Hillis-Carnes engineering firm eyes expansion with move to O'Hara

A South Fayette engineering firm is making the move to O’Hara in an effort to grow its business in the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond.

Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates signed a 52-month lease for about 5,000 square feet at 534-536 Alpha Drive in the RIDC Park.

“We made the switch because our office has a large client base in the Greater Pittsburgh region, and with the industrial park being right off of the turnpike and having a direct route to the north, it allows us to focus on expanding,” said branch manager Justin Zelekovitz.

“We don’t have a huge client base into the Butler County region, and this gives us more of an opportunity being this far out on Route 28.”

About 16 employees will make the move to O’Hara on Aug. 1. The space previously housed Aerotech through 2021.

Founded in 1989, Hillis-Carnes is a multispecialty engineering firm with capabilities in geotechnical and geostructural engineering, environmental consulting, specialty construction and third-party inspections.

Its projects include schools, stadiums, highways and housing developments. Most notably, the firm worked on the construction of Heinz Field from 1999 to 2001.

Hillis-Carnes managed the structural, civil and architectural combined testing and inspection services for the stadium, now called Acrisure Stadium. The 1.4 million-square-foot facility has a seating capacity of 65,050.

The company has a national footprint. It employs more than 400 people in 18 locations, the next closest of which is State College. It has been named among Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms for the past eight years.

RIDC President Donald Smith Jr. said the decision by Hillis-Carnes to relocate to the industrial park is an indication of the park’s continued strength as a destination.

“It has attracted startups and mature companies in life sciences, professional services, manufacturing and other fields — with its proximity to the city, the universities and quality of life in the surrounding communities,” Smith said.

RIDC Park has 130 companies in the complex off Route 28.

Zelekovitz said jobs are not expected to be created immediately, but there is an opportunity for growth at the new location.

“It gives us access to all of our regions of focus, and we believe there are potential clients who will respond when they see we have a city ZIP code,” he said.