Stantec Consulting

by Sue Kern-Fleischer

Southwest Contractor has selected Stantec Consulting as the 2006 Design Firm of the Year, based upon the company's 2005 revenue in the Southwest region as well as the company's impressive body of work. The firm has thrived in the region with a simple vision as stated in its slogan: One Team. Infinite Solutions.

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Stantec started out in Edmonton, Alberta in 1954 as a one-person consulting engineering business with just one visionary, Dr. Don Stanley. During the 1950s, primary projects included upgrading small towns and villages with wells and septic tanks to municipal water supply and sewage systems. The firm also focused on roadwork and bridges, and was the first engineering company to be involved in city transportation and traffic studies. In addition, the firm was part of the engineering team that redesigned the Peace River Bridge on the Alaska Highway.

In the 1960s, the firm obtained its first international project: a sewerage system for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. By 1976, >> the firm had established five regional branch offices with more than 165 employees. A year later work commenced on West Edmonton Mall, the world's largest shopping center.
Stantec changed during the early 1980s as an economic downturn in western Canada contributed to staff reductions. Management implemented a major strategic redirection, including diversification of services and geographic expansion. In 1983, the firm was one of 14 companies
to receive the Canada Export Award for its initiative, perseverance, and entrepreneurial flair. Ron Triffo was appointed president and Dr. Stanley became chairman and CEO.

In 1991, the firm acquired its first U.S. firm, Franzoy Corey Engineering, in Phoenix, Ariz.

By 1998, with several more acquisitions, the firm became one of the few in the industry to provide engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, and project management services under one corporate roof. Tony Franceschini was appointed president and CEO, and the company's new global, single-brand identity, Stantec, was launched.

Today, Stantec is a publicly-traded, multidiscipline design firm with more than 6,000 employees, 80 offices throughout North America, and an impressive roster of international clients. Stantec has received numerous awards for its work and recognition in the industry, including being ranked Number 4 on the Top 100 Building Team LEED Accredited Professionals List (BD&C, July 2006) and ranked Number 40 on the Top 150 Global Design Firms List (ENR, July 2006).

A Strong Vision

Eric Nielsen, Stantec senior vice president of the U.S. Western region, credits the strong vision set by Franceschini and the board of directors for the firm's success.

"It is a pretty passionate company," Nielsen said. "We have the benefit of being large and providing a full spectrum of expertise, but we also develop strong, local relationships."

The former president and chief operating officer of California-based Keith Companies, joined Stantec a year ago when his firm was acquired. He now oversees some 1,500 employees in 30 branch offices in the Western U.S. including offices in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, California and the Pacific Northwest.

Nielsen was impressed with Stantec even before he joined the firm. "The company has been profitable for more than 50 consecutive years and has completed more than 50 acquisitions in its history," he said.

When Franceschini took the firm's reigns in 1998, and the firm's name changed to Stantec, the firm set an aggressive 10-year goal of becoming one of the top 10 global design firms with $1 billion in annual revenues.

"We are optimistic that we will meet these goals," Nielsen said. "We also want to be among the top three design firms in any geographic area."
Worldwide revenue for all work company-wide in 2005 totaled $510 million.

The Desert Region of Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada contributed nearly $63 million to the firm's total revenues that year.

Tim Lines, vice president of Stantec's Desert Region, joined the firm when the Phoenix office of Franzoy Corey Engineering was acquired in 1991. He attributes Stantec's success to the fact that the firm focuses on sustainable solutions.

"We have come up with a triple bottom line approach where we embrace economic, environmental, and social responsibilities," Lines explained. "We meet the needs of the present but also contribute to a sustainable future."

From an economic standpoint, the firm built a business model that ensures it is not dependent on any single geographic area, practice area, or life cycle solution. For environmental sustainability, Stantec seeks opportunities to be more energy-efficient. To achieve social sustainability, the firm invests in the communities it serves.

"We often donate resources or provide financial support to art, education, environment, and health and wellness initiatives," Lines said.

Recent Projects

Recent growth, particularly in the Southwest, has kept Stantec busy.
Pawan Agrawal, public works director and city engineer in Bullhead City, Ariz., described the city's experience with Stantec on recent projects.

"We hired Stantec for a $1-million design build job with Stockbridge Construction to complete a parkway widening project, and it was designed and built as fast as we could have expected. It took about six months and was completed in June. We had great communication with their project staff and their team, which was led by Bill Ferris," Agrawal said.

Agrawal continued: "Stantec was also hired for the East-West Corridor with Combs Construction. This project involved State Land, the Army Corps of Engineers, and more than 100 private right-of-way needs. We had a very tight time frame as we have severe congestion on State Route 95 that will be alleviated by this project. We have 4.7 miles of arterial at $9.2 million. Stantec was selected in April and we hope to break ground in September. We expect to finish the first corridor this year and the other two corridors next year. We are very appreciative to Stantec's responsiveness and professionalism on this challenging project."

Other recent projects for Stantec in the Southwest include: