What S2O Design and Engineering does

S2O Design and Engineering is a specialized engineering consulting firm founded in 2005 (operating publicly since 2006) by Scott Shipley, a three-time Olympian and three-time World Cup slalom kayak champion, headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colorado following an October 2023 union with Calibre Engineering, Inc. The firm designs in-stream and pumped whitewater parks, river restoration projects, low-head dam modifications, swift-water rescue training facilities, and boater bypass solutions for a client base spanning municipal governments, federal/state agencies, utilities, emergency services, and private developers across the United States and internationally (UK, Slovakia, New Zealand).

Core technology includes the patented RapidBlocs™ three-dimensional modular obstacle system — the world's first re configurable whitewater feature, first deployed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic venue — as well as the Whitewater Terrain Park system, 1:20 and Froude-scaled physical models constructed in collaboration with university laboratories (Czech Technical University, University of Idaho), and 1D/2D computational fluid dynamics modeling for hydraulic validation. The firm integrates fish passage channels and environmental habitat structures directly into recreational features, addressing FERC relicensing and environmental compliance requirements alongside recreational design.

S2O operates a project-based professional services model, generating revenue through multi-year engineering contracts that span conceptual design, feasibility studies, hydraulic modeling, construction documents, and construction oversight. Project fees are not publicly disclosed but are quoted on a per-project basis; project budgets range from approximately $2.7 million (Eagle River) to $65 million (STORM Ranch) for the underlying infrastructure, with S2O collecting engineering design fees on each engagement. Marketing is driven by thought leadership, media coverage, the proprietary Whitewater Park Toolkit content asset, and event participation at industry festivals.

Name

S2O Design and Engineering

Legal name

S2O Design & Engineering

Website

https://s2odesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

River Engineering and Whitewater Park Design

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Park Design, Engineering & Construction (Master Planning, Build) (THAAABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Whitewater park design
• River engineering services
• Hydraulic modeling
• Swift water rescue facilities
• River restoration consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyons

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Design Services: Project-based engineering consulting for whitewater parks, including conceptual design, feasibility studies, hydraulic modeling, construction documents, and construction oversight.
2. River Restoration Services: Design and engineering for river restoration, low-head dam modification, flood recovery, and environmental habitat improvement projects for municipalities and government agencies.
3. Training Facility Design: Specialized engineering design for swift-water rescue training facilities, including the Houston Community College Regional Response Operation Center and STORM Ranch facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

S2O Design & Engineering is a professional engineering consultancy that designs and engineers whitewater parks, river restoration projects, and swift-water rescue training facilities for municipalities, government agencies, and private developers. Core services cover conceptual design, feasibility studies, hydraulic and CFD modeling, construction documents, and construction oversight, anchored by the patented RapidBlocs™ adjustable obstacle system for both in-stream and pumped whitewater venues.

Product overview

S2O Design & Engineering is an engineering firm specializing in innovative river engineering, restoration, and community-focused whitewater park design. Their core offerings include two types of whitewater parks: In-Stream Whitewater Parks (which utilize natural river channels) and Pumped Whitewater Parks (recirculating facilities independent of natural flow). The company's patented RapidBlocs™ System enables adjustable, reconfigurable whitewater features. Additional services encompass river restoration, swift-water rescue training facility design, hydraulic modeling (physical and computational), and boater bypass solutions. S2O also provides the Whitewater Park Toolkit as a community resource for paddlers advocating for local projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Stream Whitewater Parks Natural river-based whitewater recreation facilities that utilize existing river channels and flow to create surf waves, rapids, and play features for kayakers, rafters, and stand-up paddleboarders. Designed for municipalities and communities seeking river-based recreational amenities.
• Pumped Whitewater Parks Recirculating whitewater facilities that use pumps to move large volumes of water through man-made channels, creating consistent wave conditions independent of natural river flow. Designed for venues that need year-round, controllable whitewater such as Olympic training/competition facilities and large commercial recreation destinations.
• RapidBlocs™ Adjustable Obstacle System Patented three-dimensional modular obstacle system that forms waves, holes, drops, and eddies and allows complete reconfiguration of whitewater park features for different skill levels, user types, and flow conditions. First deployed at the 2012 Olympic venue and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic venue; licensed through whitewater park projects globally.
• River Restoration Engineering Services Engineering services focused on restoring rivers to more natural states, improving aquatic habitat, providing flood control, and integrating recreation features into restoration projects. Delivered for municipalities, government agencies, and utilities (including FERC-licensed hydropower operators).
• Swift-Water Rescue Training Facility Design Design and construction oversight services for specialized training facilities that simulate flood conditions for first responder water rescue training, with controllable wave and flow features to enable year-round, repeatable training independent of natural river conditions. Targeted at fire departments, EMS, law enforcement, and educational institutions such as community colleges.
• Hydraulic Modeling and Froude-Scaled Physical Models Hydraulic modeling services including 1D, 2D, and 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, plus Froude-scaled physical models for validating whitewater designs, delivered in collaboration with university laboratories to calibrate flow velocities and fine-tune wave configurations.
• Boater Bypass and Fish Passage Design Engineering solutions for safe navigation past dams and low-head structures, including recreation bypass channels and integrated fish passage features that satisfy FERC relicensing and environmental compliance requirements while enabling recreational use.

