Setting The Pace in A Growing World
PRIME AE started as a small firm in one office with 42 employees. From these humble beginnings, we kicked off an era of organic growth and strategic acquisitions to 16 offices along the Eastern seaboard and stretching to the Midwest with over 425 employees. We continue to expand our team and our local reach, adding talent, reaching new geographies, and growing our services. With this expansion has come new capabilities, experience, and strategic partnerships that fuel our growth in more markets and communities.
The way we see it, you’re either growing or shrinking every day. Where are you heading?
Read more below on the history of PRIME AE.
2007
The company began when the Maryland and Pennsylvania offices of Prime Engineering and Architecture (PEA) were restructured independently into Prime Engineering, Inc. (PEI). The new venture was founded by Kumar Buvanendaran and Jay Jayanthan, with a total of 42 employees.
2008–2012
PEI acquired spin-off parent Prime Engineering and Architecture, and later added United International Corporation (UIC) into the mix.
2013
We officially changed our name to PRIME AE Group, Inc. (PRIME AE). Gulf Coast Architectural Group, a full-service architectural firm in Pensacola, Florida was folded into the PRIME AE Group along with 3SG Corporation, an information technology company.
2014
Our strong growth was supported by acquiring MEP Engineering Solutions, Inc., a consulting engineering firm in Pensacola, Florida and MCS Consulting, Inc., a construction management consulting company in Baltimore, Maryland.
2015–2016
The list of Top 500 Design Firms from Engineering News-Record debuted PRIME AE at #329. In the same year, John M. McDonald Engineering, PC, a civil engineering firm in Schenectady, New York and Ward Associates, an engineering services company in upstate New York joined the PRIME AE community.
2017
The company’s reputation kept pace with its business growth with some prominent awards, including one of the Best Workplaces in Ohio from Ohio Business Magazine, a Fast 50 Honoree from Columbus Business First magazine, and a jump to #228 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms national list. P&L Systems, Inc., a surveying and private sector civil engineering firm in Ohio further strengthened PRIME AE’s capabilities.
2018
A Richmond office was established to expand our Virginia operations. The company also added Braun & Steidl Architects, an Akron, Ohio based architecture firm focused on hospitality, housing, religion, higher education, K-12 schools, public, corporate, and historic restoration markets.
2019–2020
PRIME AE entered into a strategic partnership with NewHold Enterprises LLC. Additionally, Integrated Engineering, a Kentucky-based engineering and survey firm focused on transportation, water, stormwater management, aviation, site development, and landscape architecture joined PRIME AE.
2021
Penza Bailey Architects, an architecture firm located in Baltimore, Maryland, specializing in innovative design solutions was acquired to support and to add K-12, higher education, justice, federal, commercial, and custom residential markets to PRIME AE’s portfolio. We also expanded our Massachusetts operations by adding an office in Stoughton.
2022
By adding Jacksonville, Florida based Prosser, Inc., an integrated planning and engineering firm, PRIME AE enhanced our Southeast presence to support our defense, transportation, healthcare, higher education, commercial, retail, and residential markets as well as add landscape architecture, master planning, and private development capabilities to the firm.
Our continued growth allows us to serve and deliver results for more clients, expand our expertise to help more communities, and provide more opportunities for our team.
