Design Engineers

What Design Engineers does

Design Engineers is a privately-held mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEPFT) engineering consultancy founded in 1983 and headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The firm designs intelligent building systems for higher education, K-12, healthcare, municipal, and commercial clients, with deep specialization in sustainable and zero-energy building design. Its technical portfolio includes thermally activated bubble deck slab systems (first in the western hemisphere), geothermal heat pump systems, energy recovery ventilation, displacement ventilation, and underfloor air distribution. Operating across three offices (Cedar Rapids, Ankeny, Middleton/Madison), DE has delivered 280+ K-12 projects, 23+ BSL-3 laboratory renovations, and multiple LEED Platinum/Gold/Silver certified buildings including the University of Iowa Visual Arts Building, Voxman School of Music, and Cedar Rapids Public Library.

The firm's business model is professional services consulting, billing project-based fees for design, construction administration, and commissioning services. Revenue is generated through direct contracts with building owners and as MEP subconsultant to architectural firms including Steven Holl Architects, LMN Architects, BNIM, OPN Architects, and Neumann-Monson. The go-to-market is relationship-driven, relying on 40+ years of brand equity, repeat institutional clients (notably University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa), industry awards, and thought leadership in sustainability. Customer outcomes include 55–69% energy reductions versus ASHRAE code-compliant baselines, $115,000–$300,000+ annual utility cost savings per project, and incentive payments above $550,000 from utilities for verified energy performance.

DE operates as an independent, partner-controlled firm with no disclosed private equity or venture capital backing and no acquisitions. The firm recently expanded its leadership bench through multiple 2026 promotions, including Jared Ramthun's elevation to Principal and Board of Directors, signaling an active generational succession process. With 11–50 employees and a Midwest regional footprint, DE competes as a specialty MEP consultant on complex institutional projects where sustainable design and integrated architectural-MEP coordination drive project wins.

Name

Design Engineers

Legal name

Design Engineers

Website

https://designengineers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Design Engineers is a privately-held MEPFT engineering consultancy founded in 1983 and headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. With three offices, it serves higher education, K-12, healthcare, and municipal clients across the Midwest, specializing in sustainable, high-performance, and zero-energy building systems design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Consulting Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction Engineering & Constructability Consulting (BPAHAIAN)

Keywords

• MEP engineering consulting
• Building systems design
• Sustainable engineering
• Mechanical electrical plumbing
• High-performance buildings

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: DE generates revenue through professional engineering consulting fees for MEPFT system design on construction projects. Services are billed on a project basis, typically as part of architectural/construction project contracts. Revenue is earned through design fees, construction administration, and commissioning services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Design Engineers provides MEPFT (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection) engineering consulting services for high-performance, sustainable buildings. The firm's core offerings include mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, sustainable design, and integrated design services for higher education, K-12, healthcare, municipal, and corporate clients across the Midwest. They specialize in energy-efficient systems including thermally activated bubble deck slabs, geothermal heat pumps, displacement ventilation, and integrated building automation.

Product overview

Design Engineers is a full-service MEPFT (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection/Thermal) engineering consultancy. Their core offering consists of integrated engineering services where Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering form the primary service pillars, supplemented by Sustainable Design Services and Integrated Design Services. The company designs intelligent MEPFT systems so buildings can run efficiently and effectively, serving markets including Higher Education, K-12 Education, Healthcare, Municipal, Corporate/Commercial, and Hospitality sectors. Their approach emphasizes proactive, collaborative, and tenacious problem-solving for complex building engineering challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MEPFT Engineering Services Core mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering consulting services for buildings, designing intelligent building systems so structures can run efficiently and effectively across higher education, K-12, healthcare, municipal, and corporate markets.
• Mechanical Engineering Mechanical engineering services including HVAC system design, heating and cooling systems, ventilation, thermal modeling for commercial, educational, healthcare, and municipal buildings, including advanced systems such as thermally activated bubble deck slabs, geothermal heat pumps, displacement ventilation, and energy recovery ventilation.
• Electrical Engineering Electrical engineering services including power distribution, lighting design, fire alarm systems, and emergency power systems design for commercial, educational, healthcare, municipal, and research facilities.
• Sustainable Design Services Sustainable and energy-efficient design services incorporating LEED certification standards, renewable energy systems, and environmentally conscious building solutions that have produced 55-69% energy reductions versus code-compliant buildings.
• Integrated Design Services Collaborative integrated design approach working alongside architects, contractors, and specialty consultants to coordinate complex MEP systems with architectural goals, optimizing efficiency while preserving architectural vision.

