Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (SSR), a leading engineering design and facility consulting firm, has opened a Chicago office. The office will be led by Laura Ludwig, P.E., QCxP, who has been named senior associate with SSR.

 SSR has been active in the Chicago market for many years and has more than 20 ongoing and recently completed projects. Notable work includes:

  • The Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, a $656 million facility (facilities commissioning services)
  • The Hallmark, a 37-story senior living tower on Lake Michigan owned by Brookdale Senior Living (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and telecommunications design services)
  • Loyola University Chicago’s Norville Center for Intercollegiate Athletics (facilities commissioning services)
  • Adventist Hinsdale Hospital’s patient pavilion (facilities commissioning services)
  • A renovation and new construction project at Central DuPage Hospital that included an ambulatory services pavilion, a women’s and children’s center, and surgical services (full medical communications planning and design of telecommunications infrastructure)

“Based on our growth in the Chicago market, it was only natural that we establish roots to allow us to better serve our clients in the region,” said Rob Barrick, president and CEO of Smith Seckman Reid. “We are committed to this market and look forward to furthering relationships with our valued partners.”

Ludwig has more than 25 years of experience in facilities and process design, project management and testing, as well as experience in energy performance contracting, development and execution of energy conservation measures, and retrocommissioning. She was most recently a manager of commissioning services for ARAMARK.

The firm’s new Washington office will be led by Michael Preece, P.E., PSP, CxA, security engineering commissioning specialist. SSR also has been active in the Washington area for many years, with significant growth during the last five years. Notable work includes:

  • Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Newport News, VA
  • Riverside Doctor’s Hospital of Williamsburg
  • Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in the greater DC area
  • Marine Corp. Base Quantico – Greenside Hangar and Dental Clinic in Quantico, VA
  • Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA
  • Georgetown University’s Davis Performing Arts Center
  • The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore

"As our work for local clients and the federal government continues to grow, we wanted to be close to the agencies headquartered in the DC area,” said Rob Barrick, president and CEO of Smith Seckman Reid.

Preece has 22 years of experience in project development, design, construction and start-up. For the last nine years, he has served as client and project manager for federal, state and local government projects, and commercial projects in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region.