CH2M
| Company type | Private (formerly) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Engineering consulting |
| Founded | 1946 in Corvallis, Oregon, United States |
| Founder | Fred Merryfield, Holly Cornell, James Howland, Thomas Burke Hayes |
| Defunct | December 2017 |
| Fate | Acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Headquarters | Englewood, Colorado , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Consulting, design, construction, and operational services |
| Parent | Jacobs Engineering Group (from December 2017) |
CH2M, previously known as CH2M Hill, was an international engineering firm providing consulting, design, construction, and operational services to both corporate clients and government agencies. The company was founded in 1946 in Corvallis, Oregon by civil engineering professor Fred Merryfield along with his students Holly Cornell, James Howland, and Thomas Burke Hayes; the company’s name was derived from the initials of its four founders. Its headquarters were located at 9191 South Jamaica Street, Englewood, Colorado. In December 2017, CH2M became part of Jacobs Engineering Group through acquisition.
The company contributed significantly to major infrastructure endeavors, including the Panama Canal expansion project. It created the proprietary CH2M Hill Project Delivery System to streamline project management for clients. After merging with Clair A. Hill & Associates in 1971, the firm adopted the name CH2M Hill and subsequently moved its headquarters from Oregon to Colorado in 1980.
History
Originating as a startup by affiliates of Oregon State University, CH2M grew into a prominent engineering enterprise with worldwide operations. Its growth was bolstered by strategic mergers and relocating its base of operations, enabling it to strengthen its position within the engineering sector.
Projects
In 2000, CH2M participated in a joint venture aimed at upgrading Singapore’s sanitary infrastructure through the Deep Tunnel System project, improving system dependability and supporting waterfront development efforts.
By October 2005, Kaiser Hill—a joint venture including CH2M—successfully decommissioned the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons production site. The company also played a role in reconstruction work along the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina in 2006.
In 2007, CH2M collaborated with General Electric on a $660 million gas-fired power facility in Queensland, Australia, and secured an $11.7 billion contract to oversee the relocation of U.S. military installations in South Korea. That same year, it was chosen by the Panama Canal Authority to manage the $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama Canal, facilitating transit for New Panamax vessels.
In April 2009, CH2M led a consortium responsible for managing London's $22 billion Crossrail transit expansion project. It also joined forces with Mace Group and Laing O'Rourke on contracts related to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In June 2008, a CH2M subsidiary was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to oversee cleanup efforts at the Hanford Site’s Central Plateau, a significant environmental remediation project aimed at reducing its contaminated area from 586 square miles to 75 square miles. However, safety violations were reported at this site in April 2019.
In March 2013, Iraq’s South Oil Company appointed CH2M as project management consultant for the Iraq Common Seawater Supply Project.
Engineering News-Record noted two costly undertakings that may have contributed to CH2M’s acquisition in 2017: a combined-cycle power plant project within the Ichthys gas field that resulted in a $140 million loss in 2014, and an Austin, Texas toll lane expansion that incurred $121.3 million in losses due to delays and workforce challenges.
Acquisitions
In 1977, CH2M expanded by acquiring Black, Crow & Eidsness, an engineering firm based in the southeastern United States. August 2002 saw further growth through acquisitions including Gee & Jensen (a Florida ports and harbor specialist), DeMil International (a U.S.-based weapons destruction company), and EHS Consultants Ltd., a consulting firm operating out of Hong Kong.
In December 2003, following financial failure of its parent company JA Jones Inc., Lockwood Greene Engineers was acquired by CH2M, adding LGE’s private-sector design expertise to its portfolio.
October 2005 marked the purchase of BBS Corporation, an environmental engineering firm headquartered in Ohio. In September 2007, CH2M acquired critical assets from VECO Corporation—an Alaska petroleum services provider involved in a political scandal—and later that year in December obtained Trigon EPC.
March 2008 brought expansion into marine and coastal transportation engineering through acquisition of Goldston Engineering based in Texas. The company continued its growth trajectory by acquiring Booz Allen Hamilton’s transportation consulting division in 2011.
September 2011 featured acquisition of UK-based Halcrow Group, broadening CH2M’s international footprint. In October 2014, it further expanded by purchasing Canadian environmental consultancy TERA Environmental Consultants, which had served clients across pipeline, powerline, and oil and gas sectors for more than three decades.
Other initiatives
In April 2015, the organization underwent a rebranding effort, removing "Hill" from its corporate name and introducing a refreshed logo. By March 2017, it extended its lease at Honey Creek Corporate Center, solidifying its operational footprint. In June 2017, the company publicly reiterated its commitment to the Paris Agreement, reflecting an alignment with sustainability priorities within its business approach.
Acquisition by Jacobs Engineering Group
Jacobs Engineering Group completed the acquisition of CH2M in December 2017 for $3.3 billion through a combination of cash and stock. This transaction resulted in a professional services powerhouse valued at $15 billion, enhancing global reach and market presence. The acquisition broadened Jacobs’ range of offerings and fortified its position within the engineering sector.