BENTON HARBOR, MI — Wightman is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2026 by launching a year-long celebration recognizing eight decades of partnership, innovation, and community impact across the Great Lakes region.
Founded in November 1946, Wightman has grown from a small, local practice into a multidisciplinary consulting firm for the architecture, civil engineering, and surveying industries, with expanded services in interior design, GIS, and reality capture.
The company’s story began when G.L. Wightman, a young engineer and surveyor, opened a one-room office in the Commercial Bank building in downtown St. Joseph, Michigan. In a post-World War II era marked by optimism, growth, and new beginnings, his vision set the foundation for what would become an award-winning architecture, engineering, and surveying firm. From that modest start, Wightman has grown into a multidisciplinary team serving clients across commercial, education, energy, and government sectors.
Over the decades, Wightman has expanded its reach and capabilities through strategic leadership transitions, office openings across Michigan and Indiana, and a series of acquisitions and consolidations that strengthened the firm’s service offerings.
“Our 80th anniversary is more than a milestone; it’s a celebration of the clients, partners, employees, and communities who have trusted us for generations,” said Steve Carlisle, President of Wightman. “As we celebrate our past, we’re equally energized by the future and our continued commitment to creating lasting solutions that enhance the places where we live, learn, work, and play.”
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As part of the year-long celebration, Wightman will share key project highlights from its work over the last 80 years; spotlight employees who have helped shape the firm’s legacy; and engage with partners through events and initiatives that reflect the firm’s commitment to service and community.
Wightman is a full-service consulting firm with a team of more than 200 professionals that work to analyze, advise, design, and deliver projects in partnership with governments, businesses, and institutions. The firm has offices in Allegan, Benton Harbor, Hastings, Kalamazoo, Royal Oak, Southgate, and South Haven, Michigan, as well as Fort Wayne, Plymouth, Portage, and South Bend, Indiana.
