CH2M
{{Short description|Former global engineering company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox company
| name = CH2M
| logo = Ch2m logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
| type = Environmental Engineering
| industry = Engineering
| fate = Acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group
| foundation = {{start date and age|1946}} in Corvallis, Oregon as Cornell, Howland, Hayes, and Merryfield
| defunct = {{end date|2017|12|18}}
| location = Englewood, Colorado
| key_people = {{ubl
|Jacqueline Hinman (president & CEO)
|Gary L. McArthur (CFO)
}}
| revenue = {{decrease}}US$5.24 billion (2016)
| net_income = {{increase}} US$139.2 million (2016)
| assets = {{decrease}} US$2.67 billion (2016)
| equity = {{increase}} US$546.7 million (2016)
| num_employees = 20,000 (2016)
| footnotes = {{cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/777491/000155837017001430/chm-20161230x10k.htm | title=CH2M HILL Companies, Ltd. 2016 Form 10-K Annual Report | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}
}}
File:Slc parkside tower.jpg (2013)]]
CH2M, earlier CH2M Hill, was an engineering company that provided consulting, design, construction, and operations services for corporations and governments. The company was organized in Corvallis, Oregon, and headquartered at 9191 South Jamaica Street, Englewood, Colorado. In December 2017, the company was acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group.
The company played a major role in the Panama Canal expansion project.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2016/06/22/colorado-companies-played-big-roles-in-expanding.html | title=Colorado companies played big roles in expanding Panama Canal; questions linger | first1=Mark | last1=Harden | first2=Cathy | last2=Proctor | work=American City Business Journals | date=June 22, 2016}} The company developed, maintained and published its own method for managing projects for clients, called the CH2M Hill Project Delivery System.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/projectdeliverys00ch2m | title=Project Delivery System : A System and Process for Benchmark Performance | author=CH2M Hill Project Managers | publisher=CH2M Hill | year=2000 | oclc=668106433 | isbn=0965261603 | url-access=registration }} The firm was named from the initials of its four founders.
History
CH2M was founded in 1946 in Corvallis, Oregon, by Oregon State University civil engineering professor Fred Merryfield and three of his students: Holly Cornell, James Howland and Thomas Burke Hayes.{{cite news | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/08/02/jacobs-engineering-buys-ch2m/ | title=CH2M, one of Colorado's largest companies with a rich history here, sold to Texas engineering giant | first=ERIN | last=DOUGLAS | work=The Denver Post | date=August 2, 2017}} Cornell, Howland, and Hayes were all graduates of Oregon State University.{{cite news |url=https://today.oregonstate.edu/archives/2004/apr/osu-honors-top-alums-service-achievements | title=OSU HONORS TOP ALUMS FOR SERVICE, ACHIEVEMENTS | publisher=Oregon State University | date=July 16, 2009}} The company became CH2M Hill after a merger with Clair A. Hill & Associates in 1971. The firm remained headquartered in Oregon until 1980, when it moved to Colorado.
