Thornton Tomasetti buys MFD Security Consulting

Thornton Tomasetti has closed on the acquisition of MFD Security Consulting in Sydney, bolstering its profile in protective design and security services in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

The entity was previously affiliated with MFD International, which was acquired by Thornton Tomasetti in 2018. 

With the transaction, which was undisclosed, Heng Jiang Cheng, former director of MFD Security Consulting, joins Thornton Tomasetti as associate director and security services lead for the region.

Specializing in physical, operational and technical security services for the built environment, MFD has designed counter-terrorist measures for a number of high-profile, high-risk facilities throughout Australia. 

These include the development of hostile vehicle mitigation programs at Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station (pictured), Federation Square and the Melbourne and Olympic Parks, blast assessment for the Sydney Metro project, and security design for crowded and public spaces in Brisbane and Queensland’s Gold Coast. 

"In teaming up with Thornton Tomasetti, our clients will now have a single point of contact for specialty security services and a range of engineering disciplines for addressing their needs at any stage in a structure’s lifecycle," said Cheng. "MFD’s expertise, along with an extensive background in crash and blast testing, fits in especially well with Thornton Tomasetti’s capabilities in physical security analysis, advice and design.”

Thornton Tomasetti’s European and Australia Region Leader Phillip Thompson described MFD’s experience in managing the design and implementation of highly effective security solutions, combined with Thornton Tomasetti’s pedigree in the defence and security space, as "a compelling offering".  

The acquisition extends Thornton Tomasetti’s reach in the Australian market by capitalizing on MFD’s previous exposure to UK government-funded vehicle crash testing and research programs. 

The firm’s experience in the region also includes protective design services for the Sydney Opera House, Australian Federal Parliament, Parliament of New South Wales and Victoria and official residences of heads of state in Australia and Southeast Asia.