About Us
MEP Engineering Services for a More Sustainable Planet
Comprehensive Services, Challenging Projects
Your Full-Service Engineering Partner
Founded in 1973, Grumman|Butkus Associates is a nationally recognized firm specializing in sustainable design engineering and energy efficiency consulting. Our award-winning services include facility assessment and analysis, MEP engineering design, commissioning, retro-commissioning, monitoring-based commissioning, and energy efficiency and LEED consulting.
We help clients achieve goals and solve tough problems, with particular expertise in energy-intensive and complex facilities, including:
Healthcare
Education
Commercial
Mission Critical
Senior Living
Sports / Recreation
Hospitality
Lab / Science
Multifamily Residential
Government
Cultural / Religious
Pharmaceutical / Industrial
Multidiscipline Sustainable Engineering
We haven’t met a problem we couldn’t solve.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Heat recovery technology made a dramatic difference for this massive leisure property, saving energy and money
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, MRL and MNTL
Two complex engineering buildings received large-scale renovations, resulting in award-winning energy savings
801 Grand, Des Moines
Energy modeling, facility assessment, troubleshooting, and combined low/no cost and capital improvements provided long-term benefits for this Des Moines skyscraper
Honoring Our Roots
Sustainable Expansion
From its beginnings over 50 years ago as a small energy consulting firm, under the direction of Dave Grumman and Al Butkus, GBA has grown to include more than 150 professionals in four offices, serving clients throughout North America.
Sustainable engineering remains the bedrock of all we do. From building performance assessments and studies, through design, commissioning services, and post-occupancy engineering analytics, GBA has the expertise you need to create more efficient, economical, environmentally beneficial facilities.
Dave Grumman founds Enercon Ltd. at 708 Church Street in Evanston, IL
Al Butkus joins the company the following year. Early clients include Hyatt Hotels, the College of Lake County, Springfield’s Lincoln Library, and Mercy Hospital of Chicago.
First ASHRAE Illinois award
The firm wins its first ASHRAE award, for a design project at the College of Lake County. Awards for work at Mt. Prospect High School and Rush University Medical Center quickly follow. Al Butkus becomes a principal of the firm.
GBA opens an office in suburban Milwaukee
Jeff Conner becomes the Wisconsin operation’s President and Managing Principal. The move initiates a geographic expansion, and services also greatly expand to a wide range of services, including full MEP design.
Enercon begins doing business as Grumman | Butkus Associates
Chicago-based graphic designer Hayward Blake creates the firm’s distinctive logo. Al Butkus’ role in the firm’s leadership continues to grow; in 1988 he assumes the role of President, with Dave Grumman as Chairman.
The U.S. Department of Energy honors GBA with the Energy Innovation Award
The Chicago Tribune Freedom Center renovation project also garners the firm’s first ASHRAE Society-level award (industrial facilities, second place).
GBA Illinois relocates to 820 Davis Street
The move accommodates steady growth in the Illinois team. A second Wisconsin office, in Madison, is also launched.
Dan Doyle named President of the Illinois corporation
Doyle had joined the firm as one of its earliest employees, in 1980. Al Butkus moves to the role of Senior Principal, with Dave Grumman retaining the Chair position.
Bob Bayne becomes President of the Wisconsin corporation
Bayne had joined the firm in 1988, initially as part of the Illinois office. Jeff Conner retains the role of Chairman.
ASHRAE gives GBA its first first-place Society-level awards
The awards honored sustainability-oriented design projects at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa and the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino.
Heartland Community College Workforce Development Center receives a LEED certification
The Heartland Community College Workforce Development Center, Normal, IL, is the first building funded by the state of Illinois to receive a LEED certification, with an engineering design by GBA.
Patient Care Tower at Advocate Lutheran General receives LEED Gold certification
The new Patient Care Tower at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, with engineering design by GBA, receives LEED Gold certification: the first hospital in the Midwest to do so.
R&D Magazine Lab of the Year recognition
The GBA-designed Daniel and Ada Rice Plant Conservation Science Center, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, is named Laboratory of the Year by R&D Magazine.
Continuing Care Retirement Community achieves LEED Gold certification
The Mather South, Evanston, IL, becomes the nation’s first Continuing Care Retirement Community to achieve LEED Gold certification; GBA provided commissioning services.
GBA opens its New York regional office
Serving a growing demand for commissioning services, GBA opens its New York regional office, in Hoboken, NJ. Also in 2013, GBA’s first LEED Platinum project is certified: Radio Flyer HQ renovation in Chicago, IL, commissioned by the Evanston team.
Chad Luning becomes President of the Illinois corporation
Luning had joined the firm in 1991. Dan Doyle moves to the role of Chairman.
GBA enlarges its Evanston office
GBA Illinois expands to a second floor of 820 Davis, accommodating growth in the firm.
Trend Sumo receives registered trademark status
Trend Sumo®, GBA’s in-house fault detection and diagnostics platform, receives registered trademark status from the US Patent and Trademark Office; the firm’s Energy Sumo® energy dashboard platform follows in 2022.
GBA earns Energy Efficiency Service Provider of the Year award
ComEd names the company its 2022 Energy Efficiency Service Provider of the Year for the utility’s Energy Efficiency Program; the latest of many utility awards.
GBA celebrates 50th anniversary
Grumman|Butkus Associates celebrates 50 years in business!
GBA New York regional office celebrates 10th anniversary
Celebrating 10 years in business, the NY regional office quadrupled in size since its inception, while adding a wide range of services to its core commissioning offering. The staff moved into a larger, refurbished office space in late 2023 to support the ongoing growth.
GBA Evanston office undergoes major renovation
GBA Evanston accomplished a major renovation of its third- and fourth-floor office spaces in spring 2024, increasing staff capacity while adding amenities and collaborative spaces.
Our Logo
The GBA logo was designed in the early years of the firm to represent both Dave Grumman’s commitment to energy conservation and his love of sailing.
The symbol in the logo is based on the Greek letter “eta,” which is used as an engineering symbol for efficiency; it also recalls the look of sails on Lake Michigan. The stripes symbolize energy exchange. This image reflects the firm’s dynamic approach to every project.
Our Leaders
The firm is guided by a team of highly experienced engineers and management professionals, who are as dedicated to sustainability as they are to customer service. Core principles of collaboration and creativity are part of the company’s DNA, just as they were when GBA was founded in 1973.