=Projects=
In 2000, the company was part of a joint venture to replace the Singapore sanitary services infrastructure.{{cite news| url=http://ch2mhillalumni.org/TopicalOutline/Approved%20Unlimited%20PDF%20Articles/Year%202000%20PDF's/2000%20-%201st%20Qtr%20-%20p14.pdf | title=CH2M HILL, consulting partner win $124 million Singapore contract | year=2000}} The new Singapore Deep Tunnel System was designed to improve reliability, ease, and economy of operation, and to help Singapore handle the increasing use of its waterfront.{{cite magazine | last=Rowson | first=Jessica | url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/archive/singapore-sewerage-no-space-to-waste-17-06-2009/ | title=Singapore sewerage: No space to waste | magazine=New Civil Engineer | date=June 17, 2009 | url-access=subscription}}
In October 2005, Kaiser Hill, a joint venture of CH2M Hill, decommissioned and closed a former nuclear weapons facility at the Rocky Flats Plant.{{cite news | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2005/10/13/rocky-flats-cleanup-completed/ | title=Rocky Flats cleanup completed | agency=Associated Press | publisher=The Denver Post | date=October 13, 2005}}{{cite web | url=https://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06352.pdf | title=NUCLEAR CLEANUP OF ROCKY FLATS | publisher=Government Accountability Office | date=July 2006}} In 2006, the company helped rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast of the United States after Hurricane Katrina.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ychNBAAAQBAJ | title=New Orleans Under Reconstruction | first1=Carol M. | last1=Reese | first2=Michael | last2=Sorkin | first3=Anthony | last3=Fontenot | publisher=Verso Books | date=July 8, 2014| isbn=9781781682746 }}
In June 2007, along with General Electric, the company was selected to build a $660 million gas-fired power plant in Queensland, Australia.{{cite press release | url=https://www.jacobs.com/node/11741 | title=CH2M HILL and GE to Design and Build US$660 Million Gas-Fired Power Plant: Largest in Australia | publisher=Jacobs Engineering Group | date=June 12, 2007}} In April 2007, the company was selected for an $11.7 billion project to move American military bases in Korea.{{cite news | url=https://www.stripes.com/news/south-korea-selects-contractor-to-help-relocate-u-s-bases-1.63180 | title=South Korea selects contractor to help relocate U.S. bases | first1=ERIK | last1=SLAVIN | first2=HWANG | last2=HAE-RYM | work=Stars and Stripes | date=June 10, 2007}}
In August 2007, the Panama Canal Authority selected the company to manage the $5.25 billion Panama Canal expansion project, which added new locks to the Pacific and Atlantic ends of the canal and enabled New Panamax ships to pass through the canal for the first time.{{cite news | url=https://www.enr.com/articles/30896-ch2m-hill-selected-as-5-billion-panama-canal-expansion-program-manager?v=preview |title=CH2M Hill Selected as $5-billion Panama Canal Expansion Program Manager | work=Engineering News-Record | date=August 17, 2007 | url-access=subscription}}{{cite press release | url=https://www.jacobs.com/node/11856 | title=CH2M HILL Team Selected as Program Manager for Expansion of Panama Canal | publisher=Jacobs Engineering Group | date=August 17, 2007}}{{cite news | url=https://www.joc.com/economy-watch/ch2m-manage-panama-canal-expansion_20070816.html | title=CH2M to manage Panama Canal expansion | first=Peter T. | last=Leach | work=The Journal of Commerce | date=August 16, 2007}}
In April 2009, a consortium led by the company was named program partner to oversee construction of the Crossrail project to expand London's transit system.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/03/30/daily44.html | title=CH2M Hill, partners to oversee $22B 'Crossrail' project in London | work=American City Business Journals | date=April 1, 2009}} On August 30, 2006, along with partners Mace Group and Laing O'Rourke, the company was selected as a supplier for the London 2012 Olympics.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2006/08/28/daily27.html | title=CH2M Hill, partners win 2012 Olympic contract in London | work=American City Business Journals | date=August 30, 2006}}{{cite news | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/08/30/ch2m-hill-wins-2012-olympic-contract/ | title=CH2M Hill wins 2012 Olympic contract | first=WILL | last=SHANLEY | work=The Denver Post | date=August 30, 2006}}{{cite news | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2012/06/29/ch2m-hill-among-3-colorado-firms-playing-major-roles-at-olympics-3/ | title=CH2M Hill among 3 Colorado firms playing major roles at Olympics | work=The Denver Post | date=June 29, 2012}}
