SSOE Opens Fourth Office in Ohio and Doubles in Size in the Past Four Years

Columbus, OH, October 30, 2008 – SSOE, one of the nation’s largest architecture and engineering firms announced today it has opened its doors in Columbus, Ohio. The office location is representative of the fact that their offices in Ohio, including Toledo, Cincinnati and Lima, bringing $87 million dollars of taxable revenue into the State economy. Over the past four years, SSOE has continued to show growth each year due in part to their increasing market share in diverse sectors including healthcare, alternative energy, chemical, science and technology, and food.

Since 2004, SSOE has doubled by revenue and by numbers of staff. SSOE posted their revenue for the 2008 planning year at $120 million, also adding 250 employees corporate wide. SSOE even strengthened their retention rate to 95% for the year, which is over 20% higher than the US national average.

The new office was opened in response to the demand for commercial architecture and engineering services, not just in the Midwest, but throughout the US. The Columbus office is key location for all SSOE business units and its proximity is strategic for many of their long standing clients including Honda of America. Initially however, SSOE will be focusing this office on retail and site services due to the large number of nationally-based commercial developers and retailers centered in the area.

“As our firm continues to experience significant growth, we are seizing this opportunity to advance our relationships with existing and prospective nationally based clients by providing unparalleled customer service in many uniquely different strategic markets.” said Michael Duffey, PE, Division Manager and Senior Associate for SSOE, Inc.

The company is looking to hire experienced architecture and engineering professionals in addition to those with experience in project management. SSOE’s Columbus office is creating new jobs in Columbus which is part of the company’s nationwide initiative to hire more than 150 architects and engineers by the end of 2009. The office will initially support the integrated efforts of SSOE’s 19 offices while building relationships to support SSOE’s Central-Ohio client base.

About SSOE
Celebrating its 60th Corporate Anniversary, SSOE, Inc. is an international design firm and is ranked 8th among the nation’s largest engineering and architecture firms (Building Design and Construction, 2008). SSOE has also been named one of nine Best AEC Firms to Work For (Building Design and Construction, 2007) and as one of the fastest-growing US architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms by ZweigWhite, Hot List 2008.

With 1000 employees and multi-disciplined LEED(TM) accredited professionals employed in 19 offices around the world the company has earned a solid reputation in facility design for the retail, healthcare, automotive and science and technology markets, as well as process engineering for the alternative energy, biofuels, chemical, food and beverage, glass and personal care industries. SSOE has completed projects in 48 states and 32 countries, and has achieved 60 years of excellence in engineering and architectural design. Visit www.ssoe.com for additional information and career opportunities.

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Contact:
Danielle Benninger
SSOE, Inc.
Office: 419.255.3830
dbenninger@ssoe.com

About SSOE Group

As an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, SSOE is known for delivering unparalleled client value that advances the AEC industry. They have been named a “Great Workplace” (Great Place to Work®) and one of the “Best AEC Firms to Work For” (BD+C).

Over the company’s 75-year history, it has earned a reputation for providing quality project solutions to high-tech and general manufacturing clients in the semiconductor, automotive, battery, food, chemical, and glass industries. SSOE also provides forward-thinking design across healthcare and general building sectors such as corporate workplace, education, and judicial—with projects completed in 40 countries. Visit www.ssoe.com for additional information and career opportunities.

Media Contact:
Jenni Roder
(419) 469-1918
(419) 351-6480 cell
jroder@ssoe.com