ENR Texas & Louisiana has selected Houston-based LJA Engineering as its 2019 Design Firm of the Year. LJA saw about 30% growth in its regional revenue during 2018, and bolstered its regional presence with the addition of approximately 250 employees across its 29 offices in Texas and Florida.

Final placements on ENR Texas & Louisiana’s Top Design Firms ranking will be published in June.

This revenue growth, all of which was organic, was supported by the company’s overall strategic plan of “grow or die”—one of four principles embraced by company leaders and ingrained in the firm’s culture. LJA continues to hire across all sectors, services and locations as well.

The firm embraces employee ownership through a stock ownership program, which remains a differentiator for LJA and helps with recruitment, retention, promotion and legacy among its staff.

Recent major projects include the Broadway Second Main Track Signal Construction Management for the Port Terminal Railroad Association in Houston, the SH225/SHT Interchange for Harris County Toll Road Authority, the 145-mile Louisiana Pipeline with Mott MacDonald, and Brazos River Bank Erosion Control for Fort Bend County MUD 121.

As for outreach beyond the office, LJA employees began a volunteer committee called LJA Cares several years ago to give co-workers and their families an organized way to reach out and help the communities in which they live and work.

For more on LJA Engineering’s achievements, check out the June 10 issue of ENR Texas & Louisiana.