WSP USA

File:William Barclay Parsons.jpg

Founded in 1885 in New York City by civil engineer William Barclay Parsons, among Parsons Brinckerhoff's earliest projects was the original IRT line of the New York City Subway, designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff and opened in 1904.{{cite book |first=Clifton |last=Hood |title=722 Miles: The Building of the Subways and How They Transformed New York |location=Baltimore |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press |year=1993}} Parsons Brinckerhoff also designed the Cape Cod Canal, which opened in 1914 {{cite book |first=William James |last=Reid |title=The Building of the Cape Cod Canal |location=New York |publisher=George McKibbin and Son, Inc. |year=1961}} and charted the course of a railway in China from Hankow (Wuhan) to Canton (Guangzhou), a line that is also still in use today.{{cite news |title="L" Engines on Chinese Road |work=New-York Tribune |date=January 15, 1905 |page=2}} In 1906, Henry M. Brinckerhoff, a highway engineer, brought his expertise in electric railways to the firm. He is known for his co-invention of the third rail.{{cite magazine |first=Lisa |last=Moses |title=Henry M. Brinckerhoff |magazine=APWA Reporter |date=August 1981}}

The firm has worked on some of the most notable infrastructure projects of the 20th century, including: the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel (1930);{{cite magazine |first=S.A. |last=Thoresen |title=Constructing the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel |magazine=Civil Engineering |date=April 1931}} the Scheldt Tunnel in Antwerp, Belgium (1933);{{cite magazine |first=S.A. |last=Thoresen |title=Shield-Driven Tunnels Near Completion Under the Schelde at Antwerp |magazine=Engineering News-Record |date=June 29, 1933}} The Buzzards Bay Railroad Bridge on Cape Cod, Massachusetts (1935);{{cite magazine |title=Lift Span Over Cape Cod Canal Sets New Precedents |magazine=Engineering News-Record |date=January 30, 1936}} The 1939 World's Fair in New York City;{{cite magazine |first=John P. |last=Hogan |title=Construction Organization and Technique |magazine=Engineering News-Record |date=September 22, 1938}} the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey (1957);{{cite magazine |title=New Jersey eases some traffic jams with long parkway |magazine=Engineering News-Record |date=September 16, 1954}} the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia (1957);{{cite magazine |first=Thomas R. |last=Kuesel |title=A tale of three tunnels |magazine=Civil Engineering |date=December 1974 |volume=44 |number=12 |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers |pages=50–53}}

the Pell Bridge in Newport, Rhode Island (1969);{{cite magazine |first1=Alfred |last1=Hedefine |first2=Louis G. |last2=Silano |title=Newport Bridge foundations |magazine=Civil Engineering |date=October 1968 |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers |volume=38 |number=10 |pages=37–43}} the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (United States) (1980);{{cite book |first=Bruce A. |last=Beaubouef |title=The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: U.S. Energy Security and Oil Politics, 1975–2005 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |date=August 2007}} the I-95/Fort McHenry Tunnel (1980);{{cite magazine |first=Corrinne S. |last=Bernstein |title=Tunneling Around Ft. McHenry |magazine=Civil Engineering |date=July 1986 |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers |volume=56 |number=7 |pages=38–40}} the U.S. 25E Cumberland Gap Tunnel at the Tennessee/Kentucky border,{{cite web |title=Cumberland Gap Tunnel |url=http://plus.wsp-pb.com/history/files/assets/basic-html/page250.html |website=Parsons Brinckerhoff |access-date=June 17, 2023}} the H-3 Highway in Oahu, Hawaii (1997);{{cite magazine |first=Ray |last=Bert |title=Paradise Crossed |magazine=Civil Engineering |date=July 1998 |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers |volume=68 |issue=7 |pages=42–45}} the Sabiya Power Station in Kuwait (2000){{cite magazine |title=Combined Heat & Power in Saudi Arabia |magazine=Worldwide Independent Power |date=September 1, 2010}} and the rapid transit systems of San Francisco (1972);{{cite magazine |first=Thomas R. |last=Kuesel |title=Bart subway construction: planning and costs |magazine=Civil Engineering |date=March 1969}} Atlanta (1979);{{cite magazine |title=First Line of Atlanta's New Transit System Opens |magazine=Civil Engineering |date=July 1979 |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers |volume=49 |number=7 |pages=77–82}} Singapore (1987);{{cite magazine |first1=Rajam |last1=Krishnan |first2=K.S. |last2=Chan |title=Singapore on the Move |magazine=Civil Engineering |date=November 2003 |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers |volume=73 |number=11 |pages=56–63,82–83}} Taipei (1996);{{cite magazine |first=Scott |last=Danielson |title=Enter the Dragon |magazine=Civil Engineering |date=November 1994 |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers |volume=64 |number=11 |pages=64–67}} and Caracas (1983).{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/12/archives/venezuela-accelerates-15-billion-caracas-metro-project.html |title=Venezuela Accelerates $1.5 Billion Caracas Metro Project |work=The New York Times |date=March 12, 1977 |page=36}}

