HONOLULU — Multidiscipline consulting engineering firm Coffman Engineers Inc. announced that structural engineering firm Shigemura, Lau, Sakanashi, Higuchi, and Associates Inc. (SLSH) has executed a letter of intent to join Coffman. 

The companies plan to finalize the asset purchase agreement by Nov. 1. Once the agreement is finalized, Coffman will welcome SLSH's four owners and all six staff members to the company before the end of the year. The decision to join Coffman is part of SLSH's ownership transition plan to provide continued support to their staff and established clients while the ownership plans for retirement.

"We were selective and committed to finding the right firm to partner with that would benefit our clients and staff,” said Howard Lau, P.E., president, Shigemura, Lau, Sakanashi, Higuchi and Associates. “We were motivated by Coffman's drive for the same level of client care and attention to detail that our clients have become accustomed to. Our work and values are also complementary. We look forward to bringing our teams together to start a new chapter and to serve our clients with increased resources." 

SLSH owners Lau; Craig Sakanashi, P.E.; Wayne Higuchi, P.E.; and Beverly Ishii-Nakayama, P.E., will join Coffman as principal advisors. The addition of SLSH expands Coffman's Honolulu structural group from three to 13. SLSH has provided consulting structural engineering services to private and public clients throughout the Pacific Region for more than 52 years. SLSH's experience augments Coffman's structural engineering capabilities and complements the company's other engineering disciplines. 

SLSH and Coffman have an ongoing working relationship and share many of the same clients. The two companies' markets and clients align, particularly in military/DoD, healthcare, housing, and education. 

"We are honored and humbled that SLSH has chosen Coffman as part of their leadership transition,” said John Thielst, senior vice president and managing principal, Pacific region, Coffman. “We have a lot to learn from their 52 years of doing business in Hawaii. We welcome them to our office 'ohana and are prepared to continue the level of service they have established with their clients."