Commonwealth Engineering, Consulting President and CEO Richard Collins cuts the ribbon on its new downtown Jackson corporate offices Tuesday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV News.
By Jeff Steers
JTV News
(March 21, 2023 4:29 PM ET) Saying that it just “felt right,” Commonwealth Engineering, Consulting President and CEO Richard Collins cut the ribbon on its new downtown Jackson corporate offices Tuesday.
The company moved into the old Comerica Bank building at 245 W. Michigan Ave.
Collins said during one of his initial visits to the building he discovered that Commonwealth Associates had designed the building in the 1950s.
Moving to the new location is an exciting development for Commonwealth, as it enables the company to better serve its customers and community. Collins emphasized the significance of the move saying “Commonwealth’s legacy began in downtown Jackson over 100 years ago. The opportunity to repurpose an existing building designed by Commonwealth in the 1950s and become part of the revitalization of the downtown community is a long-term goal that is about to be achieved.”
The renovation project has already had a positive economic impact, with the completed renovation of the four-story building bringing in an estimated $4.2 million to the local economy. Commonwealth’s relocation to the new office will bring 120 current professionals to downtown Jackson, with plans to create 60 additional jobs for the community.
Collins thanked the City of Jackson, the Downtown Development Authority, the Anchor Initiative, the MEDC, Envirologic, and Consumers Energy.
Jackson City Manager Jonathan Greene spoke briefly about the company’s move to downtown Jackson prior to the ribbon cutting.
“This helps us feel good about the decisions we make twice a month during our meetings,” Greene said.
This 35-year history of Commonwealth Engineering, Consulting
Commonwealth was established in 1988, following the closing of another engineering firm’s Jackson, Michigan office. Founders had worked closely together on domestic and foreign electric transmission and distribution projects for many years out of the Jackson office. Rather than leave Jackson, this team of individuals took action to incorporate under a name – Commonwealth Associates Inc. (“Commonwealth”) – that was, and is, well known and respected in the electric power industry. The group devoted itself to structuring a new employee-owned company with the intent of upholding the previous Commonwealth Associates Inc.’s reputation for providing high-quality engineering and consulting services.
Other talented individuals, many of whom had worked previously with the founders, were brought in to add their expertise. The new company flourished and in 1992, Commonwealth opened an office in the state of Washington to serve clients in the western United States. Another office was opened near Atlanta, Ga., in 2008, followed by a Columbus, Ohio, office opening in 2012. In 2013, Commonwealth expanded again – this time with an office in Spokane, Wa., to serve the mountain west and Canada. In 2016, Commonwealth expanded east, establishing a Lancaster, Pa. office.
Today, Commonwealth’s staff of approximately 280 professional and technical employees represents one of the most skilled, experienced technical resources available to analyze, plan, design, and construct electric power generation and delivery projects. In addition to licensed engineers and engineering specialists, having experts in environmental sciences, permitting, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), surveying, right-of-way acquisition, and construction management, many with more than 20 years of experience in their field of expertise. Many Commonwealth engineers are active members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Edison Electric Institute, and National Society of Professional Engineers, which allows for interaction and collaboration with our peers and access to influence the conversation in the power generation and T&D industries.