Our Past

Elwood S. Tower Consulting Engineers was founded in 1931 by Elwood S. Tower, Sr.  Born and raised in Smith’s Mills, New York, Elwood moved to Pittsburgh after graduation with the hopes of becoming an architect.  He enrolled at Carnegie Tech in 1911, and was a student for three years until his funds were depleted.  During this time, he worked as an apprentice in an architectural firm.  After leaving Carnegie Tech, he enlisted in the Army and served in the Army Signal Corps during World War I until his discharge.

Upon his discharge from the army, he returned to work as an architect’s apprentice until securing a position with the Pittsburgh Board of Education, where he was responsible for the design and supervision of the mechanical work performed in the school district’s physical plants.  In 1926, he took a position with The American Radiator Company as their chief engineer.  A few years later, the market crashed and Elwood decided to start his own private consulting business.

The business was operated by Elwood as an individual owner from 1931 until his death on March 12, 1963.  His will, found hand-written in his desk, left the firm equally to his son, Elwood S. Tower, Jr. and Allan B. Smith, a long-term employee.  The two of them incorporated the firm in 1974, and it was renamed Elwood S. Tower, Corporation.  In 2002, the company began doing business under the name Tower Engineering.

Elwood S. Tower, Sr.

Our Present

Tower Engineering is currently under the leadership of three Principal owners: James N. Kosinski, PE, Michael S. Plummer, PE and T Steffanie Bako, PE.

Jim Kosinski is a graduate of Penn State University, with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree which he received in 1989.  In addition to being a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Pennsylvania, he also holds licenses in West Virginia, New York and Maryland.  Jim is also a LEED Accredited Professional and is affiliated with the Pittsburgh Section of ASHRAE.  Jim started at Tower Engineering in 1990 and became a principal in 2000.

Mike Plummer graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1997 from Penn State University.  Mike is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Pennsylvania and is a LEED Accredited Professional.  Mike has been with Tower Engineering since 1997.  He is the head of the Plumbing/Fire Protection Department and became a principal in 2016.

Steffanie Bako graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1997.  Steffanie holds Professional Engineering licenses in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia and is a LEED Accredited Professional.  She is an active member of the Pittsburgh Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and has served as Treasurer since 2001.  Steffanie was hired at Tower Engineering in 1998, is the head of the Electrical Department and joined as a principal in 2016.