What Globetrotters Engineering Corporation does

Globetrotters Engineering Corporation (GEC) is a Chicago-based, second-generation family-owned professional services firm founded in 1974 that delivers architecture, multi-discipline engineering, construction management, facility management, property management, information technology, and permit plan review services to government and public-sector clients. Its core customer base consists of Illinois and Chicago-area agencies including the Illinois Department of Transportation, City of Chicago, Cook and McHenry counties, O'Hare and Midway International Airports, Metra, Chicago Public Schools, McCormick Place, and public hospital systems, with international work historically executed for USAID and the U.S. State Department. The firm operates through three affiliated entities: GEC (core design practice, 1974), Globetrotters International, Inc. (1997, facility/property operations and IT support), and Globetrotters Tech Solutions LLC (2020, cloud, managed IT, and fiber/network design).

The firm is organized around multi-disciplinary project teams, with technical capabilities spanning mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, transportation, and telecommunications engineering, supported by an in-house architectural studio (GEC Design Group) and a suite of standard AEC tools including GIS, CADD, BIM, and cloud-hosted disaster recovery infrastructure. It holds MBE certification with the City of Chicago, has graduated from the federal 8(a) program, and maintains more than 15 LEED-Accredited Professionals across disciplines, with project credentials spanning the $9M-$89M range (e.g., the $89M I-90 Roadway and Bridge Widening, $63M State of Illinois Fiber Optic Network, $35M 25th Avenue Grade Separation, $34M Caroline Hedger Apartments).

Revenue is generated through professional services fees on project-based, multi-year contracts secured via competitive government procurement (RFPs, competitive bidding) and direct relationships with public agencies. There are no publicly disclosed pricing tiers; pricing is quote-driven per project. The firm employs over 200 management, professional, and support personnel across offices in Chicago (HQ, 300 South Wacker Drive), Milwaukee, Washington DC, and Tampa, and has remained entirely organically grown with no external equity or institutional investment, operating as a private, family-controlled enterprise under Chairman Niranjan Shah and CEO Ajay Shah.

Name

Globetrotters Engineering Corporation

Legal name

Globetrotters Engineering Corporation

Website

https://gec-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Globetrotters Engineering Corporation is a Chicago-based, family-owned full-service architecture, engineering, and construction management firm serving Illinois and U.S. government clients, including IDOT, the City of Chicago, and major airports, since 1974.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Engineering Consulting Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management (BPAHAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

Keywords

• Architectural engineering services
• Construction management consulting
• Public infrastructure design
• Facility management services
• Transportation engineering consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services Revenue: Globetrotters generates revenue through professional consulting, design, and management services for architecture, engineering, construction management, facility management, and property management. Revenue is project-based with fees earned through government contracts and public sector engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Globetrotters Engineering Corporation is a full-service professional design and consulting organization that delivers architectural design, multi-discipline engineering, construction management, facility management, property management, information technology, and permit plan review services. The firm primarily serves government agencies, municipalities, transit authorities, airports, hospitals, and educational institutions with sustainable, LEED-oriented infrastructure and facility projects.

Product overview

Globetrotters Engineering Corporation is a full-service professional services organization comprising three distinct companies: Globetrotters Engineering Corporation (founded 1974) provides core architectural and engineering design services; Globetrotters International, Inc. (founded 1997) handles property/facility management and IT services; and Globetrotters Tech Solutions LLC (founded 2020) offers technology consulting. The portfolio includes service modules for Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Facility Management, Property Management, Information Technology, and Permit Review services. The company employs over 200 personnel across offices in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Washington DC, serving sectors including transportation, aviation, healthcare, municipal services, education, housing, and telecommunications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Globetrotters International, Inc. Specializes in property and facility operation and maintenance, venue and concessions management, project management, information technology, financial services, and architectural and engineering support.
• Globetrotters Tech Solutions LLC

Products and services

• Architecture Services

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wight & Company: Chicago-area architecture and engineering firm serving public-sector clients with design, engineering, and construction management services. Comparable size, sector mix (transportation, education, municipal), and Illinois DOT exposure.
• TranSystems: Midwest-based engineering and architecture consulting firm focused on transportation, infrastructure, and public-sector clients. Comparable in size and service mix — multi-discipline engineering, construction management, and architecture for DOTs, transit authorities, and airports.
• Alfred Benesch & Company: Chicago-headquartered multi-discipline engineering firm providing civil, structural, transportation, and environmental engineering plus construction management for public-sector clients. Direct competitor in the Illinois DOT and municipal infrastructure market with comparable scale.

Broad incumbents

• Kimley-Horn: National engineering, planning, and design consulting firm with strong transportation and land development practices. Competes in Illinois DOT and municipal work but with national scale and broader service lines.
• HDR Inc. Global architecture and engineering firm with a substantial transportation, water, and government infrastructure practice. Competes on Illinois Tollway, IDOT, and Chicago aviation work but operates at much larger scale.
• Stantec: Global architecture, engineering, and environmental services firm with significant transportation, buildings, and water practices across the Midwest. Competes in Illinois DOT and municipal markets at larger scale.
• Burns & McDonnell: Large employee-owned engineering, architecture, and construction firm with significant aviation, transportation, and government infrastructure practices. Competes for the same IDOT, O'Hare, and municipal clients but with a national footprint and far larger bench.
• Jacobs Solutions: Public global engineering and professional services firm with deep transportation, water, and government infrastructure practices. Competes for large IDOT and Chicago infrastructure contracts at a materially larger scale.

Emerging players

• Ciorba Group: Chicago-based minority-owned civil engineering and consulting firm serving transportation, transit, and municipal clients. Smaller than Globetrotters but overlapping in Illinois DOT and Chicago public-sector work, with MBE-certification adjacency.

Regional players

• exp US Services: Multi-discipline engineering and architecture firm with strong public-sector transportation and infrastructure practices. Comparable service mix (architecture, engineering, construction management) and competes for similar IDOT/municipal work; Canadian-headquartered with growing Midwest presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/globetrotters-engineering-corporation
• Facebookfacebook.com/globetrottersengineeringcorporation

Compliance16 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Globetrotters Engineering Corporation