Company of the Month: Merritt Engineering, a top New York structural engineering firm, celebrates 30 years in business

Charles Merritt, founder and principal of Merritt Engineering Consultants, P.C.

New York, NY Straight out of Pratt Institute in 1957, Charlie Merritt began working as a structural engineer. He continued his design and structural work in the U.S. Army and afterward at several design firms, until he became chief construction engineer for J.C. Penney in 1973, which at the time was undergoing a large national expansion. Merritt oversaw the construction of several new stores and catalog warehouses, and also supervised the restoration of their existing retail centers across the U.S. 

In 1986, after years of gaining much industry knowledge and experience, Merritt decided to start his own engineering consulting firm in Whitestone, Queens, specializing in roofing and waterproofing. On April 1^st 1986, the business was incorporated as Merritt Engineering Consultants, P.C.

1987: Merritt gives presentations at North American Roofing event

With Merritt’s impressive resume and engineering experience, he quickly gained respect throughout the industry as the go-to roofing & waterproofing expert. In 1987, he was invited by North American Roofing to give a presentation on Roofing Systems which helped further launch his success.

1993: Environmental Impact

As one of the first engineering firms that offered environmental site inspections, another milestone for the company was the launch of the Environmental division, headed by Merritt’s son, Chuck G. Merritt. The division grew quickly, representing an increasing amount of lending institutions, insurance companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT’s) on environmental and due-diligence issues. Today, Merritt Engineering and Merritt Environmental are a collaborative team, providing top banking clients with Plan & Cost Reviews, Property Condition Assessments along with Phase I/Phase II Environmental Site Assessments.

1998: The Big Move

The firm quickly built a strong reputation as Merritt and his team assisted numerous facility owners and managers in restoring and maintaining their buildings’ exteriors. As the company’s reputation grew, so did the size of the team. In 1998, Merritt moved his business to an expansive 2-story office building in Bayside, Queens – ideally located near the facilities and clients the company served throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

Winner of NY Construction’s 2004 Restoration Project of the Year & BOMA’s 2006 Historical Building of the Year, 140 West Street - New York, NY

2002: Top Design Firm

Over the years, Merritt Engineering’s most notable projects have been those at historical/landmark buildings, such as Verizon’s Corporate Headquarters located at 140 West St. (adjacent to the World Trade Center).  Merritt Engineering provided a full façade restoration, window and roof restoration design, and in 2001, provided emergency façade stabilization after the building received extension damage from the September 11^th terrorist attacks. This high-profile project was the recipient of New York Construction’s 2004 Restoration Project of the Year, and was also recognized as the 2006 Historical Building of the Year by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA).

Merritt Engineering’s other landmark projects include the Cherokee Apartment project, recipient of the Landmark Restoration Award by Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, as well as a 33-story terracotta façade restoration and 4-story copper mansard roof restoration project located on Liberty St., with construction costs of over $5 million.

Merritt is proud to have preserved these distinguished landmark buildings, among many other renowned structures that continue to define the city’s skyline. From smaller co-ops and condominium buildings to high-rise skyscrapers, Merritt’s portfolio of restoration projects is highly diverse and expansive. In fact, in 2002, Merritt Engineering was named Top Design Firm by New York Construction.

2010: Expanding into New Markets

In effort to meet the growing demand for building restoration and engineering services in the southern region of the U.S., Merritt opened an office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Offering the same services as the New York office, the Merritt Florida team has successfully completed numerous roofing and waterproofing projects with construction costs ranging from $20,000 to $1 million. As the Florida office continues to grow, they are now providing property condition assessments in other states, including Arizona, Illinois and North Carolina.

2013: Honored as Top Entrepreneur

Merritt was honored as a Top Entrepreneur by Crain’s Magazine in 2013. As the veteran engineer who keeps historic buildings in top shape, the article written by Eilene Zimmerman, cites clients describing Merritt as “very thorough and professional.” The article continues to describe him as an expert in historic and landmark preservation. “In his 50-year engineering career, he has helped to restore historic gems throughout the city.”

2016: Celebrates 30 years in business!

Today, the company has 30 employees and offices in both New York and Florida, working on highly visible, multi-million dollar restoration projects for commercial, residential, healthcare and educational properties. Merritt Engineering continues to expand its services and markets, while maintaining its unwavering commitment to providing a quality engineering service and staying on the forefront of ever-changing technology and industry standards.

“Our accomplishments and longevity could not have been possible without our clients’ trust in us and their continuing reliance on our services,” said Merritt. “This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team and their focus on clients’ needs.”

As Merritt Engineering paves the way into the future, it pledges to maintain its dedication to preserving the safety and splendor of our city’s skyline. Merritt Engineering is proud to have become a leader in the building envelope consulting industry, and is delighted to celebrate this momentous milestone.