In June 2008, the United States Department of Energy selected a subsidiary of the company to manage the deconstruction and remediation of the Central Plateau on the Hanford Site in eastern Washington, one of the world's largest environmental cleanup projects, including shrinking the environmental footprint of the Hanford Site from {{convert|586|sqmi|km2|adj=on}} to {{convert|75|sqmi|km2}}.{{cite press release | url=https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-selects-ch2m-hill-plateau-remediation-company-plateau-remediation-contract-its-hanford | title=DOE Selects CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company for Plateau Remediation Contract at its Hanford Site | publisher=United States Department of Energy | date=June 18, 2008}} In April 2019, the company was cited for safety violations at the project.{{cite press release | url=https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-cites-ch2m-hill-plateau-remediation-company-nuclear-safety-and-radiation | title=Department of Energy Cites CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Violations | publisher=United States Department of Energy | date=April 1, 2019}}
In March 2013, the company was selected by South Oil Company of Iraq to provide project management consultancy services for the Iraq Common Seawater Supply Project.{{cite press release | url=https://www.jacobs.com/node/14031 | title=CH2M HILL Selected to Provide Project Management Consultancy Services for the Iraq Common Seawater Supply Project | publisher=Jacobs Engineering Group | date=March 19, 2013}}
Engineering News-Record identified two projects that may have contributed to CH2M's being bought out in December 2017: A combined-cycle power project, part of the Ichthys gas field development, which had lost CH2M $140 million in 2014, and the addition of a toll lane in Austin, Texas for the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, which had lost the company $121.3 million in 2014 due to delays caused by weather and staffing issues, among other things.{{cite web | url=https://www.enr.com/articles/42407-how-costly-projects-are-forcing-ch2m-to-weigh-a-buyout | title=How Costly Projects Are Forcing CH2M to Weigh a Buyout | 2017-07-26 | ENR | Engineering News-Record }}
=Acquisitions=
In 1977, the company acquired Black, Crow & Eidsness, an engineering firm in the southeast United States. In August 2002, the company acquired Gee & Jensen, a Ports and Harbor firm based in Florida, DeMil International, a weapons destruction firm based in the United States,{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2002/08/19/daily47.html | title=CH2M Hill buys blast chamber company, technology | work=American City Business Journals | date=August 23, 2002}} and EHS Consultants Ltd, a consulting firm based in Hong Kong.{{cite web | url=http://www.secinfo.com/dVut2.z4ch.htm | title=CH2M HILL Companies, Ltd. 2004 Form 10-K Annual Report | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}
In December 2003, Lockwood Greene Engineers was acquired. The sale was forced by the financial collapse of JA Jones Inc, its North American parent company and wholly owned subsidiary of the insolvent German construction conglomerate, Philipp Holzmann AG. CH2M picked up LGE's private-sector design portfolio.{{cite news |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/35224-ch2m-hill-wins-prize-in-bankruptcy-contest-lockwood-greene-is-sold-by-bankrupt-j-a-jones-for-95-5-million-as-bid-trumps-two-competitors |title=CH2M Hill Wins Prize In Bankruptcy Contest Lockwood Greene is sold by bankrupt J.A. Jones for $95.5 million as bid trumps two competitors |date=December 22, 2003}}
In October 2005, it acquired BBS Corporation, an environmental engineering firm based in Ohio.{{cite press release | url=https://www.jacobs.com/node/11321 | title=CH2M HILL Acquires BBS Corporation | publisher=Jacobs Engineering Group | date=October 1, 2005}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2005/10/03/daily25.html | title=CH2M Hill closes on BBS Corp. acquisition | work=American City Business Journals | date=October 4, 2005}} In September 2007, the company acquired most of the components of VECO, an Alaska-based firm that specialized in services to the petroleum industry and had become embroiled in the Alaska political corruption probe.{{cite press release | url=https://www.jacobs.com/node/11866 | title=CH2M Hill Finalizes Acquisition of VECO | publisher=Jacobs Engineering Group | date=September 7, 2007}}{{cite news | url=https://www.hartenergy.com/news/trigon-epc-acquired-ch2m-hill-48058 | title=Trigon EPC Acquired by CH2M Hill | work=Hart Energy | date=January 2, 2008}}