Parsons Brinckerhoff was acquired by Balfour Beatty in October 2009 and operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Balfour Beatty plc. In October 2010 Balfour Beatty acquired Halsall Associates, which became a subsidiary of Parsons Brinckerhoff and part of its Canadian operations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.balfourbeatty.com/|title=Home|website=Balfour Beatty plc}}

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On October 31, 2014, Balfour Beatty sold Parsons Brinckerhoff to WSP Global. In 2017 Parsons Brinckerhoff changed its name to WSP USA. On September 3, 2014, it was announced that WSP Global had made an offer to purchase Parsons Brinckerhoff from Balfour Beatty plc for US$1.24 billion.{{cite web|url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/balfour-beatty-to-sell-parsons-brinckerhoff-to-wsp-global-1409778904|title=Balfour Beatty to Sell Parsons Brinckerhoff to WSP Global|first=Tess|last=Stynes|date=September 3, 2014|work=WSJ}} The transaction closed on October 31, 2014{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsp.com/en-GL/investors/press-releases|title=Press Releases | WSP|website=www.wsp.com}} and Parsons Brinckerhoff became a wholly owned subsidiary of WSP Global. On January 10, 2017, it was announced that the brand Parsons Brinckerhoff would be retired and combined into the parent company, WSP Global. WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff is now called WSP.

Following the acquisition of Louis Berger Group by WSP Global in 2018 for $400 million, the operations of Louis Berger Group in the United States were merged with WSP USA's. WSP USA acquired two US-based environmental consulting firms over the next two years: Ecology & Environment (E & E) in 2019,{{Cite web|date=December 31, 2019|url=https://www.wsp.com/en-US/news/2019/wsp-closes-the-acquisition-of-ee-in-the-us|title=WSP closes the previously announced acquisition of E & E in the United States|website=www.wsp.com}} and LT Environmental in 2020.{{Cite web|last=Shaw|first=Mark|date=January 30, 2020|url=https://www.enr.com/articles/48594-engineering-giant-wsp-usa-acquires-denver-based-lt-environmental?v=preview|title=Engineering Giant WSP USA Acquires Denver-Based LT Environmental|website=www.enr.com}}

In 2021, WSP purchased Golder Associates,{{cite web |date=December 6, 2020 |url=https://esemag.com/news/wsp-acquires-golder/ |title=WSP acquires Golder in $1.5B deal that creates one of world's biggest environmental consulting firms |website=Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine}} and in 2022 WSP acquired Wood PLC’s Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. business.{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Jane |date=September 22, 2022 |url=https://www.govconwire.com/2022/09/wsp-closes-purchase-of-woods-environment-and-infrastructure-business/ |title=WSP Closes Purchase of Wood's Environment & Infrastructure Business |website=GovCon Wire}}

