Good Planning and Luck Help Firms Stand The Test Of Time
The business of engineering and construction has always been about riskpioneering methods under dangerous conditions with no guarantee of being paid on time, or at all. This kind of work has bred generations of risktakers whose zeal to complete a tough job and seek out even tougher challenges has propelled the industry forward for centuries. Such bravado, however, has allowed some executives to let egos get ahead of sound business judgement and out of step with the firms interests. The result has been the disappearance of many storied industry names in this unforgiving line of work.
But there also are the exceptions, firms founded in the 19th Century that have faced adversity but also opportunity and still are going strong in the 21st Century. Of companies appearing on ENRs Top 500 Design Firms and Top 400 Contractors lists for 2003, more than 70 originated before 1900 (click here to view list). There probably are hundreds more.