Our story

Ancora was founded to provide a one-stop shop for clients who value diversity of thought, the highest standards of professionalism, and a responsive partner—when you need us, we’ll be there. We’re united by a passion for solving problems, and we work together closely to provide creative and practical solutions to complex challenges. Powered by these values, Ancora has grown to become a leading engineering services firm and trusted collaborator for the construction industry in New York and beyond.


Stephen Lampard, PE

Founding Principal

A co-founder of Ancora, Stephen is in charge of the firm’s business development, as well as using his rich breadth of experience to drive Ancora’s growth in structural design, geotechnical, demolition, adjacent property development, and emergency response engineering.

Stephen began his career as a construction manager, which he credits with helping him understand client needs and how to achieve them with economic designs. He went on to earn a bachelor’s in civil engineering from the University of Hartford, then became Vice President of Domani Inspection Services before ultimately founding Ancora. Stephen is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York and Connecticut.


James Patterson, PE

Founding Principal

As a co-founder of Ancora, James brings a broad range of experience to the firm, acquired over his varied career in structural, civil, and environmental design engineering, as well as materials testing. He is passionate about means and methods engineering and takes special pride in developing practical and innovative solutions to the technical challenges of construction and demolition in New York and other high density cities. 

Prior to founding Ancora, James was Director of Engineering at Domani Technical & Design Services. He holds a bachelor’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. James is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York and Massachusetts.


Gregory Moormann, PE, RA

Principal

Greg is one of a small group of people who holds both architecural and engineering licenses in multiple states. Working at previous firms such as FNA Engineering Services, he was deeply involved in the development and expansion of support of excavation (SOE) as an engineering discipline in the New York area.

At Ancora, Greg oversees all staff engineers, designers, and field engineering operations, and he is also responsible for everything related to the firm’s performance of special inspections. His dual architectural and engineering backgrounds make him a kind of “Swiss Army Knife”, able to bring an unusual mix of design skills to any challenge.

Greg attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology where he earned a 5-year professional bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Hillier College of Architecture and Design. He also received a master’s in civil engineering, graduating Cum Laude from the Newark College of Engineering. Greg is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Utah; and a Registered Architect in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.


Javed Narain, PE

Principal

Javed’s primary responsibility involves working on design projects with a focus on structural/foundation, partial demolition, and shoring/bracing. He cites the wide scope of past Ancora projects as a key factor in making him a more versatile engineer, able to contribute to projects of all kinds and use knowledge gained in one type of engagement to inform his work in others.

Javed holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of NYU (now New York University Tandon School of Engineering). He’s always liked the old saying that “an engineer can do for a dollar what any fool can do for two.” Javed is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York, Florida, Utah and Missouri.

Team Ancora

Ancora’s responsive, collaborative, and creative culture and values are equally reflected in our diverse team of engineers, drafters, architects and special inspectors.