IMEG acquires dallas-based engineering company. By: QCBJ News Staff | March 3, 2026 IMEG has acquired KMCE, a Dallas, Texas,-based firm specializing in subsurface utility engineering (SUE) and underground infrastructure services, the Quad Cities-based IMEG announced Monday, March 2. The acquisition strengthens IMEG's capabilities in utility locating, damage prevention, and risk mitigation, expanding service offerings for public- and private-sector clients, IMEG officials said. Founded in 2018, KMCE brings deep specialized expertise in SUE and underground infrastructure support, having completed hundreds of projects throughout Texas and the southern U.S. The firm is focused on utility locating and damage prevention and leverages advanced technology and industry best practices to accurately identify underground utilities and deliver critical data that supports infrastructure, construction, and engineering projects. "We're pleased to welcome KMCE to IMEG as we continue to grow our subsurface utility engineering and underground infrastructure services," said Paul VanDuyne, IMEG's president/CEO. "KMCE has built a strong reputation across Texas for delivering precise utility locating and risk-mitigation solutions that support safe, efficient project delivery. Their focused expertise enhances our ability to provide clients with proactive infrastructure insight and integrated engineering solutions from planning through construction." "Joining IMEG represents an exciting new chapter for our team and our clients," said Joey Whiteside, KMCE's director of operations. "By combining our expertise with IMEG's national platform and multidisciplinary resources, we are well positioned to expand our impact and deliver even greater value. This partnership enables us to scale our capabilities while continuing to provide the responsive service, technical precision, and risk-mitigation solutions our clients rely on." Mr. Whiteside will continue with IMEG in an operations leadership role, providing strategic guidance and supporting integration efforts. KMCE will operate out of its Dallas office, conducting business as KMCE, now IMEG while the team integrates into IMEG operations. IMEG is a leading engineering design firm with more than 100 offices and 3,000+ team members, combining the comprehensive expertise of a national leader with the personal connections of a local firm. Ranked among the top engineering firms in the U.S. (No. 4 on BD+C's top Engineering Firms and No. 48 on ENR's Top 500 Design Firms), IMEG transforms environments and communities through innovative, high-performance design and infrastructure solutions. IMEG is 100% employee-owned and results-driven with a passion for transforming environments and communities through high-performance design and infrastructure. With 93 offices and nearly 2,600 team members, IMEG serves regions and markets with full-service, in-house engineering design.

IMEG rebrand shines light on Architectural Lighting Studio. Bookmark Quad Cities-based IMEG has rebranded its architectural lighting services and Illuminating Concepts division into a single, unified Architectural Lighting Studio operating under the Illuminating Concepts sub-brand. The launch was announced in a Thursday, Jan. 15 news release. The rebrand includes a refreshed logo and brand identity. The rebrand comes about 18 months after IMEG acquired the award-winning, Michigan-based Illuminating Concepts. The transaction was announced in August of 2024. It brought the Farmington Hills, Michigan-based firm's architectural lighting design and fixture procurement expertise to IMEG's growing portfolio. At the time, IMEG leaders said the added capabilities would open the door to a national expansion of its lighting services. Founded in 1981, the lighting firm had 15 employees when it was acquired. The rebrand, IMEG said this week, formally unifies those capabilities with IMEG's in-house architectural lighting services, creating a cohesive studio of 30 specialized lighting professionals serving clients across the world. The staff doubled in size with the companies' combination. They will work across the nation from the four Illuminating Concepts Lighting Studios. Those offices are located in Detroit, Chicago, Denver and New York City. "The formation of a single architectural lighting studio under the Illuminating Concepts name allows us to clearly represent the depth of talent, creativity, and technical rigor behind our lighting work," IMEG President and CEO Paul VanDuyne said in the release. "This unified team strengthens how we partner with architects, design partners, and owners to elevate the built environment through light." New IMEG sub brand. Kelly Stechschulte is client executive and studio leader for Illuminating Concepts and now an IMEG principal. "Lighting is at its most powerful when it's intentional by design, seamlessly integrated, and aligned with the project's design narrative," she said. "Bringing our teams together as one studio strengthens collaboration, aligns design vision with technical execution, and delivers results that enhance how people experience a space." The new Illuminating Concepts logo reflects the studio's architectural foundation and disciplined design approach. It balances creative intent with clarity and structure. The logo's clean lines and deliberate framing symbolize the intersection of art and science that defines curated lighting design. Operating as a sub-brand of IMEG, Illuminating Concepts delivers coordinated architectural lighting and lighting controls design, design and fixture specification, daylighting integration, and budgeting and procurement services. It supports projects across hospitality, gaming, health care, education, cultural, workplace, civic, markets and more. For more information, visit illuminatingconcepts.com. The 100% employee-owned IMEG operates more than 100 offices. That includes Rock Island. It employs more than 3,000 team members.

The Sonnentag: A beacon of sustainable innovation. The Sonnentag project, led by Ayres, stands as a testament to innovative design and sustainable engineering. This 225,900-square-foot facility in northwestern Wisconsin is a multipurpose venue that combines sports, recreation, entertainment, and well-being, all while achieving exceptional sustainability and educational value. Challenges lead to innovation, energy efficiency. Ayres, serving as the prime consultant, collaborated with Thornton Tomasetti and IMEG Corporation to bring this vision to life. The project faced three primary challenges: defining and communicating stakeholder goals, aligning and prioritizing those goals, and maximizing value in every decision. The result is the largest indoor event venue in the region, achieving LEED Gold certification and a WELL Health Safety Rating. It is an all-electric, zero-net-energy facility that is 24% more energy-efficient than similar facilities, with an 11.3% reduction in global warming potential. Design was approached as an integrated partnership, with Ayres participating directly in critical decision-making. The project used robust energy modeling to assess costs and operational impacts, improving iterative decision-making. Energy-efficient building materials and systems, such as improved insulation and high-performance windows, were employed. A unique partnership with the local utility and a philanthropic stakeholder enabled the use of solar and geothermal renewable energy strategies, achieving a zero-net-energy facility with significant carbon reduction. Embodied carbon reductions and technological advancements. The project also broke new ground in embodied carbon reductions. Ayres worked with regional construction materials suppliers to generate new environmental product declarations, allowing those suppliers to market to future clients seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. The facility's geothermal system, paired with a local off-site solar facility, provides all-electric power and climate control and serves as a model for other projects. Interactive display and educational impact. The Sonnentag's design includes a permanent digital display, created with Greenwood Consulting Group, Seven Mile Media, and Stok. This interactive dashboard showcases the project's commitment to sustainability, featuring charts and graphs on energy use and savings. Visitors can explore a 3-D building model to see hidden systems and access details on the geothermal system, solar energy source, and more. The project was completed on time and under budget, far exceeding the original goals set by the client and stakeholders. It has become a landmark for the City of Eau Claire, filling the need for a large event venue and raising the bar for green projects in the region. The Sonnentag is not only a landmark facility but also a catalyst for future sustainable development, challenging other institutions to follow its lead. About the guest blogger. Ayres, a longtime member of ACEC WI, is a team of 350+ innovative problem-solvers nationwide, standing with integrity behind thousands of projects that strengthen communities and its country's infrastructure, economy, and environment. Ayres is based in Eau Claire; it has additional offices in Wisconsin, as well as offices in California, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Wyoming.