SSOE Group Announces Solar and Battery / EV Project Delivery Expert Perlita Schorfheide Has Joined Firm as Vice President, Program Manager

TOLEDO, Ohio, March 14, 2024 – SSOE Group, an architecture and engineering firm ranked the #2 Manufacturing Design Firm by industry-leading Engineering News-Record, is excited to announce that Perlita Schorfheide, PE, CCM, PMP, has joined the firm as Vice President, Program Manager. Schorfheide officially joined the company on March 4, 2024, reporting to Senior Vice President Scott Bussell in the firm’s Complex Projects Division. Read more

Giving clients more for their money through innovative software

In our latest newsletter, we are highlighting the outstanding performance of Jonathan Bolbach and Mark LaBell, winners of SSOE’s Founder’s Award. Their accomplishment — developing the AutoNavis software application — met two of the award’s key criteria: delivering exceptional value to clients by saving them time, trouble, and money and implementing an innovation that leads to improved processes and quality. Read more

Pulling back the curtain on VDC

In moving a project from statement of work to completion of construction, regular collaboration between owners, designers, and contractors is no longer a luxury. It is the managerial insurance the project must have in order to stay on schedule and budget. Much of the unbudgeted time and expense incurred by change orders can be attributed to a lack of integration between the players. It’s often because these parties failed to include the resources and intentional effort for collaboration. Read more

SSOE Group Announces León Office Expansion Amid Continued Growth in Mexico

LEÓN, Guanajuato, Mexico, October 26, 2023 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, is proud to announce the expansion of its León, Guanajuato, office—a direct result of the firm’s continued focus on and investment in its Mexico operations. Last month, an open house reception, consisting of a special town hall with a ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremony, was held to inaugurate the expansion of SSOE’s León operations as it now occupies a third additional floor within the office complex. Read more

SSOE Group Acquires Integrated Engineering Services (IES)

TOLEDO, Ohio, October 16, 2023 – SSOE Group, an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, is delighted to announce the successful acquisition of Santa Clara, California-based Integrated Engineering Services (IES), effective October 13, 2023. This strategic move marks a significant step forward for both organizations, ushering in a new era of expanded capabilities and enhanced service offerings for our valued clients.

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Fostering Scientific Excellence and Interaction

SSOE heard it loud and clear. “This is our world headquarters and we want to show it.” It’s a predictable requirement for the world headquarters of a global company; however it’s not often that laboratories are the main focus of the space. Kemin, however, understood their laboratories were the best means to demonstrate to customers their passion for innovation. Read more

Four Roads to Energy Efficiency

Is your company eager to become more energy efficient and reap the financial rewards, but you aren’t sure where to start? Or maybe your company is one that equates energy efficiency programs to going on a diet. You know it would be good for you in many ways, and you keep talking about it, but you just haven’t made it happen. Now, with energy costs on the rise and emissions reduction legislation pending in Congress, there are more reasons than ever to commit. The U.S. Federal Government is one source for free tools and programs to help companies map out a strategy for reducing their energy consumption and costs. This article is an overview of the various programs, and ways companies can be recognized for their achievements in sustainability and energy reduction. Read more

Plant Engineering Article: “Three Strategy Tips for Optimizing your Next Energy Assessment”

Eric Hopkins, PE, Senior Chemical Process Engineer and Senior Associate at SSOE Group, recently authored an article in Plant Engineering where he explains how better energy assessments improve a plant’s overall optimization and provides better data insights. He provides an in-depth analysis of three energy assessment strategies that should be considered to unlock value to improve your organization’s next energy assessment. Read more

Lab Equipment Article: “Meaningful Involvement”

Suzan Huff, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Master Architect and Senior Associate at SSOE, recently authored an article in Lab Equipment Magazine where she explains in detail how meaningful involvement in the planning and design process of a lab project will ensure a uniquely suitable and successful project outcome.

User representation on the project team ideally needs to involve all parties affected, at all levels and departments. This includes senior managers, seasoned scientists, and intermediate management, with each individual bringing a unique and different perspective for the duration of the project. While this is no small task, she details a strategy of success to accomplish this. Read more

Lab Manager Article: “Top Tips for Planning a Successful Lab Renovation”

Suzan Huff, RA, LEED AP BD+C, Master Architect at SSOE, recently authored an article in Lab Manager magazine where she explains how a lack of existing or accurate documentation, such as building blueprints, maintenance records, and inspection reports, is a common challenge for laboratory renovation projects. She goes on to discuss how to approach this challenge and shares insights into on-site field observation, verification, and documentation that can save time, trouble, and money during the construction phase of these projects. Read more

Processing Magazine Article: “4 Insights into Resolving Vibration in Cleanrooms”

