WSP to acquire Chicago-based structural design firm, Halvorson and Partners
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Engineering and construction company adds to string of acquisitions
MONTREAL—WSP Global Inc. is continuing its recent push to snap up North American engineering firms.
The Montreal-based company has announced it will acquire Halvorson and Partners, a 40-person firm headquartered in Chicago, which provides structural engineering services for developers, private owners, and institutions worldwide. The acquisition comes on the heels of the company’s $425 million purchase of MMM Group last week.
WSP noted H+P has completed structural designs for high-profile projects throughout the U.S., as well as internationally through an office in Shanghai and a strong presence in the Middle East. H+P’s prominent recent build was the Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid Tower in Abu Dhabi, which won the Council on Tall Buildings 2015 Best Tall Building Award for the Middle East and Africa.
“We are pleased with this acquisition, which is an integral part of our U.S. buildings’ strategy. H+P is a world class structural firm that shares our culture of deeply caring about the success of our clients and staff” said David Cooper, president of building practice for WSP U.S. and Parsons Brinckerhoff. “This acquisition not only enhances our building structures practice with additional expertise, it also gives us a platform upon which to build a fully integrated buildings engineering practice in the great city of Chicago, the birthplace of the steel frame skyscraper.”
Along with the acquisition announcement, WSP said it has entered into an agreement to sell it interest in Link Arkitektur AS, which will generate approximately $5 million in gross proceeds for engineering and construction firm.
Kick-started by the firm’s US$1.3B Parsons Brinckerhoff acquisition last October the H+P deal is the latest in an active 12 months on the buyer’s market for WSP.