In December 2007, the company acquired Trigon EPC.{{cite press release | url=https://www.jacobs.com/node/11986 | title=CH2M HILL Finalizes Acquisition of Colorado-Based Trigon EPC | publisher=Jacobs Engineering Group | date=December 17, 2007}} In March 2008, the company acquired Texas based Goldston Engineering, a company specialising in marine and coastal transportation engineering services.{{cite press release | url=https://www.jacobs.com/node/12076 | title=CH2M HILL Finalizes Acquisition of Texas-Based Goldston Engineering | publisher =Jacobs Engineering Group | date=March 5, 2008}}
In 2011, CH2M Hill acquired the transportation consulting unit of Booz Allen Hamilton.{{cite web | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2011/05/11/ch2m-hill-buys-booz-allen-hamilton-unit/ | title=CH2M Hill buys Booz Allen Hamilton unit | date=May 11, 2011 }}
In September 2011, CH2M Hill acquired the UK-based engineering consulting firm Halcrow Group.{{cite news |title=CH2M Hill to take over Halcrow |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/ch2m-hill-to-take-over-halcrow |access-date=29 June 2020 |work=The Construction Index |date=26 September 2011}} In October 2014, the company acquired TERA Environmental Consultants, an environmental consulting firm based in Canada that had worked with pipeline and powerline clients and oil and gas companies, for 30 years.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2014/02/ch2m-hill-buys-canadian-firm-focused.html | title=CH2M Hill buys Canadian firm focused on energy and environment | first=Cathy | last=Proctor | work=American City Business Journals | date=February 28, 2014}}
=Other activities=
In April 2015, the company removed the word "Hill" from its branding, and unveiled a new logo.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2015/04/13/ch2m-is-over-the-hill-engineering-giant-unveils.html | title=CH2M is over the Hill: Engineering giant unveils new name, logo | first=Mark | last=Harden | work=American City Business Journals | date=April 13, 2015}} In March 2017, the company renewed its lease at Honey Creek Corporate Center.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2017/03/27/ch2m-renews-office-lease-at-honey-creek.html | title=CH2M renews office lease at Honey Creek | first=Sean | last=Ryan | work=American City Business Journals | date=March 27, 2017 | url-access=subscription}} In June 2017, the company reiterated its support for the Paris Agreement.{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ch2m-statement-on-recent-paris-climate-accord-decision-300469126.html | title=CH2M statement on recent Paris Climate Accord decision | publisher=PR Newswire | date=June 6, 2017}}
=Acquisition by Jacobs Engineering Group=
In December 2017, Jacobs Engineering Group acquired CH2M for US$3.3 billion in cash and stock.{{cite press release | url=https://www.jacobs.com/newsroom/news/jacobs-completes-ch2m-acquisition-creating-15-billion-professional-services-leader | title=Jacobs Completes CH2M Acquisition, Creating $15 Billion Professional Services Leader Focused On Delivering Innovative Solutions for a More Connected, Sustainable World | publisher=Jacobs Engineering Group | date=December 18, 2017 | access-date=August 4, 2019 | archive-date=February 24, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224070332/https://www.jacobs.com/newsroom/news/jacobs-completes-ch2m-acquisition-creating-15-billion-professional-services-leader | url-status=dead }}{{cite press release | title=Jacobs to Acquire CH2M to Create Premier $15 Billion Global Solutions Provider | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170802005550/en/Jacobs-Acquire-CH2M-Create-Premier-15-Billion | publisher=Business Wire | date=August 2, 2017}}{{cite news | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/18/ch2m-colorado-jacobs-engineering-group-purchase/ | title=CH2M, one of Colorado's largest private companies, is swallowed up by Texas firm | first=Tamara | last=Chuang | work=The Denver Post | date=December 18, 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/oh150/matthews/index.html LaMont Matthews Oral History Interview]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:CH2M Hill}}
Category:American companies established in 1946
Category:Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1946
Category:Construction and civil engineering companies disestablished in 2017
Category:Defunct engineering companies of the United States
Category:Design companies established in 1946
Category:1946 establishments in Oregon
Category:2017 disestablishments in Colorado
Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions
Category:Companies based in Englewood, Colorado
Category:American companies disestablished in 2017
Category:Construction and civil engineering companies of the United States