Dewayne Galyon, Basebuild Technical Specialist at SSOE, offers his top four insights for maintaining a facility’s cleanroom conditions in this Processing Magazine article. With a variety of highly developed tools available, measuring, monitoring, and managing cleanroom facility conditions is indeed more easily achievable than ever before, but still not without its trials. Within the article, Dewayne drills down into vibration issues, which are caused by something moving or rotating, that often damage equipment or affect the product. Although allowable vibration varies from cleanroom facility to cleanroom facility due to size and standards, a vibration problem can be an ambitious one for clients to solve on their own as there is typically not a clear-cut, direct route to resolution and necessitates a thorough understanding of both infrastructure and equipment. Read more

Processing Magazine Article: “Statistical Process Control Insights”

Dewayne Galyon, Basebuild Technical Specialist at SSOE, illustrates his keen understanding of statistical process control (SPC) in this article recently featured in Processing Magazine. An essential tool for controlling quality in cleanroom manufacturing processes, SPC works to identify problem areas and increase optimization, uncovering contaminant sources farther down the production line that may have otherwise remained undiagnosed. Read more

BD+C Magazine Article: “Laser Scanners Go Handheld”

Jason Christen, PMP, Senior Account Executive at SSOE, and Mark LaBell, Senior VDC Technical Leader, were both featured in a BD+C Magazine article that examines the rise of 3D laser scanners, which have recently evolved into handhelds. 3D laser scanning is the fastest, most efficient method to capture existing conditions. In addition to allowing us to scan harder-to-reach places, handheld scanners provide the ability to show clients results immediately after taking a scan with a workable model showing an accurate representation of the facility—a major benefit of the technology that often translates into cost savings for our clients. Read more

Lab Manager Magazine Article: “Increase Transparency for Your Lab’s Products and Services”

Industry survivors must embrace shifting paradigms in order to remain competitive in the private sector.

Suzan Huff, RA, LEED AP BD+C, Master Architect at SSOE, recently authored an article in Lab Manager Magazine highlighting three concepts trending in commercial laboratory design: flexibility, transparency, and positive branding. With traditional lab practices changing, the spaces themselves are being modified to accommodate. In addition to creating open, adaptable spaces, Suzan also recommends incorporating movable / convertible items, such as furniture, to create an easily transformable, dynamic group environment and interior and exterior image branding to better appeal to the public. Read more

Product Design and Development Magazine Article: “How to Reduce Cleanroom Costs by Using Less Energy”

Alan Liddy, AIA, NCARB, Senior Project Manager at SSOE, was recently published in Product Design and Development Magazine on the topic of cleanrooms. Alan explains that keeping cleanrooms clean can come at a lower cost, depending on the cleanroom’s classification, while offering strategies to cut costs without cutting corners. Clean standards continue to climb, but with a few operational enhancements, you can avoid contamination economically. Read more

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Magazine Article: “Virtual Design & Construction Brings All Parties Together”

In this article featured in the October, 2015 issue of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Magazine, SSOE’s Ed Royzman, PE and John Gill, PE, PMP take readers through an overview of Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) and its role in removing barriers between the phases of project delivery. Royzman and Gill take a look at how the benefits of VDC were leveraged on one FDA-compliant pharmaceutical project – providing significant value for process validation by allowing designers, fabricators, and contractors to input detail into the model. This resulted in a more accurate picture of building conditions, with the added benefit of all commissioning and validation efforts recorded for future facility adaptation. Read more

American School and University Magazine Article: “Laboratory Retriever”

Joe Kunkle, AIA, PE, LEED AP, Principal Account Executive at SSOE Group, and Lance Mushung, AIA, NCARB, Architect, co-authored this article featured in American School and University Magazine. Kunkle and Mushung, who have over 60 years of combined industry experience, confer on the subject of casework reuse. Whether you’re aiming for a LEED® certified project or significant casework cost savings, the shortcuts offered by this resourceful twosome will lead you down the right path. Read more

ENR Article: “Design Professionals Must Embrace VDC to Improve Their Profession and Projects”

John Gill, PE, PMP, LEED AP, SSOE’s Director of VDC, was recently published in Engineering News-Record (ENR) discussing the topic of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC). Gill has over 20 years of industry experience and was responsible for the implementation of SSOE’s VDC program. He writes on the many strengths the VDC framework has to offer our industry, and offers some tips for implementing a solid foundation on your next project. Read more

Laboratory Design Magazine Article: “Lab Renovations: Four Significant Challenges”

SSOE Group’s Alan Liddy, AIA, NCARB, PMP, Senior Project Manager, and Deborah Suzan Huff, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate and Architect, co-authored this technical how-to article in Laboratory Design Magazine. Lab design is unarguably involved and often perplexing, but Liddy and Huff share their lab-savvy design tips, offering solutions to four critical, yet common challenges. A project team equipped with details can ardently tackle these challenges by engaging intercommunication coupled with proficiency. Read more

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Magazine Article: “Critical Success Factors in Raw Material Storage & Conveyance”

Correct design basis requires deep understanding of raw material characteristics and facility conditions.