{{Update|section|date=March 2025}}

The firm is involved in Long Island Rail Road's East Side Access to Grand Central Terminal in New York City,{{cite magazine |title=Cavernous Crusades |first=Aileen |last=Cho |magazine=Engineering News-Record |date=February 2, 2011 |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/4958-cavernous-crusades |access-date=March 7, 2021 |url-access=limited}} with a planned opening of December 2022.{{cite news |title=MTA Megaproject to Cost Almost $1B More Than Prior Estimate |first=Andrew |last=Siff |work=WNBC |date=April 16, 2018 |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/east-side-access-mta-project-cost-infrastructure/477189/ |access-date=March 7, 2021}} It is also involved with the redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport in New York City, announced in 2015,{{cite news |title=La Guardia Airport to Be Overhauled by 2021, Cuomo and Biden Say |first=Patrick |last=McGeehan |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 27, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/nyregion/la-guardia-airport-to-be-rebuilt-by-2021-cuomo-and-biden-say.html |access-date=March 7, 2021 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728040717/http://www.nytimes.com//2015//07//28//nyregion//la-guardia-airport-to-be-rebuilt-by-2021-cuomo-and-biden-say.html |archive-date=July 28, 2015}} with an expected completion date of 2022.{{Cite web |title=What We Do {{!}} LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal B |work=WSPglobal |publisher=WSP USA |url=https://www.wsp.com/en-US/projects/laguardia-airport-central-terminal-b |access-date=March 7, 2021}} In 2018, it was selected as the lead firm for the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Airfield Expansion, with a targeted completion of 2022.{{cite press release |title=WSP USA Named Engineer Partner for CLT Expansion |publisher=WSP USA |date=December 14, 2018 |url= https://www.wsp.com/en-US/insights/charlotte-airport-expansion-project |access-date=}} It is working on the new Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Southwest End-Around Taxiway,{{cite web |title=What We Do {{!}} Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Southwest End-Around Taxiway |work=WSPglobal |publisher=WSP USA |url=https://www.wsp.com/en-US/projects/dallas-fort-worth-international-airport-southwest-end-around-taxiway |access-date=March 7, 2021}} with an expected completion date of 2021.{{cite news |title=Why wait? DFW Airport plan for taxiways could save travelers time |first=Conor |last=Shine |newspaper=The Dallas Morning News |date=July 30, 2018 |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2018/07/30/why-wait-dfw-airport-plan-for-taxiways-could-save-travelers-time/ |access-date=March 7, 2021}} In 2018, it started working on a master plan update for San Antonio International Airport.{{cite press release |title=Strategic Development Plan Effort Continues at the San Antonio International Airport |date=June 20, 2019 |agency=Department of Government and Public Affairs |publisher=City of San Antonio |url=https://www.sanantonio.gov/gpa/News/ArtMID/24373/ArticleID/16017/Strategic-Development-Plan-Effort-Continues-at-the-San-Antonio-International-Airport |access-date=March 7, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019190439/https://www.sanantonio.gov/gpa/News/ArtMID/24373/ArticleID/16017/Strategic-Development-Plan-Effort-Continues-at-the-San-Antonio-International-Airport |archive-date=October 19, 2020}}

Parsons Brinckerhoff partnered with rival engineering firm Bechtel to build the troubled Big Dig in Boston, Massachusetts. The Big Dig, or Central Artery/Tunnel project as it was officially known, was intended to replace an elevated Interstate freeway and connecting roads with a tunnel system underneath Boston. The project was beset with bad engineering, shoddy workmanship, and the death of an automobile passenger as a poor ceiling design caused a tunnel roof section to collapse on a car in the tunnel, crushing the victim. The Big Dig was years over schedule and engineering costs to several times of Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff's original estimates, from $8 Billion to in excess of $24 Billion. Due to the poor construction, it has been estimated that the Big Dig's life span will be far short of the original specification that taxpayers paid for. The tunnels still have "thousands of leaks" and substandard materials. Subsequent to the fatal tunnel ceiling collapse, light fixtures have been found to have been incorrectly installed and corroding, posing a risk of failure and falling to the tunnel roadway.{{cite web |date=November 17, 2004 |url=http://www.thebostonchannel.com/bigdig/3924866/detail.html |title=Report: Even More Big Dig Leaks Found – Big Dig News Story |work=WCVB Boston |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523164349/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/bigdig/3924866/detail.html |archive-date=May 23, 2006}}

Parsons Brinckerhoff was also the lead engineering firm to build the Silver Spring, Maryland transportation center. Despite a ballooning budget and a project that has run far behind schedule, the transit center was poorly constructed and has not become operational due to poor design and workmanship. In April 2014, The Washington Post published an exposé on Parsons Brinckerhoff's troubled transit center, reporting that an independent report has found that the public would be at risk due to falling concrete and needs a significant redesign and upgrades.{{cite news |last=Turque |first=Bill |date=April 29, 2014 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/transit-center-report-public-at-risk-from-falling-concrete-without-additional-repairs/2014/04/29/90bdf8a2-cfca-11e3-a6b1-45c4dffb85a6_story.html?hpid=z3], |title=Transit center report: Public at risk from falling concrete without additional repairs |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Parsons Brinckerhoff was part of a lawsuit for Lane Cove Tunnel, Sydney, Australia.Supreme Court New South Wales Court Ref No 2009/290489 The claim by AMP Capital Investors for Australian $144 million was settled in September 2014. The basis of the claim was 'Misleading and defective conduct' but the settlement is on confidential terms with no admission of liability.

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Category:American companies established in 1885

Category:Engineering consulting firms of the United States

Category:Construction and civil engineering companies of the United States

Category:Consulting firms established in 1885

Category:1885 establishments in New York (state)