Kovacs, Whitney & Associates, Inc.

40 Years of Engineering Excellence

Website

About the firm

Kovacs, Whitney & Associates is a Baltimore-based MEP engineering consulting practice founded in 1984 and serving the Mid-Atlantic region. It provides complete mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design services for healthcare, institutional, commercial, and data center projects. Over 90% of its business comes from repeat clients, and the technical team includes licensed Professional Engineers, LEED-accredited professionals, and certified commissioning authorities.

Established
1984
Team
Small
Firm type
MEP · Mechanical Engineering · Electrical Engineering · Fire Protection Engineering

Credentials

LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED BD+C) · Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) · ASSE 6060 Medical Gas Systems Designer · CDCS (Certified Data Center Specialist) · LEED Green Associate

People

Edward J. BurkePresident

Robert A. WindhamVice President

Stephen L. JonesSecretary

Jacob J. Kovacs, Jr.Co-founder (Principal Emeritus)

William B. Whitney, IVCo-founder (Principal Emeritus)

Capabilities

Mechanical Engineering

Service website

Delivers HVAC, specialized plumbing, and thermal utilities design to optimize climate control and fluid systems across commercial and institutional facilities.

  • HVAC Systems Design

    Creates custom heating, ventilation, and air conditioning configurations for complex medical, cleanroom, and institutional environments.

  • Plumbing and Process Piping

    Engineers domestic and specialized water systems, medical gas piping, and process fluid distribution network designs.

  • Steam and HTHW Systems

    Designs high-temperature hot water and steam systems for industrial and campus-scale heating applications.

  • Power Plant and Utility Design

    Develops central utility plants and heavy thermal infrastructure to support continuous operations.

  • Chilled Water Plant Design

    Engineers high-efficiency central cooling systems and chilled water distribution loops.

Electrical Engineering

Service website

Designs robust power systems, lighting layouts, and critical backup infrastructure to support continuous facility operations and digital systems.

  • Medium Voltage Electrical Distribution

    Designs safe and reliable power distribution systems operating at up to 33KV.

  • Standby and Emergency Power Generation

    Engineers emergency generator setups and transfer networks to prevent operational downtime during grid failures.

  • UPS and Clean Power Systems

    Implements uninterruptible power supplies to protect sensitive digital and medical equipment.

  • Interior and Exterior Lighting Design

    Creates energy-efficient illumination plans tailored for architectural compliance, safety, and operational needs.

  • Electrical Field Surveys

    Performs site evaluations, testing, and documentation of existing electrical infrastructure.

Fire Protection & Life Safety

Service website

Protects occupants and property through integrated hazard detection, suppression, and emergency communication systems.

  • Fire Alarm and Detection Systems

    Engineers intelligent sensors and alarm networks integrated with building management systems.

  • Fire Suppression and Sprinklers

    Designs wet, dry, and specialized fire suppression piping to meet strict safety codes.

  • Nurse Call Systems

    Integrates specialized communication platforms for healthcare environments.

Special Systems

Service website

Integrates advanced security, telecommunications, and audiovisual networks seamlessly into architectural plans.

  • Security and Access Control Systems

    Designs surveillance systems, intrusion alarms, and secure badge entry protocols.

  • Communications and Paging Systems

    Implements facility-wide intercoms, paging, and structured cabling networks.

  • Audio-Visual and CCTV Systems

    Engineers professional AV distribution systems and closed-circuit television monitoring.

Commissioning

Service website

Verifies and documents that building systems are designed, installed, and calibrated to meet specified performance criteria.

  • Building Systems Commissioning

    Provides rigorous testing and operational verification for institutional, commercial, and aquarium facilities.

Sustainability & LEED

Service website

Incorporates renewable energy sources and highly efficient equipment to maximize building performance and secure green certifications.

Energy Analysis & Conservation

Service website

Performs complete facility audits to identify energy waste and design high-impact upgrades for mechanical and control systems.

Construction Administration

Service website

Provides hands-on oversight and design verification throughout the active construction phase of client projects.

  • Construction Phase Services

    Monitors contractor progress and verifies field compliance with engineering specifications.

  • Owner's Representative Services

    Acts as a technical advocate for owners to ensure project delivery meets expectations.

Industries

Healthcare · Data Centers · Commercial · Veterinary & Animal Care · Historic Preservation · Education

Projects

University of Maryland Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Baltimore, MD · Healthcare · Client: University of Maryland Medical Center

Project details

A 37,000 square foot, 52-bed neonatal intensive care unit featuring individual rooms with circadian control of ambient lighting, individual room sound monitors, and HEPA filtration of recirculated room air.

National Aquarium Ambulatory Care & Rehabilitation Center

Baltimore, MD · Veterinary & Animal Care · Client: National Aquarium

Project details

A 38,000 square foot building renovation providing state-of-the-art facilities for a broad range of fish, mammals, birds, and reptiles to support both the main aquarium animal population and rescue missions.

Johns Hopkins University Macaulay Hall Renovation

Baltimore, MD · Education · Client: Johns Hopkins University

Project details

Complete renovation of a 50-year-old laboratory building with all-new infrastructure, featuring an electron microscopy suite, computational laboratory, and psychological and behavioral investigation facilities.