Colliers Partners with FSB to Expand Aviation and Mission-Critical Engineering

This article is based on an official press release from Colliers.

Leading diversified professional services and investment management company Colliers has announced that the U.S. division of its Engineering segment has entered into a definitive agreement to partner with Frankfurt-Short-Bruza Associates P.C. (FSB). The transaction, which was officially announced on May 12, 2026, is expected to close in the second quarter of the year.

The strategic partnership is designed to establish a national aviation practice for Colliers Engineering & Design while significantly expanding the firm’s capabilities across the federal, mission-critical, and Native American sectors. Under the unique partnership model utilized by Colliers, senior leadership at FSB will become significant shareholders in Colliers Engineering, ensuring continuity and shared long-term goals.

While the specific financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed in the company’s press release, Black Iron Advisers, LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor to FSB during the process.

Expanding Aviation and Federal Capabilities

Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, FSB is a multidisciplinary engineering and design firm. According to the official release, the company employs over 140 professionals across five offices, offering mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering, alongside structural engineering and architectural services.

FSB has cultivated a national reputation as a premier leader in aviation facility design. The firm brings a robust portfolio to Colliers, boasting over $4.7 billion in federal and commercial aircraft hangar projects.

Overcoming High Barriers to Entry

The aviation facility design market is notoriously difficult to penetrate. Industry research highlights that designing hangars, maintenance facilities, and cargo buildings requires highly specialized engineering. These projects demand clear-span structural systems, specialized fire suppression technologies such as high-expansion foam, complex floor markings for aircraft safety, and strict adherence to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and military regulations.

By partnering with FSB, Colliers effectively bypasses the years of relationship-building and specialized portfolio development typically required to win lucrative federal and commercial aviation contracts.

“FSB has built an exceptional reputation delivering complex aviation, federal, and mission‑critical projects. Their design‑led culture, deep engineering expertise, and established client relationships are a perfect fit for our organization.”

Capitalizing on the Mission-Critical and Data Center Boom

Beyond aviation, the transaction provides Colliers Engineering with a significant opportunity to capitalize on the historic demand for data center projects. The press release explicitly notes FSB’s focus on mission-critical markets as a key driver for the partnership.

Market data provided by industry research reports underscores the scale of this opportunity. Driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure expansion, the U.S. data center construction market was valued at $48.18 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $112 billion by 2030. Furthermore, U.S. data center power capacity is expected to triple, jumping from roughly 30 GW in 2025 to 90 GW by 2030.

Addressing Execution Capacity

A major bottleneck in the 2026 data center construction market is not a lack of capital, but rather “execution capacity,” specifically, the availability of highly specialized MEP engineering and construction labor. Acquiring an established firm like FSB provides Colliers with the immediate, specialized workforce required to execute these complex, power-intensive structural and electrical engineering overhauls.

“Joining Colliers Engineering represents an exciting new chapter for our people and our clients. Colliers Engineering’s commitment to technical excellence, partnership culture, and client service aligns seamlessly with how we’ve built our business.”

AirPro News analysis

We view this partnership as a textbook execution of “The Colliers Way,” a long-term growth strategy that blends internal expansion with aggressive, strategic acquisitions. In recent years, Colliers has scaled its engineering foundation massively by acquiring regional, specialized leaders such as Bolton Perez & Associates in 2021, MG2 Corporation in 2024, and Terra Consulting Group in 2025.

Retaining FSB’s executive talent through equity partnerships is a critical component of this strategy. FSB President and CEO Gene O. Brown brings over two decades of experience managing government projects, including facilities for emerging aircraft like the B-21, VC-25B, and F-35. This specialized leadership gives Colliers immediate credibility and access to highly regulated federal and military infrastructure projects, perfectly timing their entry into the AI-driven infrastructure boom.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Colliers and FSB partnership expected to close?

According to the official press release, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.

What sectors will Colliers Engineering expand into with this partnership?

The partnership will allow Colliers Engineering to establish a national aviation practice and significantly expand its capabilities in the federal, mission-critical (data center), and Native American sectors.

What is the financial value of the transaction?

The specific financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. However, FSB’s senior leadership team will become significant shareholders in Colliers Engineering as part of the agreement.

Sources

• Colliers Press Release (GlobeNewswire)