Utica engineering firm is under new ownership

UTICA, N.Y. — Eisenbach & Ruhnke Engineering, P.C., an engineering firm based in Utica, is now under the ownership of Joseph C. Lu Engineering, PC, dba Lu Engineers, a Rochester–based engineering firm with offices in the Syracuse area and Binghamton. With Lu Engineers expanding its presence to Utica, the firm will “gain stronger access to local and municipal markets and increase capacity to support projects throughout the Utica region,” per the Lu Engineers announcement. The acquisition closed on Oct. 19, Lu Engineers tells CNYBJ in an email. The firm didn’t disclose any financial terms of the purchase. Prior to the deal, Lu Engineers had 102 employees and is adding eight staff members from Eisenbach & Ruhnke Engineering. Eisenbach & Ruhnke brings a team of engineers, scientists, specialists, energy managers and auditors who provide advanced energy and environmental engineering solutions in areas that complement Lu Engineers’ established strength in civil/site, transportation engineering and environmental consulting. The acquisition enables Lu Engineers to pursue “larger and more complex” projects throughout New York state and to diversify projects to include mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering services. “We’re a small firm but a mighty firm that keeps growing every day. The acquisition is a strategic opportunity for us and impactful to our growth,” Cletus Ezenwa, president and CEO of Lu Engineers, contended in the announcement. “Lu Engineers has a great reputation for transportation and environmental projects, and expanding our capabilities to support mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services will enable us to serve on a broader scale and deliver even greater value to our clients.” Lu Engineers is a veteran-owned, New York State-certified Disadvantaged and Minority-owned Business Enterprise. For more than 45 years, Lu has provided engineering, technical, and operational services to federal, state, and local governments, as well as private industries and developers. “We are excited to become part of Lu Engineers; a firm committed to quality and serving its clients,” Jack Eisenbach, former CEO of Eisenbach & Ruhnke Engineering, P.C., said in the announcement. “Eisenbach & Ruhnke Engineering has been in existence for almost 40 years, and we have worked with many engineering firms. Our staff is committed to maintaining the quality of service for the clients of the combined firm.” Eisenbach also tells CNYBJ that the transaction represents a succession plan after 39 years of owning the business, but he plans to continue working for two years part time as a senior associate. Besides Rochester, DeWitt, and Utica, Lu Engineers also has offices in Buffalo and New York City.