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.

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City square | WSP

WSP Today

WSP is a globally recognized professional services firm providing strategic advisory, engineering and design services to clients in the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, power, energy, water, and resource sectors. Our 65,000 trusted professionals are united by a shared goal: to create positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve.

In March 2022, we unveiled our 2022-2024 Global Strategic Action Plan, which will guide the next phase of our evolution.

View our Global Strategic Plan
Drawing on the wisdom of our experts, real change comes from assisting clients who share our goal of moving swiftly towards an equitable, inclusive, and net zero world.
Alexandre L'Heureux President and CEO, 2022-2024 Global Strategic Action Plan
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Our History

Canada

Two engineering firms, G.B.G.M. Ltd. and Les Consultants Dupuis Côté, Inc., began operating in Quebec City, Canada in 1959. The two firms merged in 1987 to form Groupe-Conseil Solivar Inc., which acquired two more companies in the early 1990s, thus establishing a multidisciplinary approach. In 1993, geographic expansion began with the acquisition of three Montreal-based firms; the company was renamed GENIVAR. Between 1993 and 2006, GENIVAR acquired no fewer than 30 firms, extending its operations across the province of Quebec; it also entered the Ontario market. Between 2006 and 2012, over 60 firms came on board as GENIVAR became one of the largest professional services companies in Canada, with offices in all 10 provinces.

In 2012, GENIVAR acquired WSP Group PLC, a multidisciplinary consultancy based in London, UK, leading to the creation of a professional services firm with 15,000 employees in 300 offices worldwide. The company reorganized as WSP Global Inc. and adopted WSP as its brand name.

In the first quarter of 2014, Focus Group Holding Inc. joined the firm, strengthening its presence in the province of Alberta. In 2015, we announced the acquisition of MMM Group, one of the largest privately-owned engineering consulting firms in Canada, as well as the acquisitions of Levelton and SPL Consultants.

In 2021, we completed the acquisition of Golder, a global firm specialized in earth sciences and environmental consulting services, which added approximately 2,000 professionals to our Canadian workforce. In 2022, the acquisition of Wood’s Environment & Infrastructure business added 2,000 experts to our Canadian workforce, furthering our leadership and capabilities by boosting our presence in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Atlantic provinces. 

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Modernization of the National Capital Region’s District Energy System, Canada

United States, Latin America and the Caribbean

In the US, the firm’s origins date back to 1885, when William Barclay Parsons founded the company that would go on to become Parsons Brinckerhoff, based in New York City. Early projects included designing 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 the firm’s transportation and infrastructure engineering group in the US.

WSP entered the US market in 2000 through the acquisitions of Cantor Seinuk, a structural engineering firm established in 1953, and 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 firm in 2006.

The international expansion of GENIVAR (rebranded as WSP in 2014) began with the opening of a Caribbean office in Trinidad and Tobago in 2004, followed by 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 firm acquired Dessau CEI S.A.S., also in Colombia. 2016 brought the acquisition of Schlumberger’s industrial water consultancy business, enabling WSP to provide related services while establishing a foothold 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 US and two in Latin America.

In 2018, the acquisition of Louis Berger, a US-based international professional services firm, added 5,000 employees to WSP’s workforce. In 2019, WSP acquired Ecology & Environment, a US-based environmental consulting firm. In 2020, we continued to strengthen our expertise and expand our presence in the US through the acquisitions of LT Environmental, an environmental consulting firm, and kW Mission Critical Engineering, which added best-in-class mission critical engineering services to our US building capabilities.

The Golder acquisition in 2021 added approximately 1,700 employees to our workforce in the US and 1,200 in Latin America and the Caribbean. Additional acquisitions in 2021 (tk1sc, EarthCon, Knight and Englekirk) reinforced our market-leading position and our geographic presence in the US. In 2022, the acquisition of Wood’s Environment & Infrastructure business added 220 experts in Latin America and almost doubled the size of our US Earth and Environment team to 5,900.

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Stormwater Management in Florida’s Everglades, USA

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Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA)

Parsons Brinckerhoff’s roots in the UK go back over 125 years via three consulting engineering firms: MRM Partnership, Kennedy & Donkin and Merz & McLellan.

MRM Partnership, a multidisciplinary consultancy first established in 1887, was acquired by WMX Technologies Inc. in the US in 1993; in 1994, it became Rust Consulting Ltd. Kennedy & Donkin, originally focused on power generation and distribution projects, was founded in 1889. In 1994, Kennedy & Donkin was also sold to WMX Technologies Inc. and became Rust, Kennedy & Donkin.

In 1995, Parsons Brinckerhoff acquired Merz & McLellan, another century-old power engineering consultancy based in Newcastle, UK. In 1997, Rust, Kennedy & Donkin and Rust Consulting pooled their expertise; the company was purchased by Parsons Brinckerhoff in 1998.

The Williams Sale Partnership Ltd. was established in 1969 as a building services consultancy in the UK. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1987 as WSP. Between 1990 and 1995, UK-based acquisitions added structural and civil engineering capability to WSP’s skill set. From 1996 to 1999, additional acquisitions were completed in the UK and South Africa. In 2001, WSP acquired Jacobson & Widmark in Sweden and two smaller Finnish consultancies. In 2003, further acquisitions in Finland increased our Nordic presence.

