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HDR, Inc.

From Alfawiki
HDR, Inc.
Company typeEmployee-owned
IndustryDesign and engineering
Founded1917 in Omaha, Nebraska, United States
FounderOriginally Henningson Engineering Company; partners Willard Richardson and Charles W. Durham renamed it Henningson, Durham, and Richardson, Inc.
Headquarters
Omaha
,
United States
Area served
United States (all 50 states), 10 countries worldwide
ProductsDesign and engineering services
OwnerEmployee-owned
Number of employees
Over 12,000 (After 1996 buyback (current as of 2023))

HDR, Inc. is a U.S.-based company specializing in design and engineering, with its main office located in Omaha, Nebraska.

History

Originally established in 1917 as Henningson Engineering Company in Omaha, the firm transformed following the arrival of Willard Richardson and Charles W. "Chuck" Durham in 1939. These partners eventually took ownership and renamed the business Henningson, Durham, and Richardson, Inc. Early on, the company concentrated on infrastructure developments such as power plants and municipal utility systems throughout the Midwest.

In 1983, HDR was purchased by the French construction corporation Bouygues SA for $60 million. However, an employee-led buyback occurred in 1996 for $55 million, after which HDR experienced significant growth, expanding its workforce from approximately 1,100 to more than 12,000 employees.

Acquisitions

Following the buyout, HDR has completed over 60 acquisitions worldwide to diversify its services and extend its market presence. Notable acquisitions include:

  • Cooper Medical (2011), which enhanced HDR’s capabilities in integrated healthcare design and construction within the United States.
  • Schiff Associates (2011), a firm specializing in corrosion engineering with multiple offices across the U.S.
  • HydroQual, Inc. (2011), broadening expertise in water resource management with locations domestically and in Dubai.
  • Amnis Engineering Ltd. (2011), reinforcing hydropower consulting services both within Canada and internationally.
  • TMK Architekten • Ingenieure (2013), establishing a European center focused on healthcare and scientific facility design; this subsidiary was divested in 2023.
  • Salva Resources (2013), an Australian-based provider of mining exploration services operating globally.
  • Sharon Greene + Associates (2013), adding proficiency in transportation economics and financial analysis.
  • Rice Daubney Architects (2013), expanding HDR’s offerings in healthcare, defense, retail, and commercial sectors across Australia and worldwide.
  • MEI, LLC (2015), strengthening LNG-related engineering and consulting from Georgia.
  • CEI Architecture (2015), enhancing architectural and interior design services in British Columbia.
  • Maintenance Design Group (2017), complementing HDR’s infrastructure lifecycle approach through vehicle fleet facility planning expertise.
  • David Ford Consulting Engineers (2018), augmenting water resources knowledge including hydraulics and flood risk assessment.

These targeted acquisitions have significantly bolstered HDR's competitive positioning across diverse industries such as healthcare, water management, transportation, mining, and energy, facilitating global expansion and sustained business development.

Hurley Palmer Flatt

In July 2019, HDR increased its footprint across Europe and Asia by acquiring Hurley Palmer Flatt, a British engineering consultancy along with its subsidiaries. The acquired entity was rebranded as HDR in early 2022.

Founded in London in 1968 by John Hurley, Hurley Palmer Flatt specialized in mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy services. Over time, it expanded internationally with offices in Dubai, India, Australia, Singapore, and the United States, serving both governmental and private sector clients.

To grow its market share strategically, Hurley Palmer Flatt made several acquisitions: ATCO Consulting was acquired in 2009 to strengthen operations in Scotland; in 2014 it acquired majority ownership of Andrew Reid and Partners (AR&P), a London-based firm recognized for commissioning major projects including London's Broadgate development and UBS headquarters. AR&P also contributed to prominent cultural sites like The National Gallery and the Imperial War Museum.

In 2016, Hurley Palmer Flatt secured a majority stake in Bradbrook Consulting—a civil and structural engineering firm with offices throughout the UK and Dubai. That same year saw the relocation of its London headquarters to 240 Blackfriars at South Bank Tower under a decade-long lease to support business growth ambitions.

Significant Hurley Palmer Flatt projects


Noteworthy Andrew Reid and Partners projects


Hurley Palmer Flatt accolades and honors

  • Placed 34th in Building magazine’s Top 150 Consultants list of 2016
  • View58 (58 Victoria Embankment) received High Commendation in the Sustainability category at the 2016 Property Awards
  • Shortlisted for Training Initiative of the Year at the Consultancy and Engineering Awards in 2016
  • Weston Library earned AJ100 Building of the Year, RIBA National Award 2016, RIBA South Award 2016, and RIBA South Building of the Year 2016
  • Winner in the Affordable Housing category at the Scottish Design Awards 2008 for the Gigha project with Fyne Homes & CP Architects
  • Nominated for CIBSE Employer of the Year Award in 2017
  • Ranked 24th in Building magazine’s Top 150 Consultants list in 2019


In June 2021, HDR expanded its global reach by acquiring WKE, a multimodal transportation engineering firm headquartered in Santa Ana, California. This acquisition bolstered HDR’s capacity for comprehensive infrastructure development and enhanced its transportation program delivery across the U.S. Southwest.

In September 2021, HDR extended its regional presence through acquiring WRECO, a California-based firm recognized for innovative engineering solutions. This acquisition broadened HDR’s transportation and water resource service offerings within the area.

In February 2022, HDR incorporated SPF Water Engineering from Boise, Idaho—a specialist in water, wastewater, and hydrogeologic consulting. The deal also included MDS Drafting, which added BIM capabilities to HDR’s portfolio.


Prison design

Projects involving jail and prison design by HDR Architecture have encountered resistance from community groups. In Travis County, Texas, activists opposed plans for a new women’s detention center in 2019, advocating instead for investment in addiction treatment and mental health services. Under public pressure, the county suspended HDR’s $4.6 million contract related to the jail design in 2021. Likewise, in Massachusetts, HDR’s selection in 2021 to design a women’s prison attracted criticism from advocates who reject new prison construction and questioned whether HDR’s "trauma-informed" design approach could be effectively applied within a correctional environment.

Surveillance of Activists

In August 2021, a report by Motherboard brought to light HDR's provision of monitoring services for governmental bodies, emphasizing its role in "corporate counterinsurgency." This included tracking social media activities to predict and hinder opposition to initiatives such as highway construction through Indigenous lands and the development of detention facilities.

Awards

HDR has been honored with several Grand Conceptor Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), celebrating exceptional engineering accomplishments. In 2018, HDR, alongside partner WSP USA, received the award for the Bayonne Bridge roadway project. This marked HDR’s fourth Grand Conceptor accolade and its second consecutive win, following the 2017 recognition for the State Route 520 floating bridge. Additionally, HDR secured consecutive awards in 2010 and 2011 for notable projects like the Hoover Dam Bypass—where it served as project manager—and California’s Gills Onions Advanced Energy Recovery System, which transforms onion waste into sustainable energy.

Miscellaneous

HDR maintains operations in all 50 U.S. states and extends its reach to 10 countries worldwide. Its portfolio includes significant projects such as the Hoover Dam Bypass, the Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center, and the Roslin Institute facility. With a workforce exceeding 12,000 experts across various fields, HDR stands as the fifth largest employee-owned enterprise in the United States, generating $2.8 billion in revenue during 2022. According to Engineering News-Record, HDR ranked as the sixth largest design firm in the U.S. in 2023.

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