Engineering Capabilities
Transforming Spaces. Empowering People.
Progressive Companies is a multidisciplinary national design firm connecting people, places, and communities through transformative spaces, structures, pathways, and environments. We believe innovation is more than leading with the best technologies and latest trends – it’s a creative process beginning with curiosity and diving deep into understanding your world. As problem-solvers, our team of designers, architects, consultants, engineers, and strategists enthusiastically work alongside you to envision a bold, new future.
From modest beginnings of four original engineering partners in 1962, to over 300 employees serving clients across the nation today, our talented workforce brings decades of expertise in all facets of architecture, engineering construction, and planning – with a broad and deep portfolio representing 10 markets and projects in 49 states. We started in Grand Rapids, MI and now have regional offices in Charlotte, NC and Detroit, MI.
Facing Challenges. Solving Problems.
Our firm integrates mechanical, electrical, civil, and structural engineering expertise to optimize environments and enhance functionality. Focusing on human-centric designs that exceed energy and sustainability goals, our engineers design innovative systems to improve comfort, efficiency, and safety. From creative solutions to complex mechanical systems, our experts know how to design resilient systems and structures that will last. Our collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach ensures exceptional results within controlled environments, hospitals, industrial spaces, workplaces, and beyond.
Mechanical Engineering
• Building control strategies
• Central heating and chiller plants
• Energy recovery
• Fire protection
• Geothermal
• Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC)
• Hydronic heating and cooling
• Indoor air quality
• Specialized exhaust systems
• Virtual design and construction (VDC) modeling and coordination
Electrical Engineering
• Arc flash studies
• Emergency / backup generator design
• Lighting design
• Low-voltage system design
• Power distribution
• Telecommunications and data
Plumbing and Piping
• Commercial kitchen piping
• Hot water heating system design
• Plumbing systems
• Process piping
• Steam design
Structural Engineering
• Boardwalks
• Complex wood structures
• Deep or shallow foundations
• Elevated composite floor systems
• Glue laminated timber construction
• Industrial machinery support
• Pedestrian bridges
• Recreational structures
• Retaining walls
• Steel, wood, masonry, precast, and concrete
• Tunnel-formed concrete construction
Civil Engineering and Infrastructure
• Complete streets
• Green infrastructure
• Low-impact development
• Permitting
• Pump stations
• Site plan design
• Storm water management
• Traffic design, signals, studies, and programming
• Utility design and master planning
• Wastewater collection systems
• Water system design
Delivering Complex Solutions Throughout the Nation
Our engineering specialties address diverse needs across industrial, controlled environments, and food and beverage facilities. We emphasize safety and reliability, effective communications, proactive project management, and deliver tailored solutions that enhance brand performance and operational efficiency.
Total Number of Projects by State 1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Science and Industry
We streamline projects with effective project management, proactive communication, and rigorous scheduling to ensure timely, on-budget delivery. Our approach includes planning for facility maintenance and future expansion. By integrating maintenance strategies into the design process, we ensure long-term reliability and operational efficiency. We know how to identify potential issues with cost-effective designs that mitigate risks across various systems, including electrical, fall protection systems, LOTO, lighting, EHS, ventilation and dust collection.
Capabilities:
• Dust and fume mitigation and collection
• Energy saving strategies and upgrades
• Equipment and infrastructure assessments
• Facility access / restricted access design
• Fall protection and handrail systems
• Power system studies and arc flash labels
• Process and instrumentation diagram
• Process flow diagrams
• Process piping
• Pumping systems
• Short circuit and power factor analysis
• Ventilation and heat control
Controlled Environments
Controlled environments demand intricate support from building utilities, and our multidisciplinary team excels in designing functional and efficient spaces tailored to unique requirements. Safety is our top priority, ensuring that personnel are protected while maintaining high operational standards. We can help you plan for future growth to optimize space usage, and our designs incorporate reliability and redundancy to meet stringent demands — ensuring continuous operation without interruptions for maintenance.
Capabilities:
• Airflow cascades / differential pressure control
• Aseptic manufacturing
• Battery manufacturing / R&D
• BSL containment labs
• Cell and gene therapy
• Cell culture
• Effluent decontamination
• Electrostatic discharge control
• Fill / finish suites
• GMP / cGMP
• Grow rooms
• Humidity and temperature control
• ISO-certifiable cleanrooms: ISO3 - ISO9
• Process gas systems
• Process water systems
• Semiconductor fabs
• Ultra-low humidity / dry rooms
• Vivariums
Azzur - Cleanrooms on Demand, Oakland, CA, Vista, CA, Devens, MA, and Morrisville, NC
Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing
Grand Rapids, MI
Confidential Medical Product Manufacturing Client Grand Rapids, MI
Food and Beverage
Our success in the food and beverage sector stems from our integrated project design approach, where our in-house team of design professionals collaborate from the conceptual stage to transform your manufacturing concept into a functional and effective physical design. We elevate your brand by listening to your vision and implementing smart, hygienic designs that enhance performance.
Capabilities:
• Balanced and specialty air supply and exhaust systems
• Brand incorporation into spaces through design
• CGMP application of electrical infrastructure
• Chemical and wear resistant floors
• Dust and fume capture
• Hygienically designed lighting
• Interior hygienic construction materials
• Refrigeration and temperature control for food distribution and storage facilities
• Smart risk area flow and planning
Kerry Group, Rochester, MN
Smithfield Foods, North East, MD