VHB expands N.J. presence, buys Manasquan firm

VHB, a land development and engineering firm, said Monday it purchased Hammer Land Engineering, a civil engineering firm based in Manasquan, expanding its land-development footprint in the Northeast. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More than 20 people from Hammer will join VHB.

VHB called this a “strategic move” that “will significantly enhance VHB’s land development services across New Jersey and the broader Northeast region, providing clients with expanded resources and experience.”

This is VHB’s fourth acquisition this year. VHB earlier bought Close, Jensen, and Miller (CJM) of Wethersfield, Conn.; Waterway Surveys & Engineering of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Harbor Engineering of Barrington, R.I. VHB, founded in 1979, has more than 30 offices in 13 states and the District of Columbia. It has offices in Manasquan, Princeton, and Newark.

Hammer, a 15-year-old land development firm, has done projects in industrial, residential, commercial, solar, healthcare, and educational sectors throughout New Jersey.  

“Integrating Hammer’s extensive experience and strong client relationships into VHB will enhance our land development capabilities and broaden our impact in New Jersey,” said Joe Pizzurro, VHB Northeast regional manager. “Hammer’s technical capabilities, combined with our multidisciplinary approach, allow us to deliver smarter, more efficient solutions that support sustainable and resilient communities.”  

In conjunction with the merger, Hammer Principal Joe Hanrahan is transitioning to VHB’s leadership team as the New Jersey director of land development. He has more than 35 years of land-development engineering experience in New Jersey. He will collaborate with Courtney Riley, Northeast land development service lead, and Brian Perry, New Jersey managing director, to strengthen VHB’s land development team across the Northeast region. 

“Joining forces with VHB provides our team with access to a broader range of resources, enhancing our ability to deliver high-quality services to our clients,” said Hanrahan.