Merrick & Co., an international engineering, architecture, design-build, surveying, and geospatial solutions firm headquartered in Aurora, has acquired the water-engineering firm of McLaughlin Water Engineers of Denver and Aspen.

The acquisition was announced this week by Christopher Sherry, senior vice president at Merrick. McLaughlin has served the water systems, wastewater, water resources, drainage and flood control, utility economics and whitewater design markets in the Rocky Mountain region since 1966. This acquisition provides Merrick with the added wet-infrastructure resources to continue its reach throughout the U.S. in the firm’s focus markets of energy, sustainable infrastructure, life sciences, national security and geospatial solutions.

“The addition of McLaughlin Water to our employee-owned firm bolsters Merrick’s service offerings to clients,” said Ralph W. Christie, Jr.,  chairman and CEO of Merrick. “The acquisition broadens and deepens Merrick’s capabilities in this specialty area and further allows our clients to access professional resources through a single source. Our two firms, and many of our principals, have worked together over the years on significant water projects. There is considerable synergy from this acquisition,” added Christie.

“Water is an invaluable and critical natural resource, especially in the semi-arid West and the southeastern states, where they are experiencing rapid population growth,” said Peter Binney, vice president of Merrick and director of sustainable infrastructure. “The addition of the expertise and broad services offered by the professionals at McLaughlin Water Engineers provides Merrick with a strong foundation to serve clients’ water, wastewater and storm water needs as they address those challenges.”

With the addition of McLaughlin to the organization, Merrick will maintain its 14 offices that serve clients in the energy, national security, life sciences and sustainable infrastructure markets. McLaughlin will continue to operate from its current two locations in Denver and Aspen as it integrates into the Merrick system.