To mark Engenium Group’s 15th anniversary, Founder and President Brandon Harwick reflects on the projects, relationships, and defining moments that shaped the firm. From its beginnings at a dining room table to the team and regional presence it has today, Brandon shares what has changed, and what has remained at the heart of the company.
When I started the company in 2011, I had a clear vision for the kind of company I wanted to build. I couldn’t have anticipated how much it would grow, how many people would become part of its story, or the impact it would have on our team, clients, and communities. I wanted a place where great engineers could do great work, clients felt like true partners, and relationships mattered as much as the solutions we delivered.
Looking back, I’m proudest not of any single project or milestone, but of the people who made them possible. Employees who believed in a young company, clients who trusted us early, and partners who grew alongside us have shaped Engenium Group every bit as much as the work itself.
As I think about the past fifteen years, there are a handful of moments that have changed the trajectory of our company. Some were projects. Some were decisions. Some happened quietly over time. Together, they’ve defined who we are today and continue to shape where we’re headed next.
Where We Started
Like many small businesses, Engenium Group started with little more than an idea, a lot of determination, and a dining room table.
At the time, my focus wasn’t on how big the company could become. I wanted to build the right kind of company – one that approached engineering through the lens of relationships. Technical excellence was expected, but I believed people should remember us as much for how we made them feel as for the drawings we delivered.
Brandon Harwick with the original Mission & Vision notes
That philosophy shaped every decision. I answered every call, followed through on every commitment, and worked to earn each client’s trust. In many ways, that hasn’t changed.
We’ve grown considerably since those early days. Today, Engenium Group includes offices in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, an expanded ownership team, additional service offerings, and the privilege of working on projects that have transformed communities throughout the region.
But our approach remains remarkably similar to the one we started with fifteen years ago.
Listen first. Do what you say you’re going to do. Treat people well.
Everything else tends to follow.
The Moments That Defined Us
A few projects, decisions, and changes stand out when I think about the moments that shaped who we became.
1211 Connecticut Avenue was one of the first projects that changed our perspective. The 150,000-square-foot repositioning moved us beyond tenant interiors into full-building systems design and tested every part of a growing firm. We left knowing we could deliver at the same level as much larger firms, and that confidence became a foundation for what followed.
1211 Connecticut Ave
A few years later, we were trusted to help modernize the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, one of Washington, D.C.’s most recognizable civic buildings. Working within Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s iconic structure required careful coordination and respect for its architectural legacy. It reinforced a lesson we still carry: some of the best engineering is almost invisible, experienced through comfort, safety, access, and reliability.
MLK Memorial Library
As our portfolio continued to grow, so did the scale of our responsibility.
The Barry Farm Redevelopment has become one of the most meaningful efforts in our firm’s history. Its affordable and mixed-income housing, community spaces, infrastructure improvements, and community-scale geothermal system show what we aspire to do: use engineering to support stronger, healthier communities.
The Asberry at Barry Farm
Education has always been a cornerstone of our work, and Dorothy I. Height Elementary School captures why. The project balances historic preservation with high-performance design and earned the 2025 Architectural Engineering Institute Professional Project Award for Best Overall Project Under $100 Million. More important, it gives students and teachers a healthier, more inspiring place to learn every day.
Dorothy Height Elementary School
That commitment continues across our schools, recreation centers, and community facilities. As our Net Zero and high-performance work has grown, so has our understanding that sustainability is not just about metrics – it is about healthier, more resilient places that serve communities responsibly for generations.
Our work has also given us opportunities to shape and give back to the communities around us. From designing schools that create better places for students to learn, to supporting Food & Friends, which provides meals and nutrition services to people facing serious illnesses, and helping create a permanent home for The D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center, some of our most meaningful work is rooted in the people these spaces serve.
Other projects have marked important steps in our growth. Benjamin Banneker High School, designed as D.C.’s first Net Zero Energy high school and a model for the District’s future high-performance schools; Chase Brexton Health Care, a community-focused healthcare facility in Baltimore; and Capital One Arena, one of the region’s most prominent sports and entertainment venues, each challenged us in different ways. They expanded our technical capabilities, strengthened client relationships, and helped prepare us for the scale and complexity of the work we are trusted to take on today.
The Places That Marked Our Growth
Projects weren’t the only milestones. The places we’ve called home tell part of our story, too.
From a dining room table to our first office and larger spaces beyond, each move represented more than square footage. It reflected a company growing while staying true to its original purpose.
Opening our Baltimore office strengthened our regional presence, brought us closer to clients, and created new opportunities to welcome exceptional people into the firm.
233 E Redwood Street | Baltimore Office
Moving into our current headquarters at 655 New York Avenue was especially meaningful. We were able to design a workplace around the culture we had built – collaborative, flexible, healthy, and innovative – and create a daily reminder that good design should improve people’s experience.
655 New York Avenue | Engenium Group Headquarters
The People Who Made It Possible
As meaningful as these projects and milestones have been, they are not what I think about first.I think about the people.
The employees who joined a young company before there were guarantees.
The clients who trusted us before we had a long list of credentials.
The partners who challenged us, supported us, and helped us grow.
Engenium Group Team
One of the accomplishments I’m proudest of has nothing to do with a project.
It’s watching our team grow over the years and seeing so many people help shape what Engenium Group has become.
From the beginning, I never wanted Engenium Group to revolve around one person. I wanted to build something that would outlast me—a place where talented people could grow into leaders, shape the firm’s future, and eventually have a seat at the ownership table.
Seeing that happen has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. Every new partner reflects years of hard work, trust, and shared commitment, while bringing a perspective and leadership style that makes the company stronger.
I’ve never forgotten that, and I never will.
Looking Ahead
As proud as I am of the past fifteen years, I am even more excited about what comes next.
Our industry is changing quickly. Smarter buildings, sustainability, and technology will keep pushing us to learn, adapt, and ask better questions.
But no matter how much the industry changes, the heart of Engenium Group will remain the same.
We will keep investing in our people, building relationships grounded in trust, and pursuing work that challenges us and makes a meaningful difference in our communities.
To our employees, clients, partners, and friends: thank you. Thank you for believing in this company, growing alongside us, and trusting us with work that matters. Engenium Group would not be what it is today without you.
Fifteen years ago, I set out to build the right kind of engineering firm. If we keep creating a place where great people do great work, relationships matter, and what we do makes a difference, I believe our best years are still ahead of us.