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National Highway Net Zero Carbon Plan, UK

Parsons Brinckerhoff has been active in the Middle East since the 1940s. From 2005 to 2006, WSP staked out a significant 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, specializing in building and infrastructure engineering, enhanced our presence in the French market.

In 2015, Faveo Group was acquired in Scandinavia. Further acquisitions were made in Sweden, Norway, Finland and the UK, the following year. In 2018, Kontigo and UnionConsult (based in Sweden and Norway) joined WSP. In 2019, we acquired Orbicon, a Danish environmental consulting firm with a strong presence in the Nordics. We also acquired Lievense, a Netherlands-based multidisciplinary consulting firm, giving us a foothold in the Dutch market.

In 2021, the acquisition of Golder primarily added 850 professionals in Europe and established a presence in Italy. That same year, WSP acquired Zurich-based b+p baurealisation, increasing our presence in Switzerland. In 2022 WSP’s EMEIA region welcomed 1,700 new experts from three acquisitions, including BOD Arquitectura e Ingeniería in Spain, as well as Wood’s Environment and Infrastructure business, primarily in the UK, Italy and Germany, and Capita Real Estate and Infrastructure Ltd. and GL Hearn Ltd., in the UK. Along with adding significant water expertise, these acquisitions bolster our market leadership across the region and expand our strategic advisory offering. 

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

In 1970, Parsons Brinckerhoff opened offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. In 1978, it opened its first Asian office in Hong Kong. However, prior to 1978, Parsons Brinckerhoff had provided an alternative design for the first Cross Harbour Tunnel project in Hong Kong, which was adopted (the Tunnel opened in 1972). During the 1970s and 1980s, Parsons Brinckerhoff’s experts were instrumental in the development of mass transit systems in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei.

In 1995, WSP’s overseas expansion began with the launch of WSP Asia. In 2000, WSP further increased its presence in that region. In 2007, WSP completed another 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-based Opus in 2017 enabled WSP to enhance its activities in the region while gaining expertise in the water-related infrastructure sector and asset management. In 2018, WSP acquired Irwinconsult, further strengthening its presence in Australia, particularly in the Property & Buildings sector.

The Golder acquisition in 2021 added approximately 1,000 employees to our workforce in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2022, WSP acquired Australian-based Greencap Holdings, adding 250 professionals and enhancing our expertise in the delivery of environmental, health and safety, contaminated land, and remediation services in Australia.

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Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway Upgrade, Australia

Key Dates

2022

WSP acquires Capita REI and GL Hearn, adding 1,000 UK-Based employees and expanding its strategic advisory offering.

2022

WSP aquires WOOD’S E&I BUSINESS, ADDING 6,000 PROFESSIONALS WITH STRONG EXPERTISE ACROSS THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPECTRUM, INCLUDING WATER.

2022

WSP RANKED #1 IN ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD (ENR) MAGAZINE’S 2022 LIST OF TOP 225 INTERNATIONAL DESIGN FIRMS FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

2022

WSP UNVEILS ITS 2022-2024 GLOBAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, WHICH WILL GUIDE THE NEXT PHASE OF ITS EVOLUTION.

2021

WSP COMPLETES THE ACQUISITION OF GOLDER, INCREASING ITS WORKFORCE BY APPROXIMATELY 7,000 PEOPLE AND CREATING A LEADING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING FIRM.

2021

WSP ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS CLIMATE ACTION THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO EMISSIONS ACROSS ITS VALUE CHAIN BY 2040, SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE-BASED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTION TARGETS.

2021

WSP ACHIEVES THE TOP SPOT IN ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD MAGAZINE’S TOP 25 INTERNATIONAL DESIGN FIRMS WHILE KEEPING ITS #1 POSITION IN THE BUILDING AND TRANSPORTATION SECTOR RANKINGS.

2019

WSP acquires Orbicon, a Danish environmental consulting firm, enhancing our activities in the Nordics region.

2019

WSP acquires lievense, a netherlands-based multidisciplinary consulting firm, establishing a foothold in the dutch market.

2019

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

2019

FOR THE SECOND TIME, WSP IS RANKED FIRST IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IN ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD’S ANNUAL LIST OF THE TOP 225 INTERNATIONAL DESIGN FIRMS.

2018

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

2018

WSP is ranked first in the transportation sector in engineering news-record's top 225 International Design Firms.

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 it with a leadership position in the Chilean market, while also strengthening its presence in Colombia, Peru and Mexico.

2017

WSP acquires New Zealand-based OPUS and completes its 100th acquisition since its IPO. This 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, Securing a leadership position in the Colombian market in a wide array of services and sectors, while solidifying its 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 with a mandate 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 its position in Sweden.

2015

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

2014

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

2014

WSP acquires Focus, a Canadian-based Engineering and Geomatics firm, expanding its 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 the Building, Transport, Infrastructure, Industrial, Energy and 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 CITY.

1969

Williams Sale Partnership LTD. 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 IS founded In New York City, USA.