RAPID CITY, S.D. — RESPEC Company, LLC has acquired Albertson Engineering Inc. (AEI), the structural engineering firm behind some of South Dakota’s most recognizable landmarks, including the Dignity of Earth and Sky statue near Chamberlain and the Arc of Dreams in Sioux Falls.
The acquisition, effective Sept. 1, brings AEI’s 20-person team into RESPEC’s 650-plus employee-owned workforce. Founded in 1969 in Rapid City, RESPEC has grown into a global engineering and consulting company, but leaders emphasized that this move keeps jobs and projects rooted in South Dakota.
“This is a South Dakota story,” said Jason Love, RESPEC CEO and president. “AEI and RESPEC have both grown from this region; both built teams rooted in practical, people-first engineering; and both stayed focused on relationships. This partnership strengthens all of that.”
AEI, established in 1999, has shaped projects across the state, from the Oyate Health Center in Rapid City to the Ascent Innovation Campus that supports entrepreneurs and small businesses. By combining with RESPEC, the firm’s portfolio will expand alongside RESPEC’s expertise in civil, water, mining, environmental and technology services.
“RESPEC’s values and vision mirror our own,” said Mike Albertson, AEI president. “This next step gives our team access to more resources and broader opportunities while staying grounded in the communities we serve.”
Company leaders said the acquisition reinforces Rapid City and the Black Hills as a hub for engineering and design talent, offering new opportunities for professionals to build long-term careers in the region.
“We’re growing in a way that keeps the work and the opportunities here,” Love said.
