NEW YORK: Brightstar Capital Partners, a private equity firm specializing in business services, industrials, consumer, and government services and technology investments, announced Wednesday that it has acquired KZF Design, a multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, and design firm.
Mike Burke, former chairman and CEO of AECOM, will serve as chair of KZF’s board of directors and advise Brightstar on the company’s strategic direction.
KZF, which has operated for nearly 70 years, has built a reputation for delivering award-winning, client-focused design solutions in sectors such as education, public safety, transportation, and corporate facilities. The firm has active projects in more than 40 states and has contributed to regional landmarks across the United States and abroad.
“This is an exciting new chapter for KZF,” said Doug Marsh, the company’s president and CEO. “We believe that partnering with Brightstar positions us to accelerate our strategic initiatives while preserving the values that define who we are. We are actively pursuing acquisitions of complementary firms to expand our platform and deliver even greater impact to our clients and communities.”
Burke echoed Marsh’s optimism about the acquisition.
“We see significant opportunity to build upon this foundation—expanding into new markets, attracting additional talent, and scaling through organic growth and a disciplined M&A strategy,” Burke said. “In a fragmented industry like this, we believe that uniting aligned firms can drive substantial value and innovation.”
Brightstar managing director Sam Totusek highlighted the importance of the architecture sector in driving innovation across industries.
“We believe that the architecture sector plays a vital role across many industries and is ripe for a platform focused on integration, growth, and providing customer-centric solutions at scale,” Totusek said. “KZF is exactly the type of high-quality, customer-first firm we want to build around.”
Brightstar Capital Partners, which manages approximately $5 billion in assets, focuses on investments where it can drive significant value through management, operations, and strategic direction.