LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville-based Stengel Hill Architecture has acquired Smith Consulting Architects of San Diego, Calif., a firm with 15 professionals whose portfolio includes industrial, healthcare, R&D, laboratory, retail, manufacturing, and LEED certified facilities for end-users, government clients, and real estate developers.
With offices in Louisville and Lexington, Stengel Hill includes a management team of seven architect partners and three associate partners. It is a 75-member firm including 24 registered architects and 8 registered interior designers. It practices in 43 states with a focus on complex institutional, healthcare and educational facilities, especially facilities in the expanding behavioral and mental healthcare sector.
The acquisition was announced by Washington DC-based Godspeed Capital Management LP, a lower middle market private equity firm focused on defense and government services, solutions and technology that has a financial interest in Stengel Hill. Godspeed describes Stengel Hill as its architectural, engineering, and consulting services platform.
The transaction marks the first addition to SHA’s growing platform of companies and extends its geographic footprint into California.
Founded in 1988 by Cheryl (Dennie) Smith in San Diego, Calif., Smith Consulting Architects is an award-winning firm specializing in master planning, architecture design and interior design. SCA’s track record for quality design work and technical competence have attracted and retained many prestigious clients in a variety of end markets.
“We are pleased to welcome Smith Consulting Architects to the SHA platform, as its established footprint and sector expertise in the California architecture and design market will materially expand the reach and breadth of our services,” said Stengel, senior principal and founding partner of SHA. “SCA’s highly experienced, licensed, and accredited team comprises some of the industry’s top professionals, and the platform has built a reputation for excellence that will help diversify our growing portfolio of clients across the U.S. healthcare facilities market.”
“We are excited to significantly grow our presence in the sizeable California market with the addition of Smith Consulting Architects to the SHA platform,” said Hill, also senior principal and founding partner of SHA. “With its track-record of success executing projects across industrial, government, healthcare and retail markets, and talented team of dedicated professionals, SCA is an ideal fit for SHA’s national growth strategy.”
Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal advisor to Godspeed Capital.
While a typical Godspeed Capital investment involved companies generating $3 million to $30 million of EBITDA, it has support to complete larger transactions through strategic co-invest relationships, its website states. The firm focuses on control buyouts, buy-and-builds, corporate carve-outs, and special situations.
