(St. Louis, MO, April 16, 2019) KAI has acquired woman-owned Fratto Engineering, Inc. based in Arlington, TX. Founded in 1997, Fratto Engineering specializes in Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineering and has more than 40 clients that include higher education institutions, hospital systems and healthcare centers, local municipalities, architectural firms, electrical contractors, general contractors and other institutions.
Fratto Engineering President Debbie Fratto said the KAI Enterprises family of companies was the perfect fit for the acquisition due to the companies’ shared philosophies and collaborative culture. The acquisition, she said, will give Fratto customers the unique advantage of having design and construction professionals in the same office to provide input and advice on project solutions.
“As we sought to transition to the next period of our lives and careers, we were looking for a firm that exhibited similar qualities in service to their clients as well as a familial culture with their team members,” Fratto said. “It was refreshing to find a firm that valued our approach, reputation and team members as much as we do. Our philosophy of ‘Build It Right and They Will Come Back’ is in line with KAI’s mission of ‘Transforming Communities Through Integrated Design and Construction Excellence.’ We believe in building relationships not only with our clients but also with the communities we serve.”
Under the acquisition agreement, Fratto Engineering’s staff will complete its current contractual commitments to its clients, with all new opportunities as of Feb. 1, 2019 moving forward as KAI Engineering, LLC. Fratto Engineering’s 12 employees will remain in the Arlington office, accompanied by a few engineers transferred from KAI’s Dallas, TX office.
Debbie Fratto and Fratto Engineering Principal Mark Fratto, P.E. will stay on in senior level roles in the Arlington office.
“I am excited to have Mark and Debbie Fratto join the KAI team,” said KAI Enterprises President Darren L. James. “As the acquisition of Fratto was announced, the two of them have been exceptional in their new roles. They are a joy to work with and their insight, knowledge and personal touch serves us well as we provide additional resources and experience to our growing client base.”
Examples of Fratto Engineering’s clients include Huguley Hospital, Angiel Electric, Davis Latham Construction, CADCO Architects, Callahan & Freeman Architects, MPI Architects, Peter Lewis Architect, Rabe Architects, REES, SBL Architecture, Tarrant County College District, VA Hospitals, JPS Hospital and Parkland Hospital.
About KAI Enterprises
KAI Enterprises is a national design and build firm providing delivery-oriented building solutions with a diverse portfolio of experience, in-house multi-discipline professionals, and expertise in both design and construction delivery. Founded in 1980, KAI has grown into one of the largest minority-owned firms in the AEC industry. For nearly 40 years, KAI has been instrumental in transforming communities through its expertise in residential, commercial, K-12, higher education, healthcare, science and technology, aviation, mobility, sports and entertainment, government, water and community-focused projects. KAI Enterprises is comprised of four distinct business units—KAI Design, KAI Engineering, KAI Build and KAI 360 Construction Services. To learn more about KAI, visit www.kai-db.com.
