Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Expert Engineering Solutions for Sustainable Design
Van Boerum & Frank Associates (VBFA) has been a leader in consulting engineering since 1972, specializing in sustainable and energy-efficient designs. Our expertise spans mechanical, electrical, civil, fire protection, and commissioning services, with a focus on LEED, Net Zero, and Zero Carbon projects. With over 150 employees across five regional offices, we deliver innovative solutions for healthcare, educational, religious, municipal, and industrial facilities. Our commitment to energy conservation began during the 1970s energy crisis, and we continue to pioneer advancements in HVAC, renewable energy systems, and building performance optimization.Clients benefit from healthier indoor environments, reduced operational costs, and tailored engineering solutions. Our collaborative approach ensures stakeholder involvement, while our team of experts leverages cutting-edge tools to meet complex project demands. VBFAs culture emphasizes mentorship, innovation, and community impact, driving our mission to create a better, safer, and more comfortable world through engineering excellence.
Services
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Systems
Civil Engineering
Building Commissioning
Fire Protection
Sustainability Design
Controls Systems
Details
- Year established: 1972
Highlights and features
- We offer 50+ years of expertise in sustainable mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering solutions.
- Our team specializes in LEED, Net Zero, and Zero Carbon design for diverse facility types.
- We provide tailored energy conservation systems that reduce operational costs by up to 40%.
- Our engineers hold advanced certifications in commissioning, fire protection, and HVAC design.
- We maintain long-term client relationships through transparent communication and project accountability.
What people say
Award-winning designs
Precision engineering
Energy savings
Collaborative team
Technical expertise
Services
Mechanical Engineering
VBFA designs advanced HVAC systems that optimize energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Our solutions include geothermal heating, ground-source heat pumps, and 3-stage evaporative cooling tailored for healthcare, education, and industrial facilities. We integrate precision engineering with sustainability to reduce energy consumption by up to 35% while maintaining strict regulatory compliance for critical environments like hospitals and laboratories.
Electrical Systems
Our electrical engineering services cover power distribution, emergency generators, and renewable energy integration. VBFA specializes in low-voltage systems for telecommunications and security, ensuring reliable infrastructure for commercial and industrial clients. We conduct arc flash analysis and selective coordination studies to enhance safety while supporting LEED-certified projects with energy-efficient lighting and power management solutions.
Building Commissioning
VBFA provides comprehensive commissioning for new and existing buildings, ensuring systems meet performance goals. Our retro-commissioning services identify energy savings in existing facilities, while re-commissioning restores optimal function for changed-use buildings. We partner with owners to document requirements early, reducing operational costs by 15-30% through energy audits and system optimization.
Sustainability Design
VBFA pioneers Net Zero and LEED-certified designs using passive solar strategies, ammonia refrigeration, and energy modeling. Our sustainability experts develop carbon-neutral solutions for municipal and industrial clients, including thermal air displacement systems that cut HVAC costs by 25%. We balance environmental responsibility with budget constraints, delivering projects that achieve both certification and long-term operational savings.
Fire Protection
Our fire protection engineering includes sprinkler system design, fire alarm integration, and code compliance analysis. VBFA ensures life safety in complex facilities like healthcare centers and schools, combining NFPA standards with innovative suppression methods. We collaborate with architects to maintain aesthetic integrity while implementing systems that reduce risk and insurance costs for commercial clients.
People
Jeff Watkins
President/CEO
With over 30 years of experience, Jeff leads VBFA's strategic growth while maintaining hands-on engineering oversight. He specializes in mechanical systems design for healthcare facilities, ensuring compliance with strict safety standards. Jeff's leadership has expanded VBFA's expertise in Net Zero projects, earning recognition for innovative hospital HVAC solutions.
Jake Beck
Principal Engineer
Jake specializes in energy-efficient fire station design, including the U.S.'s first Net Zero Energy fire stations. His expertise in system integration reduces operational costs while maintaining code compliance. He mentors junior engineers in sustainable design practices, contributing to VBFA's award-winning projects for municipal clients.
Ladd Birch
Chief Financial Officer
Ladd oversees VBFA's financial operations, ensuring fiscal responsibility while supporting technical innovation. With a background in civil engineering, he bridges financial strategy with project execution, optimizing budgets for large-scale infrastructure projects. His leadership maintains VBFA's 150+ employee growth while preserving client value.
Lewis Wong
Electrical Engineer
Lewis specializes in electrical system design for complex facilities, focusing on code compliance and energy efficiency. His expertise in medical gas systems and emergency power solutions ensures reliability for healthcare clients. He collaborates with architects to integrate electrical infrastructure seamlessly into LEED-certified buildings.
Scot Muir
Mechanical Engineer
Scot leads mechanical design teams in creating innovative HVAC solutions for educational facilities. His work on thermal displacement systems reduces energy use by 30% in K-12 schools. He prioritizes budget adherence while implementing ground-source heat pumps and indirect evaporative cooling for sustainable, high-performance learning environments.
Questions
What industries does VBFA specialize in?
VBFA serves healthcare, education, religious, municipal, and industrial sectors with tailored engineering solutions.
Do you offer Net Zero design services?
Yes, we specialize in Net Zero and LEED-certified projects using renewable energy systems and advanced modeling.
How do you ensure project sustainability?
We integrate energy modeling, passive solar design, and geothermal systems to optimize efficiency and reduce carbon footprints.
Can you handle complex commissioning projects?
Our team provides comprehensive commissioning for new buildings and retrofits, ensuring systems meet performance goals.
What makes VBFA different from competitors?
We combine 50+ years of experience with innovative technologies and a collaborative approach to deliver client-focused solutions.
