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The leaders of Beaverton-based ACE Consultants were facing a problem that’s becoming more common in the building industry. They were ready to retire, but they wanted to make sure their employees would be OK.

Enter Harper Houf Peterson Righellis, which has Oregon offices in Portland and Bend as well as a Washington office in Vancouver. The two firms recently merged, with HHPR adding ACE’s five-person staff to its employee roster.

HHPR and ACE first met when they ended up on the same team for a city of Portland project.

鈥淲e realized 鈥� that we had similar ways of working: our focus on the client, the level of service we provided,鈥� said Chuck Harper, HHPR’s senior principal and president.

However, the firms’ differences, as much as their similarities, convinced the firms that merging was a smart move.

ACE Consultants had spent 25 years building its expertise in wastewater and water treatment and supply systems, including a lot of work for utilities. HHPR, on the other hand, had strength in different areas such as transportation, with a heavy emphasis on public projects.

鈥淲e do utility work and always have,鈥� Harper said, 鈥渂ut they do it as a specialty. So they provided us with more depth in that area to offer our existing clients.鈥�

The addition of ACE’s staffers brings HHPR’s total number of employees to approximately 65. The firm was larger a few years ago, with close to 80 employees, but had to drop between eight and 10 staffers when work dried up in 2012. For Harper, seeing his firm’s roster grow is a good sign.

鈥淲e held on through the recession because our focus on public work and public infrastructure 鈥� carried us through,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n 2012, it kind of lagged. But we’re in a good spot now.鈥