1. We are WSP
  2. Who We Are
  3. Our Story

Our Story

From our local beginnings over 130 years ago to our vast international presence today, WSP has enjoyed continuous growth and enrichment of its service offering. Every milestone reached has enabled us to better fulfill our purpose of preparing our communities and environment for the future.

City square | WSP

WSP Today

WSP is a globally recognized professional services firm. Our talented people are well positioned to deliver successful and sustainable projects, wherever our clients need us.

Throughout 2019-2021, we welcomed experts from 14 different acquisitions – including the transformational acquisition of Golder, a global consulting firm with over 60 years of experience in providing earth sciences and environmental consulting services. These acquisitions allowed us to add expertise in all our operating regions and to enter new markets, while the addition of Golder significantly increased our workforce by approximately 7,000 people. Together we represent the leading global environmental consulting firm with approximately 14,000 of our 55,000 professionals dedicated to accelerating the world’s green transition.

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Expanding our horizons to build the premier professional consultancy in our industry
WSP 2019-2021 Global Strategic Plan vision
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Our History

Our History in the Middle East

In the Middle East, we are working on some of the world's most iconic and complex projects. We take pride in helping our clients to realise their ambitions by offering our unique, local knowledge whilst leveraging our worldwide expertise.         

Our people, their expertise and the accountability we hold, for the future of our communities, make us unique.

We are a Great Place to Work© and take pride in attracting, developing and engaging the best professionals in our fields of expertise.

We are problem-solvers who evolve, improve, modernise and excel. We know our solutions will shape the communities of tomorrow and help societies thrive sustainably. We embrace change and have an uncompromising determination to achieve excellence.

We are WSP

Turcot Interchange, Montreal, Canada | WSP

Turcot Interchange, Montreal, Canada

United States, Latin America and the Caribbean

In the United States, the firm’s origins date back to 1885, when William Barclay Parsons founded the company that would become Parsons Brinckerhoff in New York City. Early projects included the design of the original New York City subway system and the Cape Cod Canal. Chas H. Sells, Inc. was founded in New York in 1925 and was acquired by WSP in 2007, becoming WSP’s transport and infrastructure engineering group in the United States.

WSP entered the US market in 2000 through the acquisitions of Cantor Seinuk, a structural engineering firm established in 1953 and of Flack + Kurtz, a mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering business founded in 1969. Environment & Energy, an environmental and energy consulting business established in 1986, became part of the company in 2006.

International expansion of GENIVAR began with the opening of a Caribbean office in Trinidad and Tobago in 2004 as well an office in Colombia in 2011. In 2012, WSP strengthened its presence in Colombia through the acquisition of Consultores Regionales Asociados CRA S.A.S. In 2014, the Corporation acquired Dessau CEI S.A.S., also in Colombia.  2016 brought the acquisition of Schlumberger’s industrial water consultancy business, enabling WSP to provide water consultancy services and establish a presence in Chile and Peru. CRC Engineering P.C. (USA) and DITEC (Mexico) were also acquired that year. In 2017, WSP acquired three more companies in the United States and two in Latin America. In 2018, the acquisition of US-based international professional services firm Louis Berger added 5,000 employees to WSP’s workforce. In 2019, WSP acquired Ecology & Environment, a US-based environmental consulting firm. We began 2020 by continuing to strengthen our expertise in the Environment sector and expanding our geographic presence in the United States through the acquisition of LT Environmental. The completion of the Golder acquisition in 2021 added approximately 1,700 employees to our workforce in the United States, and 1,200 to our workforce in Latin America & the Caribbean.

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Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement, Long Beach, USA

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22 Bishopsgate, London, UK

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One Za’abeel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Parsons Brinckerhoff has been active in the Middle East since the 1940s. From 2005 to 2006, WSP gained a meaningful presence in the Middle East with two acquisitions in the region. In 2007, further acquisitions in Germany and the Middle East reinforced WSP’s profile as a global consultant. In 2014, the acquisition of Technip TPS, specialising in building and infrastructure engineering, enhanced our presence in the French market. In 2015, Faveo Group was acquired in Scandinavia. In 2016, further acquisitions were made in Sweden, Norway, Finland and the United Kingdom. In 2018, Kontigo and UnionConsult (based in Sweden and Norway) joined WSP. In 2019, we acquired Orbicon, a Denmark-based environmental consulting firm with a strong presence in the Nordics. We also acquired Lievense, a Netherlands-based multidisciplinary consulting firm, which enabled us to establish a footprint in the Dutch market.

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

In 1970, Parsons Brinckerhoff established offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and in 1978, Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Hong Kong office was the first location established in Asia. However, prior to 1978 Parsons Brinckerhoff provided an alternative design for the first Cross Harbor Tunnel project in Hong Kong, which was adopted and the tunnel opened in 1972. During the 1970s and 1980s Parsons Brinckerhoff’s experts were instrumental in the development of the mass transit systems in Hong Kong, Singapore and later Taipei.

