Harris Deepens Colorado Commitment with Acquisition of Energy Services of Colorado
(Denver, CO., July 13, 2026) – Harris has strengthened its commitment to serving the Colorado market with the acquisition of Energy Services of Colorado (ESCO), effective July 13. Based in Westminster, ESCO brings decades of building control and energy management expertise along the Front Range, deepening Harris’ local roots and expanding the resources available to customers across the region.
ESCO joins a growing Harris presence in Colorado. The addition builds on the company’s earlier acquisitions of D.R. Associates, Climate Engineering (CEI) and Centennial Controls (CCI). Together these teams give Harris a strong operating base in the state and broaden its reach across the Mountain West.
The acquisition combines three things customers care about most: exemplary service, a trusted reputation and deep local expertise. With ESCO on board, that local knowledge now connects to the full suite of Harris service and product offerings, from mechanical construction and controls to building automation and preventive maintenance.
ESCO owner and President Charlie Klapperich has spent more than 40 years shaping building automation across the Denver area. His work helped define how commercial and industrial facilities in the region approach energy management and building control, and his team carries that same technical depth and customer focus forward as part of Harris.
“Harris can now draw from the local knowledge, experience and passion of some of the area’s most effective teams to bring Colorado’s expanding market the very best opportunities available today,” said Bob Swanger, Executive Vice President of Service + Building Automation at Harris.
The connection between Harris and Klapperich runs deep. Jeffrey Strickland, Director of Operations at Harris and owner of recent acquisition D.R. Associates, worked alongside Klapperich at the very start of his career in Colorado.
“I was Charlie Klapperich’s very first employee when he launched his first venture here in Colorado back in 1981. I’ve watched him quietly shape the Denver building automation landscape over the last 45 years,” Strickland said. “Harris isn’t just acquiring a great controls and service company, we are absorbing a culture rooted in deep technical lineage and an unmatched commitment to mentoring the next generation.”
Harris will work closely with the ESCO team to support a steady transition for employees, customers and partners. The team will continue serving its local customers while gaining access to Harris’ national resources, technical expertise and broader service capabilities.
About Harris:
Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Harris is a leading national mechanical contractor specializing in design and engineering, construction, building automation, service, manufacturing, conveyors and end-to-end building systems with offices nationwide. Customers who partner with Harris benefit from its national reach, regional offices, local expertise and more than 70 years of experience. From power plants to stand-alone hospitals, stadiums to concert halls, Harris brings a spirit of creative problem solving and a commitment to excellence to every project, no matter the size, complexity or location.
The company continues to make itself a destination workplace. In 2026, Harris was named to the list of Top Workplaces USA.
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