Top 500 Design Firms: SAIC Plans Split Into Two Firms

Photo Courtesy of SAIC

SAIC performed work on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Vibro-Acoustic Research Facility near Cleveland.

SAIC, ranked at No. 34 on ENR's list of the Top 500 Design Firms, is a $10.5-billion firm working in the national security and information-technology fields. It also does nearly $750 million in construction contracting and engineering.

This construction group may soon find itself with a new name—Leidos—as SAIC says it plans to split into two firms.

"We started out supporting both government and commercial customers, but the business models began to diverge," says Joe Craver, president of SAIC's health, energy and civil solutions group.

The plan is for the technical services and enterprise information-technology business to continue under the SAIC name, while the $7-billion national security, health and engineering business will be named Leidos.

The firm's board of directors is expected to make the company's new organization official at a meeting set for June. It may take until the end of the year to complete the separation, if approved.

Craver says the scope of the new Leidos will help the construction arm.

He cites the firm's work on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Vibro-Acoustic Research Facility near Cleveland.

"We used our work with the federal government, systems design experience, engineering and design-build capabilities to deliver a great project," he says.

Gary J. Tulacz has been, since 1993, senior editor in charge of ENR's Top Lists, which bring structure to the huge global construction industry through annual surveys and market analysis of its key segments and major players. The array of surveys rank companies, based both in the U.S. and outside, which perform general contracting, specialty contracting, engineering, architecture and environmental services, among other specialties.

The rankings, based on annual revenue from work at home and abroad, are further divided into specific market categories. Click here for descriptions and schedules of ENR Top List surveys and access to information on current and past listed firms.

Gary also created the ENR Top 100 Green Contractors and Design Firms rankings and the ENR quarterly Construction Industry Confidence Index that measures firm executives' market outlook.

This survey data is used by industry firms and other businesses, government agencies and academics also to gauge the health of the global construction market.

A graduate of Fordham College in New York City and the Fordham University School of Law, Gary previously wrote extensively on employee relations in such areas as labor and immigration law and employee drug testing.

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