IDEA

What IDEA does

IDEA (Innovative Design Engineering Associates, LLC) is a privately held US engineering consultancy founded in 2021 and headquartered in Monroe, Connecticut, with a second office opened in Downtown Miami in December 2024. The firm delivers interdisciplinary Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection (MEP-FP) engineering services to enterprise and institutional clients across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Florida, and selectively international markets including the Bahamas. Its service portfolio spans mechanical engineering (central plant, HVAC, energy modeling, building automation), electrical engineering (power distribution, fire alarm, lighting, renewables, arc-flash studies), plumbing (water, drainage, gas, flood mitigation, water conservation), fire protection (sprinkler, standpipe, special agent systems), low voltage systems, BIM modeling, building life cycle and retrofit services, and owner's representation / construction support. IDEA is certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and operates with a core team of approximately 12 professionals led by Founder & Managing Principal Kazi (formerly of AltieriSeborWieber and DeSimone Consulting Engineers) and Principal Vinoo.

The firm's commercial model is project-based professional services delivered via direct B2B engagement with project owners, developers, architects, and general contractors; pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with no publicly disclosed rates. Its go-to-market combines enterprise field sales with event-driven visibility (groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings) and a content-led portfolio showcasing flagship projects. The defining commercial credential is the MSC Miami Cruise Terminal — a four-year engagement culminating in an April 2025 ribbon-cutting at the world's largest cruise terminal, serving 36,000 daily passengers across 495,000 SF of interior space and a 1.2M SF garage. Beyond MSC, IDEA has delivered MEP-FP services for a diversified roster including Princeton, Yale, Penn State, Wellesley, College of the Holy Cross, the American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Glenstone, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Steinway & Sons, Urban Outfitters, AmeriHealth, and AmeriSourceBergen. Marketing channels include the firm website, project case studies, social and video content, internship programs, and industry events. The firm is bootstrapped, with no disclosed venture or private equity capital.

Name

IDEA

Legal name

Innovative Design Engineering Associates, LLC

Website

https://ideaaec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IDEA is a privately held, SBE/MBE-certified US engineering consultancy founded in 2021 that delivers interdisciplinary Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection design services to enterprise and institutional clients across education, transportation, cultural, healthcare, industrial, and high-rise residential sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Services (MEP-FP / Building Systems Design)

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Hard Services (MEP/HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing) (BPABAAAA), Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems Integration (BPAKAGAF), Building Automation & Controls (BAS/BMS, HVAC Controls) (IMAIABAD)

Keywords

• MEP engineering services
• Fire protection design
• Building systems engineering
• Electrical engineering consulting
• Plumbing engineering design

Headquarters

HQ city

Monroe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 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: Professional engineering services including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection design. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting fees, design services, and construction support services. The firm handles projects of varying complexity and sizes from concept through construction completion.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IDEA delivers integrated Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection (MEP-FP) engineering design, consulting, and construction support services for buildings across commercial/transportation, cultural, educational/institutional, high-rise, mixed-use, performance venues, residential, and industrial sectors. Services span concept through construction completion, using BIM, building automation, energy management, and energy modeling to support sustainable and LEED-certified outcomes.

Product overview

IDEA (Innovative Design Engineering Associates) is a technology-oriented Interdisciplinary MEP-FP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection) Engineering firm founded in 2021, offering a comprehensive suite of engineering services. The company operates as a unified service offering organized around core engineering disciplines: Mechanical Engineering Services, Electrical Engineering Services, Plumbing Engineering Services, Fire Protection Engineering Services, Low Voltage Systems Engineering, Building Life Cycle Services, and Project Management & Construction Services. These services are delivered across multiple project sectors including commercial/transportation, cultural, educational/institutional, high-rise, industrial, mixed-use, performance venues, and residential. Notable flagship projects include the MSC Miami Cruise Terminal (world's largest cruise terminal) and various university facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully completed design for the largest cruise terminal in the Americas (World's Largest)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• GDP (General Development Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2023IDEA collaborated with GDP on the East End Food Institute project, providing MEP-FP Engineering services for Phase 1 completion. The project supports local farmers and the food system community with state-of-the-art facilities for food processing, distribution, and retail.
• FincantiericoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2023Fincantieri is a major shipbuilding company and cruise industry partner. IDEA collaborated with Fincantieri on the MSC Cruise Terminal project, with joint team celebrations including the 2-year anniversary BBQ event.
• MSC CruisesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2022Primary client and project partner for the MSC Miami Cruise Terminal - World's Largest Cruise Terminal. IDEA provided comprehensive MEP-FP engineering and construction support services over 4 years for this landmark transportation venue serving 36,000 passengers daily.
• ArquitectonicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArquitectonica is the architecture firm behind the MSC Miami Cruise Terminal project. IDEA provided MEP-FP engineering services as part of this world-class project team, contributing to the World's Largest Cruise Terminal at PortMiami.
• Khair Community CenterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIDEA provided engineering services for the Khair Community Center in Phoenixville, PA - a multi-phase project including Masjid, youth educational programs, and community recreational facilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Buro Happold: Global engineering consultancy with deep MEP, structural, and sustainability practices serving cultural, transportation, and large-scale commercial projects — a broader incumbent that competes for the same marquee commissions as IDEA.
• IMEG Corp: Engineering consultancy with substantial MEP-FP building services practice serving higher education, healthcare, and commercial clients — a larger incumbent comparable on services and verticals.
• WSP: Global engineering professional services firm with full MEP-FP capability across buildings, transportation, and infrastructure — competes with IDEA for large institutional and transportation commissions at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• AKF Group: Mid-size MEP/lighting/fire protection engineering consultancy serving real estate, healthcare, education, and cultural sectors — a directly comparable peer along service lines and project typologies.
• Newcomb & Boyd: Mid-size U.S. MEP engineering consultancy serving commercial, institutional, cultural, and performance-venue clients with an interdisciplinary design approach directly comparable to IDEA's positioning and project mix.
• Henderson Engineers: National MEP/fire protection/life safety engineering firm serving commercial, healthcare, education, and mixed-use markets — closely aligned with IDEA's interdisciplinary MEP-FP practice.
• Syska Hennessy Group: Established MEP and technology systems engineering consultancy with strong presence in commercial, cultural, healthcare, and mission-critical projects — a directly comparable specialty engineering peer.
• ME Engineers: Boutique MEP/technology engineering consultancy focused on performing arts, cultural, sports, and specialty venues — closely comparable to IDEA's performance-venue and cultural-institution portfolio.
• Jaros Baum & Bolles: New York-based MEP engineering consulting firm specializing in commercial, institutional, and large-scale transportation/cultural projects — a closely aligned specialty peer for IDEA's higher-end institutional work.
• Tolin Group: Mid-size MEP and sustainability engineering consultancy serving commercial, institutional, and cultural clients with an integrated design approach — comparable to IDEA's interdisciplinary positioning.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idea-aec

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 IDEA