LaBella Associates Acquires Welch & O’Donoghue to Strengthen Survey Division and Extend Regional Reach

Strategic Investments, Advanced Technologies, and Specialized Talent Fuel Land Survey Capabilities

LaBella Associates, an international architecture, engineering, environmental, and planning firm, today announced the acquisition of Welch & O’Donoghue Land Surveying, P.C., a highly regarded Western New York firm with nearly four decades of experience. The move strengthens LaBella’s Survey Division and expands its presence in high-growth markets, particularly in large-scale design-build projects.

Founded in 1987, Welch & O’Donoghue has built lasting relationships with farmers, homeowners, contractors, business owners, and municipalities by delivering timely and accurate surveys. Their comprehensive services include mortgage and boundary line surveys, construction stake-out, topographic surveys, ALTA surveys, and specialized agricultural and rural surveying. All five Welch & O’Donoghue employees will join LaBella’s Rochester office, ensuring continuity for existing clients while enhancing the firm’s ability to serve public and private sector clients across Western and Central New York.

“Welch & O’Donoghue brings deep regional expertise and a reputation for precision that will significantly enhance the value we deliver to our clients,” said Jeff Roloson, AIA, President of LaBella Associates. “Welcoming their team to LaBella is an important step in our vision to build one of the most capable and forward-thinking survey teams in the industry.”

The acquisition caps a period of significant growth for LaBella’s Survey Division under the leadership of Christopher Locke, PLS, Survey Discipline Leader and Vice President of Land Surveying at LaBella Associates. Recent two-year growth—500%—includes the addition of a six-person Land Surveying and Construction Technology Team led by Justin Roloson and David Zuber, whose expertise spans construction surveying, site/pavement modeling, and slipform technology for complex infrastructure and civil projects.

“Chris has quickly proven himself to be a dynamic and effective leader, helping to shape the strategic direction and service offerings of our Survey Division nationwide. It’s been exciting to watch the team grow, and we look forward to continued expansion in both traditional and emerging markets,” Roloson added.

“We are thrilled to join LaBella Associates and bring our surveying experience to a firm that shares our commitment to quality and client service,” said Kevin M. O’Donoghue, President of Welch & O’Donoghue. “This partnership allows us to continue providing the reliable surveys our clients expect, while also offering them access to LaBella’s full range of multidisciplinary services.”

This strategic acquisition expands the firm’s Surveying Division to 52 full-time members, comprising 20 field crews and 16 Licensed Professional Land Surveyors. To support its increased scale, LaBella has also invested in advanced technologies that improve safety, efficiency, and accuracy, including:

• Hydrone RCV with HydroLite Plus Dual Frequency Echosounder for high-precision mapping capabilities below waterlines.
• Trimble X9 Laser Scanners stationed in Poughkeepsie and Rochester, enabling our surveyors to deliver the range, accuracy, speed, and sensitivity required on a multitude of projects across the firm’s footprint.
• Elevator Tripod Scanning System, allowing for safe, non-entry surveying of confined spaces such as manholes.

Learn more about Welch & O’Donoghue Land Surveyors here.

About LaBella Associates

LaBella Associates is home to over 2,100 multidisciplinary consultants who plan, design, engineer, and manage public and private projects that enrich our communities. Our expertise is recognized in infrastructure, buildings, environmental, and energy projects throughout the eastern United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Headquartered in Rochester, NY, LaBella is a certified Great Place to Work.