George Butler Associates to close its office here Jan. 29

by Melissa Wilson

SBJ Staff

George Butler Associates, an engineering firm based in Lenexa, Kan., has decided to close its Springfield office, citing as its reason the recent move of its engineering manager, Earl Newman, to city employment.

Newman is now assistant director and city traffic engineer for the traffic engineering and engineering divisions of the Department of Public Works.

With a staff of seven, the Springfield office of Butler Associates has been at Corporate Center, 1949 E. Sunshine, since 1992.

"We just did not feel it was viable to keep the office open after Earl left to work for the city," said George Butler Associates' Executive Vice President Mike Smith.

Newman said he was surprised at Butler Associates' decision to close the Springfield branch, and said he was unaware that his resignation would prompt such a decision.

"I was disappointed that (Butler Associates) decided to close the Springfield office ... I would hate to think that after 6 1/2 years Butler Associates was not established enough in Springfield to keep the office open," Newman said.

George Butler Associates provides civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering services. Its civil engineering projects have included design of roads and bridges, and water, sewer and stormwater drainage and land planning.

The Springfield office designed the new Battlefield Road intersections at Campbell and National, the Southwest Missouri State University bus shelters and bikeways, and the East Trafficway drainage improvements.

In addition to its corporate office in Lenexa, George Butler Associates has offices in St. Louis, Kansas City, O'Fallon, Wichita, Kan. and Lisle, Ill.

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