Going Beyond Since Day 1

While working on a project late into the night, two junior partners at a local engineering firm decided it was time to strike out on their own. They knew they could do better for their clients.

In the summer of 1983, they opened the firm (then called Bacik Karpinski Associates) with three employees in an office above a Dairy Queen. By the end of the year, they had five full-time employees and 87 projects on the books. Today, Karpinski Engineering has five regional offices in three states, producing hundreds of projects each year.

It’s been an adventure all the way. We’ve worked with some of the best in healthcare and education, and on landmark projects and historic buildings. We’ve embraced new technology again and again - from the fax machine to computer-aided drafting to Building Information Modeling. At the same time, we’ve collaborated with some of the same clients since our early days. And for the past decade, we’ve consistently ranked among the top engineering firms in the U.S.

Our Namesake

M. James “Karp” Karpinski is one of the firm’s founders and our namesake.

While he originally planned to become an architect, his first look at a boiler room schematic changed his mind. He decided to become a mechanical engineer.

Karp spent nearly 60 years in the industry, serving as an engineer, leader, and mentor. He was a managing partner for Karpinski Engineering’s first 20 years, retiring from executive leadership in 2003. In 2007, he was inducted into the Cleveland Engineering Society’s Hall of Fame, honoring his achievements in the field of engineering.

Today, Karp serves on Karpinski’s Board of Directors as Chairman Emeritus.