What MRB Group does

MRB Group is an integrated engineering, architecture, and municipal planning firm founded in 1927 and headquartered at the Culver Road Armory in Rochester, New York. The firm operates from nine offices across New York, Texas, and South Carolina and delivers services through five primary practices: Engineering (water and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, structural engineering, site development, transportation, and construction-phase services), Architecture (pre-design, visualization, interior design, sustainability, and adaptive reuse), Local Government Services (long-range planning, economic development, GIS, and training), Economic Development (strategic planning, market analysis, and incentives advisory), and Grant Services (research, writing, and administration across programs such as CDBG, WIIA, WQIP, LWRP, TAP, DRI, and USDA Rural Development). Markets served include Municipal/Civic, Multi-Family, Commercial and Industrial, Education, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Culture and Religious, and Hospitality.

The firm is private and employee-owned, offering annual stock purchase to team members, and is led by a Board of Directors that includes the President/CEO (Ryan Colvin, P.E.), EVP/COO (James Oberst, P.E.), Chief Legal and Administrative Officer (Julianne Oehlbeck, ESQ.), and Comptroller/CFO (Michael Doody, CPA). Revenue is generated through project-based professional services contracts priced on a quote basis; the company reaches clients through direct enterprise field sales, supported by participation in professional associations (APWA, AIA, ACEC, APA, NYAC), industry conferences, the Municipal Bootcamp webinar series, and a case-study-rich website. Customers span municipal governments, healthcare systems, educational institutions, life sciences companies, and commercial developers, with named engagements including Monroe County DES, Town of Webster, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Paychex, Cambria Hotels, the University of Rochester, and Rochester Institute of Technology.

MRB Group expanded its scale and architectural depth through the September 2022 merger with HBT Architects, which continues to operate as a division. The firm has been recognized on the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Top 100 Companies list every year from 2019 through 2024 and has accumulated multiple APWA, ACEC, and AIA design and engineering awards during the 2018-2026 period, signaling sustained credibility within regional public-sector procurement.

Name

MRB Group

Legal name

MRB Group

Website

https://mrbgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MRB Group is a private, employee-owned engineering, architecture, and municipal planning firm founded in 1927, operating nine offices across New York, Texas, and South Carolina and serving municipal governments, healthcare systems, educational institutions, life-sciences firms, and commercial developers with integrated planning, design, and grant services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Engineering Services: Project-based engineering services including water treatment, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, structural engineering, site development, transportation, and construction phase services. Revenue generated through consulting fees and project contracts for municipal and private clients.
2. Architecture Services: Comprehensive architectural design services including pre-design, visualization, architectural design, adaptive reuse, interior design, and sustainability services. Revenue generated through project-based consulting and design contracts.
3. Local Government Services: Municipal consulting services including long-range planning, economic development, grant services, GIS, and training. Revenue generated through service contracts with municipalities and government entities.
4. Economic Development Services: Strategic planning, market analysis, project assessment, and incentive advisory services for communities and economic development organizations.
5. Grant Services: Grant research, writing, and administration services to help clients secure funding for infrastructure and community projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MRB Group is a multi-disciplinary engineering, architecture, and municipal planning firm delivering project-based professional services to public and private clients. Core service lines include engineering (water/wastewater, stormwater, structural, transportation, site development, GIS/surveying), architecture (pre-design, visualization, adaptive reuse, interior design, sustainability), local government services (planning, GIS, training), economic development, and grant services. Engagements span municipal infrastructure, commercial, healthcare, education, life sciences, and hospitality markets, delivered from 9 offices across New York, Texas, and South Carolina.

Product overview

MRB Group is a unified engineering, architecture, and municipal planning firm offering integrated service lines that work together to serve municipal and private clients. The core offerings include Engineering Services (water/wastewater, stormwater, structural, transportation), Architecture Services (design through construction), Local Government Services (planning, GIS, training), Economic Development Services (strategic planning, market analysis), and Grant Services (research, writing, administration). These services are delivered across multiple markets including Municipal/Civic, Multi-Family, Commercial & Industrial, Education, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Culture & Religious, and Hospitality. The company operates from 9 offices across New York, Texas, and South Carolina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HBT Architects, a Division of MRB Group: Architecture division of MRB Group resulting from the 2022 merger with HBT Architects

Products and services

• Engineering Services Comprehensive engineering services covering water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, stormwater management, structural engineering, site development, construction phase services, data collection (GIS/surveying), and transportation infrastructure. Serves municipal, commercial, healthcare, education, and institutional clients.
• Architecture Services Architectural design services including pre-design, visualization and presentation, architectural design, adaptive reuse and historic preservation, interior design and space planning, and sustainability and resiliency design. Serves commercial, healthcare, education, hospitality, culture, and religious clients.
• Local Government Services Municipal support services including long-range planning, development and environmental services, economic development and market analysis, resource development, GIS, and training and capacity building. Designed for cities, towns, villages, counties, and special districts.
• Economic Development Services Economic development advisory including strategic planning, market analysis, project assessment, incentives consulting, and economic development organization advisement. Targets communities and economic development organizations seeking revitalization and growth.
• Grant Services Grant services including research, writing, and administration for municipal funding opportunities such as EPG, WQIP, LWRP, TAP, WIIA, CDBG, DRI, and USDA Rural Development programs. Helps clients secure funding for infrastructure and community projects.

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• HBT ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 September 2022HBT Architects joined MRB Group through a merger announced in September 2022. The merger expands MRB Group's geographic reach and enhances its service offerings by integrating HBT's architecture expertise. HBT Architects operates as a division of MRB Group.
• Hancock Estabrook, LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHancock Estabrook is a law firm partnering with MRB Group to co-present the annual Municipal Bootcamp Program. Attorneys from the firm provide expertise on municipal governance topics including planning and zoning.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stantec: Global engineering and architecture firm with significant municipal water and community development practices — overlaps with MRB on services and clients but at much greater scale and with proprietary digital tools.
• WSP: Global professional services firm with substantial municipal infrastructure and buildings practices — a broad incumbent whose scale and digital capabilities contrast with MRB's regional model.

Direct peers

• Wendel: Buffalo-based architecture, engineering, and energy firm; similar size, public-sector client base, and integrated service model.
• Clark Patterson Lee: Rochester-headquartered A&E firm with overlapping municipal, education, and healthcare practices; closely comparable geographic footprint and service breadth.
• LaBella Associates: Rochester-based engineering, architecture, and planning firm of comparable size and service mix — directly comparable in end markets (municipal, healthcare, education) and integrated multi-discipline model.
• Barton & Loguidice: New York-based engineering, planning, and architecture firm with similar municipal/water/transportation focus; comparable headcount and end-market mix across NY and adjacent states.
• Passero Associates: Rochester-based multi-discipline firm providing engineering, architecture, planning, and surveying services; closely comparable to MRB in size, geography, and service mix.
• Tighe & Bond: Northeast engineering and environmental consulting firm with strong municipal water/wastewater practice; comparable service lines and public-sector client base.
• C.T. Male Associates: New York-based engineering, architecture, and survey firm serving municipal, industrial, and institutional clients — similar end-market profile and service breadth.

Emerging players

• VHB: Larger East Coast engineering, planning, and design firm with overlapping transportation, municipal, and land-development practices; positioned as a step-up competitor with broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnaKWb1Mf-n4VHrXzxI4dhg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mrbgroupusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mrb-group-pc
• Instagraminstagram.com/mrbgroupusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MRB Group