It’s been a solid strategy, with Harder reporting that its revenue topped $744 million last year.

When asked how the Portland, Ore.-based company has survived and thrived so long in a highly competitive and challenging sector, Dustin Harder, president, says the secret lies in Harder’s adaptability, safety culture and willingness to take work on the road when local markets slow.

“Teams have gone wherever the work is, from Oregon to Washington, Alaska, California, Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Arizona, keeping the company moving and providing opportunities for employees across regions,” he says.

Harder’s record of success has earned the firm ENR West’s Northwest Specialty Contractor of the Year honors.

Steady as She Goes

Harder says business is currently steady and rebuilding after a challenging year, with strong momentum heading into 2026 and 2027. He says the firm has worked hard to pivot from the impact of a few major projects being put on hold due to economic uncertainty.

 “However, the company has successfully secured new projects that will carry us through the next couple years, ensuring stability and growth,” he says.

Right now, Harder’s three hottest market sectors are advanced technology; renewable energy and natural resources; and data centers, all of which are driving the next generation of industry across the West.

“We’re rapidly expanding in this space with major projects underway in the Northwest,” says Harder. “The semiconductor market is especially exciting for us because it brings long-term stability, technical sophistication and opportunities to showcase our integrated fabrication and installation capabilities. Our work with these companies contributes to building the infrastructure behind America’s growing tech manufacturing ecosystem.”

The company is also playing a role in the nation’s clean energy transition.

Harder Mechanical is leading critical projects in battery recycling and lithium mining. “These efforts not only support sustainability goals but also strengthen the domestic supply of key materials for electric vehicles, making this both a profitable and nationally strategic market for us,” says Harder.

The company is also growing its presence in the data center sector. “These projects require speed, precision and innovation, areas where Harder Mechanical’s off-site manufacturing (OSM) capabilities give us a major advantage,” says Harder.

“These markets are hot because they sit at the intersection of technology, energy and sustainability, the three most transformative forces shaping modern industry,” he says. “Harder’s combination of scale, technical depth and advanced [offsite manufacturing] fabrication allows us to meet the high demands of these projects safely, efficiently and with industry-leading quality.”

A key driver of efficiency and success for the firm has been moving more fabrication and modular work to its offsite manufacturing shop. This strategy has improved safety, productivity and cost control while allowing field crews to focus on higher-value tasks.

“Harder Mechanical’s focus on continuous improvement—from upgrading safety policies, adopting Revit companywide and achieving ISO 9000 certification across all fab shops—shows a company committed to evolving and excelling,” says Harder.

Harder was part of the team on the Portland Airport’s Terminal Core project that redeveloped the main terminal.
Photo courtesy Harder Mechanical

Flying High

Harder has been a key part of the Portland International Airport’s $2.15 billion, 860,000-sq-ft Terminal Core Redevelopment (TCORE) project, which is currently under construction and slated to complete in 2026. As a key trade partner on this transformative effort, Harder is working on security screening areas, baggage handling systems, office spaces and presecurity concessions, all while keeping airport operations running smoothly.

To meet the project’s ambitious schedule and minimize disruptions, Harder implemented an innovative modular construction strategy, designing and building 41 modular pipe racks off site—21 dedicated to utility systems and 20 to hydronic systems. This approach maximized prefabrication opportunities, enhancing both efficiency and worker safety in one of the most complex active airport construction environments in the Pacific Northwest.

“Harder Mechanical’s collaboration during the pre-construction phase of the Portland Airport expansion project was instrumental in shaping a cost-effective and constructible design,” says Bob McGinnis, senior preconstruction director at Skanska USA Building. “Their proactive approach to budgeting, value engineering and system coordination ensured seamless integration of complex mechanical solutions for this landmark project.”

Buffon Decker, senior project manager for Hoffman Skanska JV, says Harder was integral to the success of the project.

“They worked closely with the JV and the other trade partners in the initial planning and were responsive and quick with solutions when we hit the inevitable challenges on such a complex project,” Decker says. “They helped us to make sure that the airport provided the passenger experience and comfort that PDX is known for.”