Two structural engineers with such projects to their credit as the Buck Lodge renovation at Connecticut College and New London Harbor Towers have joined forces.

R. Scott Erricson's e2 engineering, LLC, is acquiring C.H. Vogt, LLC Structural Engineering of Uncasville. Chad H. Vogt becomes a 50 percent partner in the merged firm, effective Friday, Erricson said. The company will operate out of e2 engineers offices at 311 State St. in New London, the partners said Monday.

While both firms were self-sustaining despite the recession, the cost savings and shared clients attainable as one company made the partnership attractive, Erricson and Vogt said. Positioning themselves for the coming recovery also made sense, they said.

"We knew each other and found we were sometimes competing for the same jobs and had the same costs, and we said, 'What are we doing? We could combine and grow a stronger company and generate more revenue,'" said Erricson.

The cost for liability insurance alone is equivalent to one employee's wages, he added.

"Certainly the recession made (the merger) more appealing in that you're cutting costs, but collectively, it will allow us to take on larger projects and have a broader client base," Vogt said.

Vogt specializes in residential, commercial and institutional building design as well as small bridge and heavy civil projects. A structural engineer, Erricson said he mixes "tried and true" design methods with advanced contemporary 3-D modeling software to increase efficiency and make more time for clients.

Both engineers bring about 20 clients each to the new firm.

Separately, Vogt completed renovations at Connecticut College's Buck Lodge in the arboretum, while Erricson designed the residential towers building under construction on Bank Street in New London. Erricson also designed the Excaliber Power Sports building in Plainfield, while Vogt just completed the Montville Professional Building at 80 Route 32.

Erricson founded e2 engineers in 2003, while Vogt established his firm in 2007.

Erricson hit upon the name "e2" when his son, Jack, then 5, suggested he call the company Erricson & Sons because he planned to someday work for his father. Knowing that was a long way off, Erricson senior compromised with the name "e2," he said.

Jack, now 11, still intends to work for the firm, his father said.

For more information, visit www.e2engineers.temp.ntwebb.com/news.html