Mark Hoffman, PE, PMP, Department Manager in Food and Consumer Products at SSOE Group, was recently published in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Magazine. Hoffman has over 30 years of experience in project and engineering management in the pharmaceutical processing, food processing, nutraceutical processing, bio-processing, renewable energy, ammonia refrigeration, and food ingredient industries. In his article, he explains how a consistently dependable environment for raw material storage and conveyance is imperative to practical and profitable production flow in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

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Pharmaceutical Processing Magazine Article: “The Elephant in the Lab Room – The Path to Resolving Storage Space Issues”

Architect Suzan Huff is featured in the April 2014 issue of Pharmaceutical Processing Magazine with an article on storage and space planning for laboratory environments. “Inadequate or misplaced storage space in the modern laboratory becomes that obstinate elephant in the room that everyone must work around, yet no one can seem to come up with an adequate solution to remove.” In order to resolve in the planning stage, Huff outlines the steps to achieving the optimal amount of storage space that’s placed in the most efficient matter — using experience, collaboration, communication, and creativity as key elements for success.

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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Magazine Article: Facility Design: Finding the Flow

SSOE Group’s Alan Liddy, AIA, NCARB, PMP is featured in the January 2012 issue of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. In this article, Liddy discusses the importance of collaboration between architects and manufacturers when designing a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in order to improve process flow.

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SSOE Group Recognized as 2018 MEP Giant

CHICAGO, Illinois October 09, 2018 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, is proud to announce it has been named one of Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s 2018 MEP Giants. The MEP Giants program ranks the top 100 mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and fire protection engineering firms in the United States based on total MEP design revenue. SSOE ranked 45th this year, holding steady at the same spot as their 2017 ranking. In 2016, SSOE jumped 37 spots. Read more

Reliable Plant Magazine Article: “Industrial Facilities and Processes: Are You Winning on Both Fronts?”

SSOE Group’s Louise Schlatter, NCARB, LEED AP, and IET’s Tim Stansfield, PE, Ph.D, discuss how strategic master planning can yield capital investment decisions that optimize facilities and process. Read more

The Military Engineer Magazine Article: “Energy Planning for Laboratories”

SSOE Group’s Ed Royzman, PE, and Meredith Mayes, PE, LEED AP, discuss how master planning and smart phasing are the first steps to reduced utility costs and energy compliance at federal laboratories that have outlived their electrical and mechanical systems. Read more

SSOE Group’s Kevin Costello and Chris Baker Honored by the Toledo Chapter of the American Institute of Architects

TOLEDO, Ohio, May 11, 2017 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, is privileged to announce that two of their own were selected for awards by the Toledo Chapter of the American Institute of Architect (AIA). Kevin Costello, AIA, was named “2017 AIA Toledo Architect of the Year” and Christopher Baker, AIA Associate, was named “2017 AIA Toledo Emerging Professional of the Year”. The awards were presented to Costello and Baker during the Honors Awards Program on April 21, 2017 at the Blarney Event Center in Downtown Toledo, Ohio. Read more

SSOE Group Announces Bob Howell as the Next President and CEO

Toledo, Ohio – June 3, 2014-— SSOE’s Board of Directors announced today that it has selected Bob Howell to be the next President and CEO of SSOE Group—a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm . Effective December 3, 2014, Bob Howell will assume the reins from current CEO, Tony Damon, who announced his plans to retire late last year.

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SSOE Named to 7 Top 10 Spots in ENR’s 2013 Rankings

TOLEDO, Ohio, August 19, 2013 SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm announced today it has been named to 7 Top 10 spots in the recently released, revenue-based ENR rankings, the premier publication covering the AEC industry.

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SSOE Group to Sponsor Energy Seminar at Maumee Bay State Park

Energy-SeminarTOLEDO, Ohio, May 20, 2013 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, announces its sponsorship of the first annual “Evolving Energy Landscape” seminar July 15-16, 2013 at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Ohio. The one and a half day seminar will deliver expert information and insights about the energy industry’s complex and changing issues to arm energy users with useful knowledge to be better equipped to reach short-term energy goals and set a smart course for the future. Attendees will earn .7 continuing education hours for attending.

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SSOE Group and Evergreen EDC Announce Merger

TOLEDO, Ohio, January 14, 2013 – SSOE Group, a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, and Evergreen EDC, a multidiscipline engineering, design, and construction management firm, today announced a merger of the firms. The merger will expand both firms’ geographic reach as well as provide their clients access to enhanced services and resources. The merged entity will operate under the SSOE Group name after a brief transition period.

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