By integrating RZ’s expertise in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire safety engineering, GM2 expands its service offerings and enhances its capabilities in vertical structures. Additionally, RZ’s national presence and cultural fit with GM2 will provide opportunities for growth and synergy across the company’s projects and operations throughout the country. This acquisition positions GM2 to better serve a broader range of clients and projects in the government, institutional, and commercial sectors, further solidifying its position in the industry. GM2 and RZ are Connecticut based corporations.

RZ Design Associates, a GM2 company, will continue to provide services out of their Rocky Hill, Franklin, and Tampa locations.

RZ Design Associates, Inc., was featured in this article for its work with the renovation team to find savings, energy-efficiency while making big community impact with minimal environmental cost.

https://www.hpac.com/from-the-field/article/21272691/connecticut-ymca-modernizes-heating-cooling-systems

RZ Design Associates, Inc., is proud to have collaborated with incredible partners to restore and expand the historic Memorial Boulevard School into the Bristol Arts & Innovation Magnet School.  The building is 96,000 SF and the 900-seat theatre was preserved and restored into an amazing space for the school and the community.  These team efforts resulted in receiving the Award of Merit from the CBC (Connecticut Building Conference) at their dinner held on June 13th.  RZ Design would like to recognize the efforts of our team who worked on this historic project.  Thanks to Ken Hipsky, P.E., Vice President – Project Manager, Chris Zajda, P.E., Vice President, Rich Lewandowski, P.E., Structural Engineer, Josh Ziegler, Electrical Designer, Peter Austin, P.E., Mechanical Engineer and George Lape, Fire Protection Designer.  The internal collaboration was as important as the external collaboration.  We’d also like to recognize our partnership for this project with QA+M Architecture, Akustiks, Benesch, D’Amato + Downes Joint Venture, FHI Studio and Next Stage Design.  Congratulations to the City of Bristol and the Bristol Board of Education for preserving such an important piece of local history!  Well done!

Kenneth Hipsky, P.E., Vice President – Project Manager
Chris Zajda, P.E., Vice President, Structural Engineer
Rich Lewandowski, P.E., Structural Engineer

Marketing’s Linda Colon sat down with Zach who shared what his experience has been like so far. “I’ve been learning how to use Revit and AutoCAD, which will be very useful for my future as an engineer. I previously had some experience using MicroStation from a course at UConn, which made learning the functions of these programs a little easier. Having experience with these two additional software programs will be invaluable for me,” he says.

Zach says he’s increased his knowledge of concrete and steel construction by learning how to update and format construction specifications. This insight will give him a head start on future academic courses on concrete and steel design at UCONN’s School of Engineering. He’s also had the opportunity to apply lessons from his engineering classes by helping a colleague on a project involving determining the wind load and the weight of a building while taking into account different forces and moments while designing.

RZ’s Design’s Vice President of Structural Engineering Christopher Zajda, PE, has mentored Zach throughout the summer and says, “Zach has comfortably jumped into his role as an intern and helped us update our structural specifications. He has accompanied fellow colleagues on several site visits including a structural review of the Springfield Jewish Community Center and a review of the East Hartford Business Park roof framing to assess new RTU support locations. We’ve also included him in our structural staff meetings and remain impressed with his level of engagement, positive attitude and strong work ethic.”

RZ Design embraces the opportunity to host engineering students via summer internships by pairing them with seasoned engineers in their discipline and  providing them with meaningful work to help increase their knowledge and encourage them to contribute their talents.

While Oscar Santo Domingo has retired, his remaining staff members have integrated with RZ Design’s team in the Rocky Hill headquarters where they will continue offering clients the exceptional service they have come to expect.

“Having an established structural engineering and design team already, we knew it was a great fit for Santo Domingo Engineering to merge with our firm. Their reputation for providing stellar engineering and service makes them an incredible asset for RZ Design. We are pleased to add to our project portfolio and to serve existing Santo Domingo clients. We will continue to deliver personal service and precise engineering and design and utilize the additional talent for future RZ projects,” says Robert Ricard, PE, president of RZ Design.

Led by the firm’s partners, whose combined experience total 170 years, RZ Design is the continuation of the former Legnos & Cramer consulting engineering firm (est. in 1952). Together, the legacy has strengthened RZ Design’s brand through the successful engineering and design in excess of 10,000 projects for new construction, renovations, historical buildings, additions, utility retrofits serving the education, municipal, retail, restaurant, residential, hospitality commercial, healthcare and recreational markets.

Ed Struchowski joins the Rocky Hill, Conn. headquarters in the role of MEP, structural and fire protection systems designer. A BIM coordinator skilled in Revit, Ed brings more than three decades of design experience and systems coordination making him a great addition to the fleet of designers.

Hazem Abouafia, EIT, PMP, PMI-RMP, LEED GA, CMRP, joins the Franklin, Mass. branch office as a senior plumbing and fire protection engineer. He has more than a decade of project management experience focused on a variety of projects in the commericial, healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotech markets.

Also located at our Rocky Hill headquarters is Mike Emonds, Jr., P.E., mechanical engineer. His prior experience includes the development of mechanical construction documents, drawings and specifications. He has performed field work, studies and investigations of existing mechanical systems, managed client relationships and is knowledgeable of all current codes and standards.

Debra’s background includes labor relations, negotiations, arbitrations, grievance hearings and litigation. Additionally she had managed employee benefits,  workers’ compensation, OSHA standards, hiring and onboarding, progressive employee improvement plans, wellness programs, COVID policies and procedures, Federal DOT requirements, mandatory training and human resource policies and procedures.  She maintains her Senior Certified Professional status through IPMA (International Public Management Association).