Signal Hill Equity Partners expands architecture and engineering services platform focused on serving social infrastructure end markets

Charleston, W.Va. – Signal Hill Equity Partners (“Signal Hill”), a middle-market private equity firm that invests in architecture, engineering, and consulting (“AEC”) and essential service businesses, is partnering with ZMM Architects and Engineers to grow a national architecture, engineering, and design platform previously established by an investment in CSArch, an architecture, engineering and construction management firm in New York. This will be the second investment in Signal Hill Fund IV (“Fund IV”) and will continue to build on the Firm’s legacy of investing, building, and growing private companies into exceptional businesses. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1959 and headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, ZMM is a leading education sector-focused architecture and engineering firm that employs more than 70 employees across four offices. ZMM is led by Robert Doeffinger, Chairman of Board, Adam Krason, Chief Executive Officer, and David Ferguson, Chief Operating Officer, all of whom will continue to collectively lead the organization following the transaction and execute their long-term growth objectives. Signal Hill intends for ZMM to partner with CSArch to help accelerate geographic expansion through acquisitions and to enhance client and service offerings.

Adam Krason, ZMM CEO shared, “We have been looking for the right partner to help us continue our strategic growth while also improving the quality of service that we provide to our clients throughout the region. This investment will allow us to leverage our portfolio of award-winning educational, recreational, governmental, and public gathering space design experience to pursue opportunities in new markets and improve our ability to attract talented professionals to our team. We have found that partner in Signal Hill.”

Ahmed Abdel-saheb, Managing Director with Signal Hill noted, “We’re excited to announce our second acquisition to Signal Hill’s Architecture and Engineering Services Platform. ZMM helps accelerate our growth strategy by providing us with additional educational, municipal, and healthcare expertise and deep experience serving West Virginia and the surrounding markets. We are also very pleased at how similar ZMM and CSArch are in terms of their focus on culture, professional development, and clients. We’re honored to partner with the ZMM team and look forward to building on its 65+ year legacy.”
Signal Hill Equity received legal support from Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. ZMM received legal support provided by Lewis Gianola PLLC.