GRAND RAPIDS, MI – GMB Architecture + Engineering Inc. has acquired Visbeen Associates Inc., a move which the Holland, MI-based company says will expand both firms’ capabilities and client base. The acquisition was announced July 12. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

According to a statement from GMBae, the two companies will retain their separate identities. A full service architecture and engineering firm, GMBae services clients in the education, healthcare and corporate arenas. The company has more than 80 employees, with offices in Grand Rapids and Holland.

Visbeen Associates will change its name to Visbeen Architects, and former company President Wayne Visbeen will have ownership in GMBae. Founded in 1992 and based in Grand Rapids, Visbeen specializes in residential and commercial architectural and interior design services. The company’s website lists eight employees as well as numerous awards won by Visbeen.

"This is a major milestone in our growth strategy,” GMBae Vice President David Bolt, AIA, said in a statement. “We have shared an excellent working relationship with Visbeen and have partnered with them on projects throughout the years. Our firms have similar corporate cultures and share the same values. It was a natural partnership and we’re extremely pleased to have Visbeen Architects as part of our team. At the same time, Wayne’s firm is one of the best known in the nation in the residential sector; it’s a great opportunity for us to capitalize on the brand he has created.”

“By formalizing the relationship, we can draw on each other’s expertise,” added Wayne Visbeen, AIA, IIDA. “It’s exciting to become a part of a growing and dynamic organization and to offer our clients access to a broader array of services. We like the idea of becoming part of an established and commercially successful brand.”