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The Brothers Gerazounis: Engineering the Lifeblood of Buildings

By Dimitri C. Michalakis on July 26, 2025

by Dimitri C. Michalakis

There are thousands of buildings in every city that need heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, electricity, fire protection, security, communications, often involving miles of ducts, pipes, wires—and among the largest and most respected firms responsible for the design of the lifeblood of every building is MG Engineering, a private firm based in New York City, but working in over 30 states and Washington D.C.

Michael ringing the opening bell at the NYSE on behalf of the American Heart Association

“We design everything that lives and breathes inside a building,” says Peter Gerazounis, a senior principal of the firm, together with his brother Michael, the CEO and founding partner 34 years ago. “That includes HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, life safety systems, and lighting. Our services don’t end with the design – we offer construction administration, sustainability consulting, commissioning and inspections as well.”

Their sister company, MGE Unified Technologies, provides design of low-voltage systems, including IT infrastructure, security, audiovisual, and communication systems. Together, they set a standard that’s made them industry leaders.

Michael and Peter

“We Engineer Success” isn’t just a tagline—it’s MG Engineering’s trademarked pledge that their design work, culture, and client approach are all built to consistently achieve outstanding, measurable results. “To our clients, it means delivering high-quality engineering designs on time and under budget,” says Peter. “For contractors, architects, and other consultants, it’s about collaboration and reliability—knowing we’ll help solve problems, not create them.” But just as important “creating a workplace where our people—who make it all happen—feel a sense of pride in their work, see clear pathways for career growth, and feel truly at home.”

Among the thousands of projects delivered in the company’s history, their portfolio spans a wide range of sectors, and their work has taken them variously from the Bronx Zoo, to New York University, from the Museum of the City of New York, to St. Nicholas Church at Ground Zero, to the offices of Patek Phillipe, and Roc Nation, and Doctors Without Borders.

Christopher, Peter, Michael, Steven and Michael Steven

Looking out his office window, Michael points out one of the firm’s newer projects under construction at 989 Sixth Avenue, and growing at a rate of almost two floors per week, so this residential multi-family condominium will soon top out at 70 stories. And they’re making their mark on the Miami skyline as well. The Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Residences is a 100-story, 1.4 million square foot project and when complete will be the city’s first “supertall” tower.

Peter on 5th Avenue celebrating Greek Independence

But construction isn’t limited to new buildings. Most construction actually happens in existing buildings. The average lifespan of a typical office space is about 10 years. That means a typical high-rise building can easily have 5 to 10 projects going on in any year. And their infrastructure often needs to be refreshed or upgraded.

“The beauty of a city like New York, especially for our profession, is the sheer volume of commercial real estate and the steady stream of work it generates,” Michael points out. “With the scale, height, and complexity of these buildings, there’s a constant demand for skilled professionals to deliver innovative, code-compliant designs.”

“The value of what we design can reach up to 50% of any project’s budget so that’s a pretty significant scope of work,” says Peter. “Electrical, ductwork and piping distribution in hi-rise buildings has serious implications, not just for comfort and function but for life safety purposes. For instance, the fire protection systems must be designed to deliver critical water flow and pressure to allow the fire department to connect its hoses and fight fires.”

Not to mention fire alarm systems whose proper operation is essential in high rise buildings. “And it’s not always about just alarms going off and flashing,” he says. “It’s also communication, so if there is some event in the building, the fire warden can notify people in an organized fashion and provide instructions if they need to exit people from the building or they need to stay in place and not panic.”

Michael and Peter standing in front of the MG Engineering headquarters on 32nd Street

“Every project is different,” says Peter, “and if we drive through Manhattan and look up at the skyline, we can probably say we worked in this building, we worked in that building, and there’s a story behind every building.”

To deliver best-in-class service across a wide range of project types, MG Engineering is structured into specialized teams of up to 15 professionals who move together from project to project. Some teams concentrate on corporate interiors, retail, restaurants, and commercial office buildings, while others focus on large-scale developments. One dedicated team specializes in healthcare, central plants, and educational facilities. “Each team operates with the capabilities of a small to mid-sized engineering firm,” notes Peter. “They build strong working relationships and a sense of camaraderie—offering the close-knit feel of a family, where no one feels like just a number, all while being supported by the full strength of the firm.”

MG Engineering family following a recent Town Hall

“On large-scale projects, our design phase typically takes 10 to 12 months,” he explains. “From there, the project moves into bidding and then into construction, which for a high-rise can easily span 30 to 36 months.” He contrasts that with the firm’s agility on fast-track jobs: “We might get a call this afternoon letting us know drawings are coming Friday, the survey happens Monday, and our full design is due within two to three weeks. The entire project—from bidding to construction to closeout—could be completed in just four to five months.” MG Engineering takes great pride in having the resources, flexibility, and experience to successfully execute projects of any scale or timeline.

The rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero was a years-long journey—both to initiate and to complete—but Michael took great pride in the firm’s contributions to this landmark project. Collaborating with an architect like Santiago Calatrava presents unique engineering challenges in bringing his bold aesthetic vision to life. “Even to a trained eye, when you look around and can’t see where the heating or air conditioning is coming from—and you don’t hear it—but it’s there, seamlessly working in the background, it’s a very rewarding feeling,” he says.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros conferring the Offikion of Archon Eftaxias upon Peter

Michael and Peter grew up in Woodside, Queens, sons of Stelios Gerazounis, a chemist with the EPA and an immigrant from Chios, and Magdaline, from neighboring Mytilene. Stelios had come to the U.S. through a student sponsorship by the Panchiaki Korais Society, passing through Ellis Island and determined to build a life in a new world. That legacy clearly took hold.

