What HDR Inc. does

HDR Inc. is a 100% employee-owned, full-service architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, operating 200+ offices across the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates with 14,000+ employees. Founded in 1917 and ranked No. 6 by Engineering News-Record, HDR delivers multidisciplinary professional services spanning engineering, architecture, environmental sciences, program management, planning and consulting, sustainability and resilience, coastal engineering, and asset management across 17+ market sectors including transportation, water, power, industrial, health, defense and intelligence, and civic government. Notable practice areas include offshore wind engineering (since 2015), zero-emissions mobility consulting, hydrogen infrastructure planning, and progressive design-build delivery, supported by proprietary digital tools such as the Zero+ Fleet Optimization tool, EconMOVES financial model, a proprietary hydrogen toolkit, and ArcGIS for AutoCAD integration on multi-discipline pipeline and highway projects.

The firm generates revenue through professional services fees negotiated on a project-by-project basis, primarily via direct enterprise and field sales to government agencies, utilities, and large industrial clients, with engagements won through competitive bidding and qualifications-based selection. HDR augments its human-capital-heavy model with a digital delivery stack built around Building Information Modeling, 3D model-centric workflows, OpenRoads Designer, and emerging AI-assisted capabilities such as AI-enhanced bridge management and traffic microsimulation with connected and automated vehicle support. Recent strategic priorities include geographic expansion in the UK and Middle East (via the 2019 hurleypalmerflatt and 2019 Calthorpe Associates acquisitions), entry into hydrogen and fleet electrification consulting, and thought leadership positioning in transportation through leadership of WTS International.

Name

HDR Inc.

Legal name

HDR, Inc.

Website

https://hdrinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

HDR is a 100% employee-owned architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Omaha, delivering multidisciplinary infrastructure services across transportation, water, power, industrial, health, and defense markets to government and enterprise clients through 200+ global offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Engineering Services: HDR provides multidisciplinary professional services including architecture, engineering, environmental sciences, planning and consulting, program management, and project delivery. Revenue is generated through fees for professional services on infrastructure projects for government and commercial clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HDR provides multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, environmental sciences, planning and consulting, program management, and project delivery services for public and private infrastructure clients worldwide. The firm delivers capabilities across transportation, water, power, industrial, health, defense, and technology markets, supported by digital delivery tools, BIM, proprietary analytics, and a global network of 200+ offices. Revenue is generated primarily through professional service fees under contract or competitive bid.

