Matt Dillon
Australian building services and sustainability practice Umow Lai is joining Integral Group, a global network of mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers, energy analysts, commissioning authorities and sustainability consultants.
Founded in Melbourne in 1991 by George Umow and Dominic Lai, M.AIRAH, Umow Lai has grown to become a leading multi-disciplinary building services engineering, fire engineering, ICT and ESD consultancy.
Its combined Australian businesses now employ more than 200 staff operating from offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
“I’m delighted that we are joining a group that is motivated by the same purpose, that shares our commitment to innovation, ecological design, engineering excellence and to nurturing the next generation of professionals in our field,” says Lai of joining Integral Group.
Umow Lai determined three key factors in joining Integral Group: mutual commitment to protecting the environment; growing client demand for leading “deep green” engineering services; and close alignment of values and culture.
Integral Group takes in more than 600 experts based in 17 offices across Australia, Europe and North America.
Founded in 2008 by CEO Kevin Hydes, Integral Group is “an interactive global network of over 600 design professionals collaborating under a single deep green engineering umbrella”.
The founder and director of the Canada Green Building Council, Hydes is former Chair of the USGBC and World GBC.
Hydes became aware of Umow Lai’s track record in sustainable engineering, and identified an opportunity to combine forces.
“There is an urgency to the work our firms have both been leading,” he says. “It was clear from our first meeting that we can go further and faster by working together.”
Umow Lai managing director Andrew Oxley is enthused about the opportunities ahead.
“Our people will be working alongside like-minded professionals, playing a leading role a world-class practice founded and run by engineers,” he says. “So, in many respects – and certainly for our clients – it’s business as usual.”
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