Michael studied at the Polytechnic Institute of New York (now NYU Tandon), and Peter followed at The Cooper Union. Both brothers excelled in math and science—and though Peter once dreamed of being an architect, he admits, “I didn’t have the artistic talent like my brother. So, I applied my love of math and science into building systems instead.”

5. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY: MG Engineering provided full MEP/FP and fire alarm engineering, including AV, security, and telecom infrastructure, for the new 10,000 SF Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at Ground Zero. The project required precise coordination to preserve both religious and architectural integrity within the World Trade Center site.

Early in his career, Michael was mentored by George and Evans Lizardos, another pair of Greek-American engineering brothers, who gave him his first opportunity and where he learned the importance of not only technical knowledge but also business acumen and relationships.

In 1991, a driven 27-year-old Michael, along with a group of like-minded colleagues, launched MG Engineering—a fledgling startup that seized every opportunity that came its way. Peter joined the firm shortly after its founding, but soon moved on to gain experience elsewhere. “Actually, I was the first employee laid off,” Peter recalls with a smile. “They were just getting started and could barely pay themselves.” He considers it both a badge of honor and a pivotal moment in his career.

3. Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY: MG Engineering provided engineering services for two 16-story towers above a 7-story podium, featuring 446 low-income rental units, office space for HRA, retail, parking, and landscaped decks.

Peter returned in 1993 with valuable skills in computer-aided design and operations strategy, which helped MG Engineering become more efficient and competitive. It wasn’t long before he became a partner. “Michael and the other partners were out hustling for business,” Peter says. “I was the in-house guy—producing, standardizing, streamlining. Thirty years later, I’m still doing that.”

As MG Engineering grew, the senior partnership team that included Michael Marino and Bruce Jaffe, transformed the young firm into an established force in New York’s competitive engineering landscape.

6. Sumitomo Corporation of America, New York, NY: MG Engineering provided engineering design for the 48,000 SF interior fit-out of premium office space. The modern workplace includes private offices, open workstations, conference rooms, executive areas, café/lounge, wellness room, and support spaces.

Today, Michael and Peter are joined by a seasoned group of principals and associate principals who continue to shape the firm’s growth and reputation. Following in their footsteps is the next generation—Michael’s son, Michael Steven, and Peter’s sons, Steven and Christopher—all Lehigh University graduates are now actively building their careers within the company.

“They chose this path on their own, and it’s incredibly heartwarming to work alongside your sons,” Peter says. “We’re spread across three floors—I’m on 12, Steven’s on 11, and Chris is on 13—so we might cross paths at the coffee machine, but they each work on separate teams and are carving out their own distinct careers. I keep an eye on them, offer a bit of guidance now and then, but they’re doing very well on their own.”

7. Tangram Development, Flushing, NY: MG Engineering provided engineering and technology design for the 1.3 million SF Tangram Development, a mixed-use complex featuring residential condos and rentals, hotel, office and retail space, community facilities, and over 480,000 SF of parking.

While MG Engineering continues expanding its geographic footprint—especially in Florida and the Mid-Atlantic—Michael and Peter remain deeply involved in philanthropy and community service.

Throughout his career, Michael has supported many organizations close to his heart including The Diabetes Research Institute, Saint Francis Food Pantries, the Torch Foundation, and was the inaugural honoree of the “Hard Hats with Heart” gala, raising over $250,000 for the American Heart Association.

Peter’s civic involvement is a full-time job in itself. He is an active member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at Queens College, involved in the organizing of the Annual Greek Independence parade, serves on the Parish Council of Archangel Michael Church in Port Washington (another MG Engineering design), is a Founder of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, a member of Leadership 100, and was invested as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2024.

8. Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Residences, Miami, FL: MG Engineering is providing engineering design for a new 1.7 million SF, 100-story luxury mixed-use tower in Miami. The project includes hotel and condominium units, a signature restaurant, Peacock Alley Lounge, event spaces, pool, spa, and fitness center.

Since 2019 he has been President of the Panchiaki Korais Society, the very organization that brought his father to America. Under Peter’s leadership, the society has given away over $125,000 in scholarships and donations just this past year, including $30,000 in grants to parishes with Greek language programs, scholarships to 25 students, contributions to Chios’ institutions including the nursing home, the historic Korais Library, the Chios Philharmonic Society and the construction of a greenhouse for adults with disabilities on the island.

“Our faith is the cornerstone of our heritage,” he says. “And while our identity as Greek-Americans can’t be taken from us, we can easily lose it if we’re not careful. One of the greatest gifts I can give my children is what my father tried to give me: a deep love and understanding of who I am and where I came from.

“It’s nice that the kids crack eggs at Easter and feel Greek, but if you ever lose the connection with our faith, language and history it’s hard to ever to ever get it back. Perhaps it is inevitable, but I’d rather not have it be on my watch.”

And despite the passing of decades, both brothers still carry the same energy that fueled MG Engineering in its earliest days.

“We still feel young,” Michael says with a grin. “And the best chapters are yet to be written.”