Product overview

HDR Inc. is an employee-owned architecture and engineering firm offering multidisciplinary professional services across diverse markets. The company operates as a services-based consulting practice rather than a software product company. Its portfolio consists of integrated service offerings including Engineering, Architecture, Environmental Sciences, Program Management, Planning & Consulting, Sustainability & Resilience, Coastal Engineering, and Zero Emissions Mobility services. The firm also delivers specialized technical offerings such as AI-Enhanced Bridge Management and Zero Emissions Mobility consulting (Zero+ route-modeling tool, EconMOVES model, hydrogen toolkit). HDR's services are organized across 17 market sectors including Transportation, Water, Power, Industrial, Health, Science, and Defense & Intelligence. Notable project types include offshore wind infrastructure, battery manufacturing facilities, vertical farms, highway progressive design-build, commuter rail, mine remediation, and hydrogen energy planning. The company also utilizes digital delivery tools including OpenRoads Designer, BIM/3D design, and ArcGIS for AutoCAD integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Engineering Services Multidisciplinary engineering services spanning civil, structural, geotechnical, electrical, mechanical, and industrial engineering disciplines for infrastructure projects across all markets.
• Architecture Services Comprehensive architecture services for buildings and facilities across commercial, healthcare, education, hospitality, defense, and industrial sectors.
• Environmental Sciences Services Environmental consulting, permitting, compliance, remediation, and scientific services for complex infrastructure and industrial projects.
• Program Management Services Program management services including PMIS selection, implementation, and continuous improvement support for large-scale infrastructure programs.
• Planning & Consulting Services Strategic planning, feasibility studies, community engagement, and consulting services for transportation, urban development, and infrastructure projects.
• Sustainability & Resilience Services Sustainability consulting, climate resilience planning, and ESG advisory services for infrastructure and industrial projects.
• Coastal Engineering & Restoration Services Coastal engineering, hurricane protection, flood mitigation, and ecosystem restoration services for coastal communities.
• Asset Management Services Asset management and assessment services for infrastructure lifecycle optimization.
• Power Delivery & Transmission Services Power transmission and distribution engineering including substation design, transmission line engineering, and grid integration for renewable energy projects.
• Zero Emissions Mobility Services Fleet electrification consulting including feasibility studies, corridor and community readiness studies, power delivery plans, charger design and commissioning, and NEVI implementation for electric vehicle infrastructure.
• Economics & Finance Services Financial, economic, operational, and institutional analysis for transportation systems and infrastructure investment decisions.
• Commissioning & Operations Services Commissioning and operations services supporting facility and infrastructure performance after construction.
• Research Services Applied research services supporting transportation, environmental, and infrastructure programs.
• Right of Way Services Right of way acquisition and management services for infrastructure projects.
• Project Delivery Services Project delivery services spanning design and construction phases for infrastructure projects.
• AI-Enhanced Bridge Management Offering AI-powered bridge management service enabling transportation agencies to move from reactive repair cycles to proactive, evidence-based planning by forecasting bridge conditions and maintenance needs.
• Model-Centric Bridge Workflow Service Model-centric digital delivery workflows for bridge projects, turning one digital model into the living source of truth for design, documentation, coordination, and visualization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gills Onions facility generates 60% of its own energy and creates 75% less waste through advanced energy recovery system
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Water-AI Nexus Center of ExcellencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHDR joined the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence Advisory Council alongside founding leaders Amazon, Leading Utilities of the World, The Water Center at Penn, and other members including Autodesk, CDM Smith, Grundfos, Raftelis, and Xylem. The Center aims to advance both 'Water for AI' and 'AI for Water' initiatives, convening partners at major global forums including Global Water Summit, Singapore International Water Week, and WEFTEC.
• WTS InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHDR participates in WTS International, a professional organization for transportation leaders. Erin Slayton of HDR serves as incoming Chair of the organization which has 73 chapters across the United States and Canada. The partnership provides networking, professional development, and thought leadership opportunities in the transportation sector.
• EsricoreTechnology or IntegrationHDR leverages Esri's ArcGIS for AutoCAD software for infrastructure projects, creating central data hubs for design coordination. The partnership earned HDR an Esri Integration Award for innovative use of the technology on the Kannapolis to Concord Pipeline project.
• OrstedcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHDR provides multidisciplinary services for Orsted's offshore wind projects including environmental monitoring, port redevelopment, power delivery engineering, and construction management on projects such as South Fork Wind.
• Eversource EnergycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHDR partners with Eversource on offshore wind development, providing engineering services for projects including South Fork Wind.
• City of Helsinki Public Works DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHDR participates in CTS webinar on AI integration in transportation, featuring Helsinki Infrastructure Programme as a case study alongside City of Helsinki Public Works Department and AINS Group.
• AINS GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHDR participates in CTS webinar alongside AINS Group and City of Helsinki Public Works Department on AI integration in transportation and infrastructure projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Burns & McDonnell: Employee-owned engineering, architecture, and construction firm serving power, aviation, environmental, and industrial clients — comparable ownership structure and end-market mix to HDR.
• Black & Veatch: Employee-owned infrastructure engineering firm focused on water, power, telecommunications, and oil & gas, competing directly with HDR's energy and water practices.
• Tetra Tech: Engineering and consulting services firm with strong water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure overlap, frequently bidding against HDR on federal and municipal contracts.
• Kimley-Horn: Employee-owned planning and engineering design consultancy competing head-to-head with HDR on transportation, land development, and environmental projects across the U.S.
• WSP Global: Global engineering and professional services consultancy with strong overlap in transportation, environment, and property & buildings. Has executed serial M&A to scale HDR-comparable service lines.
• Arcadis: Design and consultancy firm with overlapping water, environment, mobility, and resilience practices, directly competing for the same public-sector infrastructure programs as HDR.
• AECOM: One of the world's largest A&E consulting firms with parallel coverage of transportation, water, environment, and power markets. Bids against HDR on most major North American infrastructure programs.
• Stantec: North American A&E consultancy serving water, infrastructure, environmental, and energy clients with a similar multidisciplinary delivery model to HDR.
• Brown and Caldwell: Environmental engineering and consulting firm specializing in water and wastewater infrastructure — a focused competitor within HDR's water segment.
• Jacobs Solutions: Global professional services firm delivering engineering, architecture, and consulting across water, transportation, energy, and advanced facilities — directly competing with HDR on transportation, water, and energy-transition programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HDR_Inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HDR Inc.