impact on the communities that we serve.
Among its education projects currently going are the $130 million Miami Valley Career Technology Center—the largest K-12 building being administered by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The school’s expansion will add 565,000 square feet of new and renovated space to the Englewood-based campus.
Garmann/Miller also partnered in breaking ground on new facilities with New Bremen Local Schools, Arcanum-Butler Schools’ new multi-purpose building and Elida Local’s new elementary school. Minster Local Schools also debuted its new interior renovations in fall 2019 that included security components and innovative learning environments.
Other accolades the firm earned last year include being named the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Community & Business Pride Award winner and earning PSMJ Resources Circle of Excellence honors, which represents the top 20 percent of participants in PSMJ’s annual A/E Financial Performance Benchmark Survey based on 13 key performance metrics.
To learn more visit garmannmiller.com.
