Honoring R.E. Warner’s Legacy and All Who Have Contributed to 75 Years as a Top Engineering Firm
Seventy‑five years ago, in 1951, R.E. Warner began as a small engineering practice in the historic Broadway Building in downtown Lorain, Ohio, and quickly became one of the top engineering firms in Northeast Ohio. The firm’s founder, Robert E. Warner, employed a simple but powerful philosophy: combine technical expertise with genuine care for people, work with integrity, and build relationships that last.
As REW celebrates this milestone, we find ourselves reflecting on a story that spans generations, industries, and countless relationships. This anniversary year allows us not only to honor where we’ve been, but also to share the people‑driven moments that shaped our firm into who we are today. Our 75‑year story is one of talented people, trusted partnerships, and the steady evolution of a firm that has kept its eyes on the future while honoring its roots.
As we look back, it’s only fitting to start where our story began:
The Beginning: A Vision Built on Relationships and Purpose
When Bob Warner founded the firm in 1951, his vision wasn’t just about building an engineering practice—He was creating a place where people could do meaningful work alongside others who shared a commitment to quality and integrity.
Operating out of the Broadway Building in Lorain, Bob took on every role himself in the early years. However, his skill and dedication quickly generated momentum. Engineers and designers —and clients—were drawn to his approachable leadership style, technical curiosity, and belief that strong relationships were the foundation of successful projects.
Within a decade, the firm grew to 30 employees and expanded its project footprint across the Midwest. As the following decades unfolded, new disciplines were added, new clients came aboard, and new leaders stepped forward. Each transition strengthened the firm, expanding its capabilities while preserving the spirit Bob instilled.
These early principles became the bedrock of R.E. Warner’s culture:
- Treat every client with respect.
- Deliver quality work you can stand behind.
- Value people—our colleagues, partners, and community.
What started as one engineer’s vision quickly became a growing team united by a common purpose.
Growing Through the Decades: Laying New Groundwork with Every Generation
Across the decades, R.E. Warner has grown through intentional leadership and a shared commitment to our core values. Each generation has guided the firm through new challenges and opportunities while preserving the principles that shaped our earliest years.
Along the way, our firm has expanded its services, strengthened its expertise, and stepped into new markets, adapting to industry shifts in ways that have broadened our capabilities and deepened our experience.
- 1960s & 70s: New engineering disciplines were added, bringing fresh energy and opportunities. Leadership transitions—handled with care and intentionality—ensured that each generation preserved the firm’s people‑first approach while guiding its next chapter.
- 1980s & 90s: Diversification accelerated. Our firm moved into public sector projects, architectural services, and new modes of project delivery. Even during challenging economic cycles, the REW team found ways to innovate, collaborate, and strengthen relationships.
- 2000s & 2010: Technology reshaped the industry, and our firm embraced the changes—from 3D modeling to cloud-based collaboration tools to major expansions in surveying and design‑build delivery approaches. Leadership development programs and evolving ownership models positioned the firm for the future while honoring its past.
Recent decades have continued to reinforce a truth that has been consistent since 1951: R.E. Warner’s ability to adapt, evolve, and diversify is only possible because talented people continually bring fresh ideas, commitment, and ingenuity.
At the Heart of It All: Our Team
If there is one theme echoed throughout our history, it is that the people at R.E. Warner have been—and continue to be—the foundation of our firm’s success.
- From long‑tenured staff who helped shape our culture to new generations of professionals bringing fresh perspectives…
- From client partnerships spanning decades to community relationships rooted in trust and service…
- From the founders who set our direction to the leaders who continue to carry it forward…
Our story is not just about projects completed or markets entered. It is about the people who made those accomplishments possible.
We’ve celebrated multi‑decade careers, welcomed new talent eager to shape the future, and built lasting client partnerships that span generations. We’ve worked shoulder‑to‑shoulder with industry leaders, community partners, and organizations that make our region stronger. The projects we deliver are important—but the relationships built along the way are what define us.
Seventy-Five Years Later—Still Led by the Principles That Started It All
As R.E. Warner honors this milestone, we are proud of what the firm has accomplished. But more importantly, we are grateful—for our team members past and present, our clients and partners, and the opportunity to help shape the essential work that keeps our communities and industries moving.
Looking ahead, our commitment remains the same as it was in 1951:
- To deliver exceptional engineering, architecture, and surveying services
- To remain responsive, reliable, and relationship‑focused
- To evolve with the needs of our clients and industries
- To invest in our people and empower every generation of leaders
- To build a future that honors our past while boldly embracing what’s next
Seventy‑five years in, the core of our story hasn’t changed: when people work together with integrity and purpose, extraordinary things can happen.
Join Us as We Celebrate All Year Long
As R.E. Warner celebrates our 75th anniversary, we’re excited to spend this year revisiting the decades that shaped our firm. Each month, we’ll explore a different era—uncovering the stories, projects, challenges, and turning points that collectively built the REW we know today.
We invite you to follow along as we explore our history throughout 2026.
- View our Firm History timeline
- Follow us on social media for real-time updates: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
- Return each month for our decade‑by‑decade retrospective series
Thank you for being part of the R.E. Warner story—for the past 75 years, and all the years to come.
