ENR Southeast 2024 Design Firm of the Year: GMC Thinks Locally, Succeeds Regionally

ENR Southeast awards its 2024 Design Firm of the Year to Goodwyn Mills Cawood

More than 75 years since its founding, Goodwyn Mills Cawood has found its sweet spot. A Southeast-focused firm with 24 offices across seven states, GMC has emerged over the last decade as one of the region’s largest firms while maintaining its emphasis on providing service at a local level. The Montgomery, Ala.-based architecture and engineering firm regular finds itself both competing against and partnering with large national companies. A steady stream of acquisitions coupled with landing some sizable contracts have propelled GMC into the ranks of ENR’s largest design firms in the region. Last year alone, the firm saw annual revenue spike by a remarkable 31%.

In light of its recent success, ENR Southeast named Goodwyn Mills Cawood its 2024 Design Firm of the Year.

Although GMC experienced a major growth spurt last year, the company’s fortunes have been rising steadily for years. In 2017, it saw annual revenue of $66.5 million, and every year since then the firm’s revenue has grown. The firm has also expanded into new markets through acquisitions, having completed seven in just the last five years. With each new acquisition, the firm deepens its talent pool, says Jeffrey Brewer, CEO of Goodwyn Mills Cawood. But despite that dramatic growth, he says the firm remains grounded in the communities it serves. “When you can combine strong local personal relationships with high technical expertise, we call that our superpower,” he says.

GMC was also ranked in four of ENR Southeast’s market sector categories. GMC rose two spots to #14 on ENR Southeast’s Top Design Firm list, ranking revenue in Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, Tennessee and Puerto Rico. In addition, GMC ranked on ENR Southeast’s sector-specific lists, including #1 Top Alabama Design Firms, #21 Top Georgia Design Firms and #4 Top Education Design Firms.