PHILADELPHIA, PA – O’Donnell & Naccarato (O&N), a leading structural engineering firm headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, has acquired Miami-based Douglas Wood Associates (DWA) as part of the firm’s larger strategic vision to expand its footprint in key markets nationwide. Simultaneously, O&N announced the opening of an additional office in Orlando to support O&N’s rapidly expanding client base in Central Florida.

DWA brings its 30-year track record of excellence and deep-rooted South Florida market knowledge to the growing O&N team, providing a full suite of creative services for all types of buildings and structures. The acquisition places O&N among one of the largest purely structural engineering firms in the country.

“O&N’s continued expansion into Florida has been a key aspect of our growth strategy, and we have found a valuable partner in DWA,” said Anthony Naccarato, PE, SE, F.ASCE President of O&N. “Their outstanding service and unsurpassed reputation in the Florida market, coupled with O&N’s structural engineering excellence, scale of projects, and production capacity, make this acquisition a natural fit for both firms.”

Founded in 1981, O&N has grown from a three-person company into one of the nation’s most prominent consulting structural engineering firms. With offices in Philadelphia, New York City, Mountainside, New Jersey, Indianapolis, and now Miami and Orlando, the firm designs solutions for projects valued at more than $4 billion each year and is responsible for the design of more than 1,000 projects annually across the United States.

Consistent with O&N’s long-term strategic vision, the merger will combine Douglas Wood Associates’ longstanding local Miami relationships with O&N’s vast project experience, significant resources, and national reach to position the firm for continued growth in Florida and beyond.

“Our decision to join O&N allows us to continue DWA’s legacy, while also tapping into new markets and opportunities for growth,” said Douglas Wood, PE, President of DWA. “O&N’s core values are aligned with ours, and we are proud to join forces with one of the most reputable names in structural engineering.”

The acquisition is effective as of September 29, 2022. O&N will welcome 23 employees from DWA, which will operate as Wood / O’Donnell & Naccarato. The combined firm will be registered to perform design and restoration services in all 50 states.

Wood / O’Donnell & Naccarato has completed a number of notable healthcare projects in the Florida market for Ascension Sacred Heart Health, Baptist Health, Jackson Health, and is currently working with Orlando Health. The firm also has a robust roster of commercial, cultural and historic rehabilitation projects, including The Town Center at Boca Raton, Bal Harbour Shops, FSU’s Morcom Aquatic Center, The Space Shop Self Storage in North Miami, The Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables, Trinity Cathedral and the Freedom Tower in Miami.

About O’Donnell & Naccarato

O’Donnell & Naccarato is a structural engineering firm operating nationally from our offices in Philadelphia, New York City, New Jersey, Indianapolis and now Florida with strong experience in every major vertical construction sector. O’Donnell & Naccarato supports the entire lifecycle of a building starting with the initial structural design to renovations and ultimately to restoration.

As a partner to design professionals, owners and institutions, our objective is to incorporate each stakeholder’s demands of form, function, schedule and budget into each engagement. For more information, visit www.o-n.com.

Jon served as the Director of Production Technology at O&N. He created and maintained the standards that are seen by all who view a set of our drawings – he firmly believed that our drawings were a window into what our firm represents. Jon ushered O&N into the BIM generation, presented at numerous AIA and Autodesk University conferences about Revit Structure and performed Quality Control on our projects. Jon’s career started at Fisher Steel as a steel detailer. From there he spent almost 9 years at Pennoni Associates prior to starting at O&N in 1997. Jon will be dearly missed.

The main building topping out for one of New Jersey’s largest public revitalization efforts took place Friday afternoon and O&N was honored to have some of our team in attendance. 

The 405,000-square-foot design-build complex, formally known as the Honorable Frank J. Guarini Justice Complex, sits right in the heart of Jersey City. The main building of the complex includes 24 courtrooms, judges’ chambers, sheriff offices, and court administration. A six-story, 459-space parking garage, and a one-and-a-half story building housing the surrogate and prosecutor’s office, form the remainder of the complex. It is an honor to be collaborating with such a talented team on this project, which is set to open in 2024.

“O&N’s designs have contributed to some of the region’s most notable municipal projects, and we are thrilled to add the Guarini Justice Complex to our roster of transformative projects.” -Anthony Naccarato, PE, SE, F. ASCE, President of O&N

Check out a video of the topping off, below!

With great pleasure and pride, we announce the structural engineering staff promotions of twelve highly deserving O&N team members. During yet another challenging year, these individuals continued to put their best feet forward in bringing the top level of service to our clients, industry, and coworkers. These promotions are the latest evidence of the supportive dynamic of the O&N team that we strive to enhance together daily. We congratulate all on their achievements.

With the 2021 Holidays approaching, O&N winds down on our 40th Anniversary year-long celebration with our 40th Anniversary wrap up. This year has seen our firm not just survive but thankfully thrive during continued difficult economic times. We are so very grateful for the continued support of our clients, staff, and communities. As always, we look to the future – future clients, growth, prosperity, and above all happiness and peace with those we cherish. We wish the same for all of you this upcoming year and all to follow.

Click to watch the video 40th Anniversary wrap up.

We are beyond proud to announce that O&N President Anthony Naccarato has been honored by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a 2021 Most Admired CEO. The Journal recognized 28 of nearly 100 of the region’s top executives, each having demonstrated the skills, agility, and ingenuity required to lead their companies through the most difficult times.

Among his many professional accomplishments, Anthony has taken O&N from one of the leading structural engineering firms in the Mid-Atlantic region to a nationally recognized firm while maintaining the family culture that his father created when opening the firm in 1981. O&N has grown from 50 employees and 2 offices to 80 employees and 4 offices, including offices in Northern NJ, NYC, and IN, and stock value for the firm has grown more than 40% (O&N is an Employee Stock Ownership (ESOP) firm). Despite the many challenges O&N faced during the onset of the pandemic, Anthony was able to quickly get business under control, with O&N maintaining the entirety of its staff throughout 2020.

Anthony, or “Tony” as we know him, maintains a commitment to engaging young people in the fields of engineering and design. He served as the Founding Board Chair of the ACE Mentor Program Greater Philadelphia Affiliate from 2003-2013 and remains a member of the National Board of Director’s Leadership Council. Tony is also the Immediate Past Board Chair of the National Kidney Foundation (NFK) Eastern PA/NJ and is a champion of many fundraising events throughout the year, including the NFK Golf Outing and NFK Walk.

Perhaps the best example of Tony’s impact on this company comes from this quote from the submission: “When Anthony took over as President, there was excitement among the staff. Anthony is committed to the betterment of the company and his employees. When push comes to shove, Anthony will always put the company and employees before himself.”

The Business Journal will recognize each of these leaders and 2021 Most Admired CEOs at a live event at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia on Dec. 9 and profile all 28 in a special print edition of the paper on Dec. 10.

O’Donnell & Naccarato is proud to announce that we have joined the Structural Engineers 2050 Commitment Program. This comprehensive program has been designed to ensure substantive embodied carbon reductions in the design and construction of structural systems by the collective structural engineering profession. Ultimately, the fundamental goal is that “All structural engineers shall understand, reduce and ultimately eliminate embodied carbon in their projects by 2050.”

O&N’s commitment to this initiative begins with our Embodied Carbon Action Plan (ECAP) 2021, year one, which focuses on educating our staff, initiating our internal documentation process, determining potential reduction strategies, and bringing awareness to members of the A/E/C community that we interface with on a regular basis. Please see the link below to read the entire O&N Embodied Carbon Action Plan.

For more information on the Structural Engineers 2050 Commitment Program, click the link here.