Architecture and engineering firm Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) is further expanding its services through a strategic merger with engineering firm Southland Engineering in Cartersville, Georgia. Bringing Southland on board fortifies GMC’s site civil engineering team and enhances the firm’s local services by adding surveying in Georgia.

Led by Karl Lutjens PE, Southland Engineering has provided engineering, land surveying and land planning services for a wide range of developments in North Georgia since 1998, bringing a wealth of experience and deep-rooted connections within the region. Their work with local and national developers encompasses a variety of projects ranging from commercial, retail, municipal, educational, recreational, residential, stormwater and flood, transportation and utilities. The 20-person team has a strong, established reputation in the North Georgia region, with a history of successful working relationships with clients and business partners throughout their communities.

“Naturally, one of the main considerations with any merger is whether the two teams will fit well together. The more we got to know the people at GMC, the more apparent it was that we were aligned in our values and mission and that our services complemented each other well,” Lutjens said. “I’m truly excited for the opportunities joining GMC will provide for not only our team, but for our clients and communities throughout North Georgia.”

Recently named ENR Southeast’s 2024 Design Firm of the Year, GMC is one of the Southeast’s most comprehensive multidisciplined architecture and engineering firms. Its in-house services include architecture, interior design, civil engineering, environmental services, landscape architecture, planning, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, electrical engineering and disaster recovery. The firm works on a multitude of project types in the public and private sectors, including K-12 and higher education, municipal, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, sports, industrial, aviation, roadway, water resources and more.

“We are thrilled to have Karl Lutjens and the entire Southland Engineering team joining GMC. Their team will significantly enhance our site civil capabilities, while also adding surveying to our menu of services in Georgia,” Jim Teel, GMC Regional Vice President of Georgia, said. “Further, their location in Northwest Georgia will help serve a rapidly growing area of our state.”

GMC is currently working on several significant projects throughout Georgia including UGA Softball Complex improvements, the new middle and high schools at Sequoyah for DeKalb County Public Schools, South Georgia Medical Center Women and Infant Center, the StandardAero hangar expansion at Augusta Regional Airport, the City of Commerce Wastewater Treatment Plant and Glenn County Coast Guard Beach Park improvements, among others.

The Southland team will continue to operate out of their office on the northwest edge of metro Atlanta in Cartersville under the GMC name. The Cartersville office represents GMC’s fifth location in Georgia, with established offices in Atlanta, Augusta, Brunswick and Savannah.