In 1995, overseas expansion of WSP began with the formation of WSP Asia and in 2000, WSP increased its presence in Asia. In 2007, WSP completed a further acquisition in Australia. In 2014, the acquisition of WINWARD Group, a specialist structural engineering consultancy, strengthened WSP’s presence in Australia prior to the Parsons Brinckerhoff transaction. The acquisition of New Zealand’s Opus in 2017 enabled WSP to enhance its activities in the region and gain expertise in the water-related infrastructure sector and asset management. In 2018, WSP acquired Irwinconsult, once again strengthening its presence in Australia, particularly in the Property & Buildings sector. The completion of the Golder acquisition in 2021 added approximately 1,000 employees to our workforce in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Southern Program  Alliance (SPA) Melbourne, Australia

Key Dates

2021

WSP completes the acquisition of Golder, increasing WSP’s workforce by approximately 7,000 people and creating the leading global environmental consulting firm, with approximately 14,000 of our 55,000 professionals dedicated to accelerating the world’s green transition.

2020

WSP continues to strengthen our expertise in the Environment sector with the acquisition of LT Environmental.

2019

WSP acquires Orbicon, a Danish environmental consulting firm, which will bolster our presence in the Nordics and strengthen our Strategic Advisory Services offering in environment.

2019

WSP acquires Lievense, a Netherlands-based multidisciplinary consulting firm, which enabled us to establish a footprint in the Dutch market.

2019

WSP acquires US-based environmental consulting firm Ecology & Environment, expanding our geographic presence in the United States.

2019

WSP unveils its 2019-2021 Global Strategic Plan, aimed at building the premier professional consultancy in its industry by the end of 2021.

2019

WSP announced our intent to acquire Ecology and Environment Inc., US-headquartered environmental consulting firm that provides professional services to governments and private customers worldwide.

2019

WSP is ranked 1st once again in the Transportation sector in Engineering News-Record’s annual list of Top 225 International Design Firms.

2018

WSP acquires Louis Berger, a US-headquartered leading international professional services firm with approximately 5,000 employees.

2018

WSP is 1st in the transportation sector among the “Top 225 International Design Firms” in Engineering News-Record.

2017

WSP unites under one name, one brand and one vision across all geographies, cultures, specialties and backgrounds, anchored by its guiding principles and manifesto.

2017

WSP acquires Poch, providing the company with a leadership position in the Chilean market, while also strengthening WSP’s presence in Colombia, Peru and Mexico.

2017

WSP acquires New Zealand based OPUS and completes its 100th acquisition since the IPO. The acquisition enables WSP to enhance its activities in the Australia/New Zealand region and strengthen its expertise in the water-related infrastructure sector and asset management.

2017

WSP acquires Concol, providing a leadership position in the Colombian market in a wide array of services and sectors, while solidifying the company’s presence in Chile, Peru and Mexico.

2016

WSP acquires Mouchel Consulting, a leading UK firm recognized for its broad expertise in the public transportation and infrastructure sectors.

2016

Alexandre L'Heureux is appointed President and CEO, to lead WSP in the next phase of its evolution.

2015

WSP acquires leading Nordic project management firm Faveo Group, providing a strong entry-point in the Norwegian market, while strengthening the company’s position in Sweden.

2015

WSP acquires Canadian-based MMM group recognized for its expertise in transportation, and leadership position in public-private partnerships.

2014

WSP acquires US-based Parsons Brinckerhoff, a premier infrastructure consultancy, and becomes one of the largest global pure-play professional services firms.

2014

WSP acquires Focus, a Canadian-based Engineering and Geomatics firm, expanding the company’s platform in oil & gas engineering services, and strengthening its presence in western Canada.

2014

GENIVAR and WSP reorganize as WSP Global Inc., and adopt WSP as the corporate brand

2012

GENIVAR acquires UK-based consultancy WSP, creating a world-class global professional services firm, with expertise in Building, Transport & Infrastructure and Industrial, Energy & Environment segments.

2006

GENIVAR is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange as an income fund

1993

Three Montreal firms are acquired by Groupe-Conseil Solivar Inc. and the company’s name is changed to GENIVAR

1987

G.B.G.M. Ltd and Les Consultants Dupuis, Côté Inc. merge to become Groupe-Conseil Solivar Inc., based in Quebec

1969

Williams Sale Partnership Limited is established in Surrey, UK

1959

G.B.G.M. LTD AND LES CONSULTANTS DUPUIS, CÔTÉ INC., BEGIN OPERATING IN QUEBEC CITY, CANADA.

1885

Parsons Brinckerhoff founded In New York City, USA.