Celebrating Nearly 50 Years of Fortitude with Cianci Engineering
How can you bake a cake if you don’t have a pan?
The first priority of building practically anything is to make sure it doesn’t fall down. This is especially true when it’s a home or commercial property. Sure, the architects and interior designers get to have all the fun with intricate designs and show-stopping decor, but none of that really matters if a project isn’t first and foremost structurally sound.
Most people don’t realize that engineers are the foundation of any construction process. They are the ones to make sure that when something is built, it will not only stand the test of time but the test of catastrophe. That takes a lot of commitment.
Enter Cianci Engineering, a three-generation family-owned firm that has built a reputation as peace of mind makers. We spoke to Vice President Paul Cianci about their work in Connecticut, being brought up on family business values, and what it’s like to be part of an up and coming community in West Hartford.
Cianci Engineering started nearly 50 years ago in 1973. What has been the secret to the longevity of your business?
My grandfather’s most popular mantra, which was passed down to my father and then eventually on to me, was to “design every structure as if your kids are going to live in it and you’re going to pay for it.” It’s something we try to work on and instill in our company values every day. No project is too big or too small and each has its own needs that excite and challenge us. At the end of the day, making sure that we provide creative solutions for our clients while also providing a good, honest and fair product is what we strive for.
What makes you stand out as a firm?
While we work on large, more complex projects like multi-story commercial buildings and large scale renovations, we don’t shy away from the smaller, but just as important, jobs that someone would need an engineer for. We work with partners, many of which are members of the Design District, on a variety of projects in bath, kitchen, and home remodeling. In any business, what really matters is not what you do, but how you do it. For us it’s about the what, the how, and the why because we care about our clients and their needs.
What gets you excited about going to work?
I have to say the opportunity to meet new people and potential new clients and hear about exciting new challenges. I joke, but I’m half-serious, that if every project was easy, then we wouldn’t be needed. Every day can pose a new challenge, a new project, and new growth opportunities for all of us at our firm.
Why did you decide to join the Design District?
We decided to join the Design District recently for two big reasons. The first is the opportunity to work with other neighborhood home and commercial building businesses and officially join forces while working with clients. The second, and equally important reason, is help with the revitalization of the Design District. As a millennial couple, my wife and I find ourselves doing a lot of work on our own home and we love that everything we need for these projects can generally be found in this corner of West Hartford. We’re proud to both do business and be in a business surrounded by local, independent operators just like us. It’s an exciting time to come and check out the Design District and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the area to see what we have been up to.
Cianci Engineering, LLC is a West Hartford-based consulting engineering firm specializing in all things consulting, design, forensic investigations, expert testimony and more. Learn more about Paul and Cianci Engineering athttp://cianciengineering.com/