World Trade Center consulting firm acquired

ST. LOUIS—Ross & Baruzzini, based here, has acquired Ducibella Venter & Santore, a consulting firm currently working on the World Trade Center and the new Sandy Hook School.

Brian Coulombe, principal at DVS, told Security Systems News that the deal, finalized on Jan. 6, will benefit both firms.

DVS will help Ross & Baruzzini compete in more areas of the security market, Coulombe said. In turn, DVS can use the resources of Ross & Baruzzini to expand its footprint and become involved in larger projects.

DVS is based in Hamden, Conn., with a branch office in New York. Previously, the firm worked with the New York Stock Exchange, Madison Square Garden and the Bank of America headquarters near Times Square.

Ross & Baruzzini specializes in planning, design and consulting for the government, health care and transportation markets among others. The firm has offices in Hamden, Conn., New York, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Miami, Toronto and Columbia, Ill.

Coulombe said that DVS does most of its work in the northeast United States, though it has projects across the country and globally. “It will be nice to have more offices to rely on through Ross & Baruzzini when working in different areas of the country, he said.

“Our footprint is looking to grow overtime,” Coulombe said, “We hope to be able to provide even better support to our projects and to our clients, and in that regard I think integrators will only serve to benefit from this acquisition.”

Coulombe said that this deal will allow DVS to keep all employees and facilities, “which was really the most important thing. The last thing we wanted was to have this have an adverse impact on any our clients or projects. … We really wanted this to be a seamless process for [our clients].”