TROY, N.Y. — Professor Emily Liu, a condensed matter physicist and nuclear engineer, has been named head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, one of the oldest and most renowned technological research universities in the nation. Dr. Liu is professor of nuclear engineering and engineering physics and brings extensive experience leading and managing multidisciplinary research, including collaborations with engineers, scientists, economists, and psychologists.

Industrial and systems engineering is an interdisciplinary science exploring the data analysis and design of systems that involve nature, machines, and the human element. The ISE department at Rensselaer is home to internationally renowned undergraduate and graduate programs, including industrial and management engineering (bachelor's of science, master's of science, and master's of engineering), data science and engineering (bachelor's of science minor), industrial and management engineering (master's of science and master's of engineering), and decision sciences and engineering Systems (doctorate). The department is well known for addressing engineering problems that involve networked, interdependent, socio-technical systems in which humans play a critical part in decision-making.

“I look forward to Dr. Liu’s vision and strong leadership to further advance the department in new and exciting directions,” said Shekhar Garde, dean of Rensselaer’s School of Engineering. “ISE resides at the intersection of complex interconnected systems, data, and human factors. Naturally, it will play a key role in the next technological revolution, and Dr. Liu’s expertise in leading interdisciplinary teams across boundaries will carry the ISE department forward in the areas of data, artificial intelligence (AI), and computing with applications to energy, the built and natural environment, and smart systems as well as to human health and well-being.

CUMBRIA, England — McMenon named Scott Castlehow its new business director to help the Workington-based firm achieve further growth in nuclear, renewables, defense, and other sectors.

Castlehow brings almost 20 years of experience in a range of industries, including nine years in the nuclear and decommissioning sector and 10 years in the aeronautical industry.

“We are delighted Scott has joined McMenon at such an exciting time in the company’s development as we expand in the nuclear and renewables markets,” said Anand Puthran, CEO, McMenon. “The timing is perfect to enable our plans to become one of the main Cumbrian SME suppliers to the nuclear industry. McMenon, along with TIS Cumbria, has formed the North West Energy Coast Alliance, to compete for, and deliver, large projects in the nuclear sector. Scott’s invaluable experience in this sector will aid us as we look to continue our growth across all markets.”

HICKORY, N.C. — Shurtape Technologies LLC announced Vuk Trivanovic, CEO of the company’s Industrial and Engineered Solutions (ESG) Groups, will expand his role and responsibilities as CEO to encompass the full scope of Shurtape’s global business, now including its Ohio-based Consumer & Craftsman (C&C) Group. Shurtape’s C&C Group markets DIY (Do-It-Yourself), EIY (Express-It-Yourself), and Home and Office products under the Duck^®, T-Rex^®, FrogTape^®, Painter’s Mate^®, and Shurtape^® brands. The leadership transition comes as John Kahl, CEO of Shurtape’s C&C Group, announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2021. Kahl and Trivanovic, who, earlier this year, joined the board of directors of Shurtape’s parent company, STM Industries, will both continue to serve in that capacity.

Trivanovic joined the company in 2015 as COO, a role that allowed him to become familiar with all aspects of Shurtape’s business and the various markets served by the company. In February 2020, he assumed overall leadership of the Industrial and ESG Groups, and in that expanded role has been integral in overseeing the company’s continued growth in those markets despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

TULSA, Okla. — AAON Inc., a manufacturer of HVAC products for nonresidential buildings, completed the acquisition of BasX LLC on Dec. 10, 2021. The company previously announced on Nov. 18, 2021, that it had entered into a membership interest purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interests of BasX LLC.

The transaction was funded through a combination of cash, borrowings under its revolving credit facility, and equity. The terms required an upfront payment of $100 million of which almost all was funded via cash-on-hand. Additional payments, all of which would be in the form of equity, valued at up to an additional $80 million, are subject to earn-out milestones that extend through 2023. Finally, as a condition to closing, AAON signed a real estate purchase agreement with BasX Properties LLC, an affiliate of BasX, to acquire the real property and improvements utilized by BasX for an additional $22 million, with such real estate transaction subject to customary closing conditions and adjustments. The company expects this real estate transaction to close by the end of the first quarter of 2022.  

BasX Solutions, headquartered in Redmond, Oregon, specializes in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of custom, high-performance cooling solutions for the rapidly growing hyperscale data center market. BasX also designs and manufactures custom solutions for cleanroom environments for the bio-pharmaceutical, semiconductor, medical, and agriculture markets as well as custom, energy-efficient air handlers and modular solutions for a vast array of markets.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — NV5 Global Inc., a provider of compliance, technology, engineering, and environmental consulting solutions, acquired Global Realty Services Group LLC (GRS), a provider of real estate due diligence and transaction services providing property condition assessments, environmental assessments, and zoning services for real estate portfolio transactions. GRS is a growing provider of due diligence services and serves commercial mortgage lenders, government-sponsored enterprise agencies, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, and loan originators. NV5 acquired GRS in an all-cash transaction, and it will be immediately accretive to NV5’s earnings.

“The addition of GRS to our existing real estate transaction services makes us the preeminent provider in the high-growth, high-margin real estate due diligence market,” said Dickerson Wright, P.E., chairman and CEO of NV5. “Our real estate transaction business has generated double-digit growth in 2021, and the addition of GRS’s 154 full-time equivalent personnel, premiere client list, and attractive end markets will help to drive additional growth in this highly profitable sector.”

GRS has completed more than 10,000 projects across North America and utilizes a proprietary web-based data management system called G-NET, which facilitates resource deployment, project management, and productivity reporting. The G-NET system allows GRS to deliver quicker response times for client needs with improved efficiency and profitability.

WASHINGTON — The National Institute of Building Sciences board of directors announced the honorable Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, NAC, CCM, LEED AP, the 11^th architect of the capitol and president of The Ayers Group LLC, has accepted the position of interim CEO of NIBS. Ayers’ appointment follows the announced departure of CEO Lakisha A. Woods, CAE.

“The board of directors is grateful to Stephen for stepping into this role,” said Anne Ellis, P.E., Hon.M.ACI, F.ASCE, M.NAC, board chair. “Stephen is a proven, trusted, and highly respected industry leader who will ensure a seamless transition and maintain the institute’s positive momentum advancing building science and technology to serve the public interest.”

Ayers previously served as chair of the NIBS board from 2017 to 2018. He also served as chair of the Construction Management Association of America and the Construction Users Roundtable.

On Feb. 24, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Ayers to serve as the 11^th architect of the capitol. By May of that year, the U.S. Senate confirmed Ayers, and the president officially appointed him to a 10-year term as architect of the capitol.