ENR MidAtlantic named Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson of Hunt Valley, Md., its 2015 Design Firm of the Year. After years of steady growth, JMT made big moves in 2014. The firm grew through the recession, while many of its peers saw big revenue declines. In recent years, the firm has relied on organic growth, but last year it accelerated its rise in the rankings with four acquisitions, including Rubeling & Associates, an 18-person architecture and interior design firm based in Towson, Md. JMT also expanded its reach beyond the mid-Atlantic with the acquisitions of Ohio-based Barr & Prevost, Florida-based GBF Engineering and New Jersey-based Atlantic Engineering.

The combination of M&A activity and organic growth paid off for the employee-owned company, which saw its 2014 revenue rise more than 20% from 2013 levels. Following a net gain of 220 employees in 2014, the firm now employs more than 1,100 people.

JMT, which books 85% of its business in the transportation sector, is regularly engaged on major transportation projects around the region. JMT is on the team for the $335-million 11th Street Bridge project in D.C., the $2.1-billion Midtown Tunnel project in Hampton Roads, Va., and was engaged on portions of the $2.5-billion Intercounty Connector in Montgomery County, Md.

Airport work is also a significant portion of its business—JMT has a presence at the major airports in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Last year, JMT was challenged by PennDOT District 11-0 to design a replacement bridge using accelerated bridge construction techniques to minimize disruption to the community of Wampum Borough. JMT's structural engineers developed a cost-effective structure that could be completed in less than a month. Working with contractor Joseph B. Fay, the existing crossing was closed for seven days and the new bridge was constructed in seven days.

Beyond transportation, JMT also books business through its Buildings & Facilities and Water, Wastewater & Facilities divisions. In 2014, the firm saw revenues in the water/wastewater market more than double, thanks in large part to its work at Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Baltimore.

Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson will be featured as our Design Firm of the Year in the June 22, 2015, edition of ENR MidAtlantic.