Following in the footsteps of his American idol.

For nearly 50 years, Ettinger Engineering Associates has been a leader in the MEP Engineering consulting field, and with Eric Ettinger at the helm, the firm doesn't plan on giving up that position anytime soon.

President Eric Ettinger plans to carry on the tradition of his father Robert Ettinger, who founded the firm in 1960 and was the first to utilize four pipe fan coil and vertically split plumbing systems for high rise projects.

His father's breakthrough designs in modular hot water heating systems received accolades throughout the engineering community and the projects, on which this technology was applied, at Radisson and Haverstraw (New York), received several awards.

"I idolized my Dad when I was a kid," said Eric, who said his father is still a consulting partner with the firm. "He made the biggest difference for me when I showed an interest in engineering."

"I was always interested in science and physical things," he continued. "I had an aptitude for it. The fact that I had a close relationship with my father didn't hurt. He nurtured that in me and I took it from there."

In 1981, Eric joined the firm. He became a partner in 1987. Since then, he has served as partner in charge of over 150 new buildings in New York City.

"It's a service business," said Eric. "What we try to do is to cater to developers and architects. I try to personalize the service so that they find us accessible and ready to respond. I don't think you get that in a large firm. You can find it in a mom and pop firm, but not with the breath or scope of service that we provide."

Ettinger Engineering partners with select developers, architects, engineers, institutions and municipal agencies to provide exceptional building design and application services. Clients regard their expertise and experience in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial building design as a preeminent source of engineering excellence.

When awarded a project, Ettinger Engineering looks at the immediate needs and those that will most likely develop in the future.

"We take into consideration the architects' and developers' requirements, and the people who will live and/or work in the building," Eric said. "Once we assess these needs, we apply our expertise and develop plans, strategies and solutions that will be highly effective for both the builders and the eventual building inhabitants." The firm's clients say personal service is why they keep coming back to Ettinger Engineering.

"What really makes Ettinger Engineering Associates most appealing to work with is that Eric Ettinger is involved in all the strategic aspects of each project," said Bob Esnard, of Manhattan Skyline Management Corporation.

"He is an incredibly smart and talented engineer. The fact that Eric understands all three trades (HVAC, Plumbing & Electric) and is very creative is also invaluable. Eric has and is able to design solutions within the constraints of a project that are economic and practical."

The firm's portfolio of projects is diverse including low and mid-rise residential buildings, hotels, seniors housing, adult homes, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, corporate interiors, municipal buildings, retail, theatres and physical culture establishments.

"Overall, we pride ourselves with completing complex and phased designs for major and landmark renovations as well as conceiving concise and smart creative designs for new buildings," Eric said.

How does Ettinger Engineering keep its leading edge? One part surely involves professionalism and the other Eric's enthusiasm.

"One other thing I can also say about Eric Ettinger, he will tell you the way it is," said Esnard "You will get a complete professional with Eric.

When asked about his thoughts on the utility companies looking for ways to reduce dependency on their grid and having others generate their own energy. Eric replies 'In residential, it's not there yet.'"

Eric's energy and enthusiasm are apparent.

"I love this work," he said. "It's challenging. It's exciting. It keeps my blood flowing and it still interests me. We take engineering seriously, but we like to have fun with it."

But more than that, Eric and his staff are the go to firm that will not pull any punches or take any short cuts when it comes to engineering.

Another attribute of the firm is working within the project's guidelines, yet knowing when to push the envelope without compromising the design.

"As engineering technology develops, equipment and systems change, but engineering principles don't change," Eric said. "With every step you take you need to keep the principles in mind and what the goal is.

"I think you also have to be flexible," he said. "A lot of engineers are very rigid in their thinking in terms of design. I learned to be flexible. You have to work with the design."

In keeping up with changing technologies, the firm hires new engineers and keeps abreast of the ever-changing needs of the market.

"I try to hire young people so we have an influx of new innovative thought processes and minds," he said. "We all read journals and attend society functions. The industry keeps us up. The government and the needs of the developer and the market also pushes the technology along."

Currently the engineering group is working on many exciting projects including: 110 Livingston Street, a high profile gut renovation in the heart of Brooklyn where the Board of Education building will be transformed into a luxury condominium apartment building; Thomson Avenue & Court Square, a one-of-a-kind renovation in Long Island City where a unique triangular shaped structure will soon be recreated as unique, upscale residences with outstanding views of Manhattan; and Octagon Park Apartments, the first Green Building design on Roosevelt Island, a 555,000 square foot, rental apartment building where part of the design also maintains landmark status and the aesthetic integrity of the original octagon building.

Eric is recognized as a master at conceptual design and has conceived original designs for fan coil and heat pump applications for residential and commercial buildings.

He participated in energy management studies and implementation of energy conscious designs, and his innovations in Green Building Design have provided great economy for developers and builders.

Eric is a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Virginia and Texas. A graduate of Polytechnic Institute of New York, he has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree, Cum Laude. His honors include membership in Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma. He holds an additional Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics.