What MODUS Engineering does

MODUS Engineering is a privately held consulting engineering firm headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, providing integrated mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology (MEPT) engineering design services for new construction and renovation projects. Founded in 1963 as Gilmor+Doyle and rebranded to MODUS in 2009, the firm operates four offices (Des Moines, Iowa City, Waterloo, and Portland, Maine) and has engineered systems for more than 11,000 buildings worth over $5 billion in cumulative construction costs. Its service portfolio spans sustainable engineering (geothermal, photovoltaic, chilled beams, energy recovery), healthcare MEP, mechanical and electrical design, plumbing, low-voltage technology systems, lighting design, facility planning, and arc flash safety studies, with demonstrated strength in LEED-certified and high-performance building work (100+ LEED projects; ASHRAE International Technology Award recipient).

The firm serves building owners, architects, contractors, and institutional customers across healthcare, government, education, commercial real estate, financial, and retail segments, with notable projects including the Des Moines Federal Courthouse, UIHC facilities, Iowa State University housing, MidWestOne Bank, and a multi-year Kum & Go retail rollout. Service delivery is project-based, billed at hourly rates as needed by clients, with deep recurring relationships to a small set of architectural partners (MSR Architects, Neumann Monson, INVISION Architecture). GTM is enterprise relationship-driven rather than transactional.

MODUS is management-owned, with no disclosed external private equity or venture capital backing. Leadership transitioned in January 2026 with Senior Partner Harry Doyle stepping into a part-time role after 40+ years; next-generation principals include Chris Deal (Principal, LEED AP BD+C, Certified Energy Manager) and Josh Nielsen (Partner). The firm established a sustainability taskforce, MODUS*Green*, in fall 2022 and committed to the MEP 2040 Challenge, targeting net-zero operational carbon by 2030 and embodied carbon by 2040. Headcount is reported in the 101–250 range; revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

MODUS Engineering

Legal name

MODUS

Website

https://modus-eng.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MODUS Engineering is a privately held Iowa-based consulting engineering firm delivering integrated mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology (MEPT) design services for healthcare, government, education, and commercial building projects across the Midwest and Northeast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: MODUS provides MEP engineering design services billed at hourly rates. The firm works on project basis providing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology engineering design for construction projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MODUS is a consulting engineering firm that provides integrated Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Technology (MEPT) engineering design services for construction and renovation projects. The firm delivers custom (non-templated) engineering designs for owners, architects, and large institutional clients across healthcare, government, education, library, and commercial sectors, with deep specialization in sustainable/LEED-certified building systems.

Product overview

MODUS Engineering is a consulting engineering firm offering integrated MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Technology) engineering design services for the construction industry. The firm provides specialized services including Sustainable Engineering, Health Care Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Plumbing Engineering, Technology Engineering, Lighting Design, Facility Planning, and Arc Flash Studies. Rather than a software platform, MODUS delivers expert consulting engineering expertise and design documentation for building systems, serving clients across commercial, governmental, healthcare, educational, and residential sectors. Projects range from sustainable building designs targeting LEED certification to complex healthcare facilities and high-rise commercial buildings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Engineering
• Health Care Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Plumbing Engineering

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MSR Architects (MS&R Design)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMODUS frequently partners with MSR Architects on library and public building projects. Notable collaborations include Tulsa City-County Library, Norman Central Library, and Ames Public Library. The partnership focuses on MEP engineering design integrated with architectural vision.
• Neumann Monson ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on MidWestOne Bank One Place at Riverfront Crossing and Des Moines Federal Courthouse projects. Neumann Monson provides architectural services while MODUS delivers MEP engineering.
• INVISION ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMODUS partnered with INVISION on Cedar Falls High School and Buchanan County Health Center projects. INVISION provides architectural design while MODUS handles MEP engineering.
• InVisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Frederiksen Court student housing project for Iowa State University. InVision provided architectural services.
• Bergland + CramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partner on Kingland Systems project in Ames, IA.
• George Sexton and AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLighting design collaboration on Des Moines Federal Courthouse project.
• USGBC / LEED ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMODUS is a member and active participant in the U.S. Green Building Council, pursuing LEED certification on over 100 projects.
• MEP 2040 Challenge / Carbon Leadership ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMODUS joined the MEP 2040 Challenge, committing to advocate for and achieve net zero carbon in projects: operational carbon by 2030 and embodied carbon by 2040.
• ASHRAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMODUS is active in ASHRAE, having won the International Technology award. Engineers participate in the industry organization for standards and best practices.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BR+A Consulting Engineers: BR+A is an MEP engineering consulting firm serving healthcare, higher education, science/technology, and corporate markets. Its mission-critical and institutional focus closely mirrors MODUS's healthcare and education verticals.
• Smith Seckman Reid (SSR): SSR is a Nashville-based engineering consulting firm offering MEP, structural, and technology services for healthcare, education, and government clients. Comparable as a private, multi-office MEP consulting firm with similar end markets.
• ME Engineers: ME Engineers is an MEP and technology engineering consulting firm delivering mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and lighting design for commercial, healthcare, sports, and cultural buildings. Service mix and project-based consulting model align closely with MODUS.
• Heapy Engineering: Heapy is a Midwest-based MEP and technology engineering consulting firm with strong higher education, healthcare, and government exposure. Its regional Midwest base and sustainability/LEED focus closely parallel MODUS's positioning.
• IMEG Corp: IMEG is a large U.S. mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology engineering consulting firm with a similar full-service MEP/T portfolio across healthcare, education, government, and commercial markets. It is the most directly comparable peer by service mix and client verticals.
• Affiliated Engineers: Affiliated Engineers (AEI) is a mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering consulting firm with strong healthcare, higher education, and science/research expertise. Comparable in technical depth, sustainability focus, and consulting-only model.
• Interface Engineering: Interface Engineering provides MEP, lighting, and sustainable design services for commercial, healthcare, and institutional buildings. It is a direct peer in the integrated MEP/LEED-focused consulting space.

Broad incumbents

• WSP: WSP is a global professional services firm with a major buildings practice offering mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering for healthcare, education, and government facilities. It competes for larger institutional engagements where MODUS also pursues work.
• Stantec: Stantec is a global engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with a significant buildings practice covering MEP, sustainability, and energy services. It competes for larger healthcare, education, and civic projects that overlap with MODUS's portfolio.
• Burns & McDonnell: Burns & McDonnell is a large, full-service engineering, architecture, and construction firm with substantial MEP and facilities design capabilities. It competes with MODUS on large healthcare, government, and institutional projects but operates at significantly greater scale and scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/modusengineering
• Xx.com/modus_engineer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/modus-eng

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 MODUS Engineering