Jaros, Baum & Bolles
| Company type | Limited Liability Partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Engineering consultancy |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Founder | Alfred L. Jaros, Jr., Albert L. Baum |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, Hong Kong, Germany |
| Products | Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering services |
| Website | www |
Jaros, Baum & Bolles Consulting Engineers, LLP (JB&B) is a U.S.-based engineering consultancy specializing in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems. Established in 1915 by Alfred L. Jaros, Jr. and Albert L. Baum, the firm has built a reputation for its expertise in high-rise construction projects. Among its distinguished portfolio are prominent landmarks such as One World Trade Center and Hudson Yards in New York City, Chicago’s Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), and Hong Kong’s Bank of China Tower. In 2020, JB&B earned the distinction of being named New York's Design Firm of the Year by Engineering-News Record magazine.
History
Jaros and Baum began their journey in 1915 when Columbia University alumni Alfred L. Jaros, Jr. and Albert L. Baum departed from another consulting firm to establish their own practice. The addition of Frederick Bolles in 1932 brought specialized plumbing design capabilities to the company. JB&B has been at the forefront of engineering breakthroughs, including implementing the first sprinkler system tailored for high-rise buildings at the Willis Tower in 1974 and introducing high-speed elevators at the original World Trade Center in 1973. In early 2022, the firm initiated the Deep Carbon Reduction Group to support building owners in adapting to evolving carbon emissions regulations.
A notable recent endeavor is JB&B’s work on the 555 Greenwich Street project in New York City, which incorporates a geothermal HVAC system inspired by Nordic designs that achieves a 40% reduction in energy consumption relative to typical large-scale office buildings in NYC. Completed in 2023, this 16-story structure employs a combination of geothermal wells, dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS), radiant heating and cooling technologies, alongside sophisticated control mechanisms. The system circulates heat through subterranean water piping to rooftop heat pumps that also provide cooling functions.
This project was developed collaboratively with COOKFOX Architects and AECOM Tishman for Hines Interests Limited Partnership and Hudson Square Properties. It fully complies with New York City’s Local Law 97 of 2019 under the Climate Mobilization Act by operating entirely on electricity without any on-site fossil fuel consumption and demonstrates significantly lower electricity usage compared to similar commercial buildings.
Selected projects
- 111 West 57th Street, New York, NY
- 35 Hudson Yards, New York, NY
- Bank of America Tower (Manhattan), New York, NY
- Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong
- Memorial Hospital, New York, NY
- Moynihan Train Hall, New York, NY
- NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte, NC
- National September 11 Memorial & Museum, New York, NY
- One Vanderbilt, New York, NY
- One World Trade Center, New York, NY
- Pan Am Building, New York, NY
- Seagram Building, New York, NY
- Sony Center, Berlin, Germany
- The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards
- TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport, New York, NY
- Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
- Willis Tower, Chicago, IL
- World Trade Center (1973-2001), New York, NY
Notable alumni
- Donald E. Ross, past managing partner and member of the National Academy of Engineering
- Mitchel W. Simpler, PE, former managing partner and chairperson for the board of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
- Anthony M. Arbore, PE LEED, ex-partner and MEP project lead for the Bank of China Tower (Hong Kong)
- Augustine "Augie" DiGiacomo (1945–2015), previous managing partner recognized for his consulting contributions to global architecture firm Kohn Pederson Fox