Quantifiable outcome

• Buildings use 60% less energy than ASHRAE 90.1 compliant buildings
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Steven Holl ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated as architect on the award-winning University of Iowa Visual Arts Building. DE integrated MEP systems into Steven Holl's innovative architectural design featuring thermally activated bubble deck slab and porous vertical structure.
• BNIMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Visual Arts Building project with Design Engineers. BNIM served as architect of record collaborating on integrated design approach.
• TransSolarcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated on Visual Arts Building to provide integrated climate engineering. TransSolar specializes in climate control and building physics.
• LMN ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeattle-based architect of record for Voxman School of Music project. DE provided MEP engineering for this 188,000 sq ft facility featuring complex acoustic requirements.
• Neumann-MonsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitect of Record for Voxman School of Music - Iowa City based architectural firm.
• Mortenson ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction manager for Voxman School of Music project. DE collaborated with Mortenson during construction administration.
• Jaffe Holden AcousticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcoustics consultant on Voxman School of Music and other auditorium projects. Critical collaboration for achieving acoustic requirements.
• Fisher Dachs AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater planning consultant on performing arts projects including Voxman School of Music.
• MKA (Magnusson Klemencic Associates)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural engineers on Voxman School of Music. Collaboration required for integration of MEP systems with building structure.
• OPN ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partner on award-winning Marion Fire Station and Linn-Mar Community School District Educational Leadership Center. OPN has received multiple AIA awards for projects with DE.
• Rohrbach Associates ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with DE on Iowa City Fire Stations No. 2 and No. 4, both achieving LEED Gold certification.
• MidAmerican EnergyminorOthersUtility company that verified energy savings and provided incentive payment of over $550,000 for Visual Arts Building.
• Alliant EnergyminorOthersUtility provider for University of Dubuque campus. DE designed power systems coordinated with Alliant Energy for new power loop.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Arup is a global engineering consultancy with renowned MEP/sustainability practices for cultural, civic, and higher-ed signature buildings (a tier above DE on flagship architect collaborations like BNIM, Steven Holl, LMN), and competes for premier institutional projects.
• WSP (Buildings division): WSP is a global engineering consultancy that competes for institutional and civic MEP commissions; broader portfolio and global scale, but overlapping capabilities with DE on high-performance public and higher-ed work.

Direct peers

• ME Engineers: ME Engineers is an MEP-focused engineering consulting firm with a strong sustainability and high-performance building practice, very similar in size, market positioning, and project complexity to Design Engineers. Both compete for institutional and civic high-performance projects.
• Smith Seckman Reid (SSR): Smith Seckman Reid is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm providing MEP, structural, and technology services across higher education, healthcare, and government — comparable consulting model and vertical mix to DE.
• ESD (now part of Stantec): ESD is a MEP/sustainability/technology engineering consultancy serving similar institutional and commercial clients; comparable high-performance building portfolio and consulting-firm structure.
• Syska Hennessy Group: Syska Hennessy is a larger MEP consulting firm serving mission-critical, healthcare, and higher education markets with a strong sustainability practice; comparable business model and service mix to DE despite greater scale.
• CMTA: CMTA is an MEP engineering consulting firm nationally recognized for zero-energy design, ASHRAE 90.1 leadership, and education-sector work, directly comparable to DE's net-zero and K-12 focus. Both are deeply integrated with sustainability advocacy bodies.
• IMEG (formerly KJWW Engineering Consultants): IMEG is a Midwestern-headquartered MEP engineering consulting firm with strong higher education, healthcare, and K-12 practices — directly competitive with DE in Iowa and Wisconsin project pursuits.
• Vanderweil Engineers: Vanderweil Engineers is a privately-held MEP/technology consulting firm serving higher education, healthcare, cultural, and science clients — a comparable specialty-consulting model to DE with overlapping vertical focus.
• TLC Engineering Solutions (now Salas O'Brien): TLC Engineering Solutions provides MEP, fire protection, and technology consulting with an institutional client mix (education, healthcare, government) — a closely comparable specialty-consulting competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/designengineer6
• Facebookfacebook.com/DesignEngineersPC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/design-engineers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Design Engineers