BKF and MNS Merge to Create Western US Engineering Powerhouse

OAKLAND, CA – January 21, 2026 – In a landmark move set to reshape the engineering landscape of the Western United States, BKF Engineers and MNS today announced their merger. The unification creates a regional giant with nearly 800 professionals across more than 20 offices, explicitly aiming to become the number one engineering firm in the West. This strategic combination pools the extensive resources and long-standing reputations of two of the industry's most trusted names, promising clients a single, seamless partner with expanded capabilities in planning, engineering, surveying, and construction management.

A Strategic Consolidation in Western Infrastructure

This merger is more than a simple combination of two successful firms; it represents a significant strategic consolidation in the highly competitive Western U.S. infrastructure market. The newly enlarged BKF is now positioned to compete more directly with national and global giants such as AECOM, Jacobs, and Stantec, which have long dominated large-scale public and private sector projects in the region. By combining forces, BKF and MNS create an entity with the scale, geographic reach, and financial strength necessary to pursue and execute the most complex infrastructure challenges facing states like California, Oregon, and Washington.

A key factor underlying this strategic move is the involvement of Long Point Capital, a private equity firm specializing in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (A/E/C) industry. Both BKF and MNS were partners with Long Point Capital prior to the merger, indicating a deliberate, well-capitalized growth strategy. This backing suggests the merger is not a reactive measure but a proactive step in a long-term plan to build a dominant market player. Greg Hurd, who will continue to lead the combined firm as President and CEO of BKF, framed the move in terms of strategic advantage. "This merger is about building smarter connections," Hurd stated in the announcement. "We're creating a stronger, more connected platform that gives our clients greater access to leadership, talent, and solutions across the Western United States. We're expanding our reach, deepening our expertise, and accelerating our ability to deliver results that matter."

Combining Legacies and Deep-Rooted Expertise

The power of the new entity lies in the fusion of two distinct but complementary legacies. BKF Engineers has already established itself as a major force, with a large team and a broad service portfolio. The addition of MNS, however, brings a rich history and specialized expertise that significantly deepens the firm's capabilities, particularly in the critical sectors of transportation and water resources.

MNS Engineers, Inc., incorporated in 1962, boasts a history tracing back over a century in Santa Barbara, California. Before the merger, it was a formidable firm in its own right, with nearly 200 professionals across nine California offices. The firm earned significant industry recognition, with Engineering News-Record (ENR) ranking it among the top design and construction management firms in both California and the nation in 2024. Its particular strengths in civil engineering, water supply, and transportation were underscored by top-20 rankings in California for those categories. MNS has been instrumental in delivering major infrastructure projects, including the complex Pitkins Curve Bridge and Rock Shed on California's iconic State Route 1 for Caltrans and the Prunedale Improvement Project on US 101.

This deep-seated regional expertise and project history are now integrated into the larger BKF platform. Darren Riegler, the former President and CEO of MNS, emphasized the synergistic nature of the union. "This merger represents a bold alignment of vision, talent, and regional expertise," Riegler said. "Together, we amplify our ability to serve our clients through the entire project life cycle – planning, design, and construction. We are truly Stronger by Design." This sentiment reflects a shared goal of honoring each firm's heritage while building a unified culture focused on comprehensive service delivery.

The 'Stronger by Design' Client Proposition

For clients, from municipal governments to private developers, the merger is being marketed under the banner of "Stronger by Design," promising tangible benefits through enhanced capabilities and greater capacity. The combined firm now offers a comprehensive, end-to-end service model that covers every phase of a project's lifecycle. This integration is designed to streamline processes, improve communication, and foster innovation from initial planning and permitting through to final construction management.

The leadership has been quick to assure clients of a smooth transition, emphasizing that they will continue to "work with the same familiar faces," but those teams will now be "backed by an even broader geographic footprint and deeper technical resources." This promise of continuity is crucial for maintaining trust and momentum on existing projects. The expanded geographic presence means that local leadership and regional expertise—a hallmark of both BKF and MNS—will be retained, ensuring that solutions are tailored to the unique environmental, regulatory, and community needs of each location.

The combined portfolio in key markets such as Transportation, Water, Government, and Development is particularly potent. With growing demands for infrastructure renewal, water security, and sustainable development across the West, the new BKF is better equipped to tackle large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects. The union of MNS’s award-winning water resource and transportation teams with BKF’s established strengths creates a formidable brain trust capable of delivering the inspired and resilient infrastructure the region requires.

Forging a Unified Future and Culture

Beyond the strategic and operational advantages, the long-term success of the merger will depend on the successful integration of two distinct corporate cultures. With nearly 800 employees spread across a much larger territory, leadership faces the challenge of creating a cohesive identity that honors the legacies of both BKF and MNS. The press release's focus on "shaping a shared culture" and becoming a "single, seamless partner" indicates that this human element is a top priority.

The integration strategy appears to be one of collaboration rather than assimilation. By retaining key leadership and emphasizing the combined talent pool, the firm aims to foster an environment where expertise from both sides is valued and leveraged. The shared history of partnership with Long Point Capital likely provides a common framework and a set of established processes for managing such a large-scale integration, potentially smoothing the transition for employees and leadership alike.

Looking ahead, the combined firm's growth trajectory is clear. Both BKF and MNS had previously articulated aggressive growth strategies centered on acquiring complementary firms. This merger represents a massive leap forward in that strategy, instantly achieving a scale that would have taken years of smaller acquisitions to build. The ambition to be the "#1 firm in the West" is not merely a marketing slogan but a declaration of intent to lead the market in innovation, service, and project delivery, setting a new standard for engineering and infrastructure consulting in the region.