Quantifiable outcome

• $37 million annual regional economic impact generated by US National Whitewater Center
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Calibre EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2023S2O Design united with Calibre Engineering in October 2023 to expand service capabilities and resources. Together as part of the Calibre family, they provide comprehensive water resources design and engineering. S2O retains its brand identity while gaining access to additional resources and capacity to serve more clients globally.
• American WhitewaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Whitewater represented paddling interests during the FERC relicensing process and was responsible for spearheading efforts to open the Catawba River to boating. S2O commends the organization for their advocacy work.
• HDR EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHDR Engineering worked with S2O on the Great Falls-Dearborn Diversion Bypass project as part of the project team navigating engineering, construction, environmental, and regulatory variables.
• Huitt-Zollars, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDallas-based Huitt-Zollars served as prime consultant and architect of the training building for the Houston Community College Regional Response Operation Center project.
• Duke EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuke Energy's FERC relicensing requirements spawned the Catawba River Great Falls-Dearborn Diversion Bypass project. The utility is undertaking efforts to open local lakes and rivers to recreational use as part of ongoing licensing compliance.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group: Founded by John McLaughlin, a US Olympic paddler, McLaughlin Whitewater is the closest direct competitor to S2O, designing whitewater parks, kayak courses, and water recreation venues across the US and internationally with a similar Olympic-credentialed founder and engineering design approach.

Broad incumbents

• HDR Engineering: Global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with a substantial water resources practice that has partnered with S2O on the Catawba Great Falls-Dearborn Diversion Bypass project. HDR represents the kind of large incumbent that increasingly competes for river engineering and FERC relicensing work.
• Stantec: Global engineering, consulting, and design firm with deep water resources and environmental practices serving municipal and infrastructure clients. Stantec is a broad incumbent with overlapping capability in river restoration, hydraulic modeling, and community park engineering projects.
• Tetra Tech: Leading global engineering and consulting firm specializing in water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure. Tetra Tech is a broad incumbent that competes for large municipal river restoration, FERC relicensing, and watershed engineering work that overlaps with S2O's practice.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with significant water and environment practice serving municipal, federal, and private clients. AECOM is a broad incumbent competing on large-scale river engineering, dam modification, and flood resilience projects where S2O also pursues work.
• Kleinschmidt Associates: Engineering and environmental consulting firm with deep hydropower and FERC licensing expertise. Kleinschmidt competes for the same FERC relicensing-driven river restoration and fish passage work that S2O is pursuing with Duke Energy and similar utility clients.
• Schnabel Engineering: Specialty geotechnical, dam, and water resources engineering firm with practices in dam modification, low-head dam safety, and river engineering. Schnabel is a relevant incumbent in the structural and geotechnical elements of whitewater park and dam modification projects.
• Otak: Multidisciplinary design firm with civil engineering, water resources, and landscape architecture practices serving municipal clients across the western US. Otak is a regional incumbent with overlapping capability in river restoration, parks, and municipal infrastructure design work that competes for similar RFPs.

Others

• Calibre Engineering: S2O's parent company since October 2023, Calibre is a SDVOSB water resources engineering firm based in Highlands Ranch, CO. The two operate jointly within the Calibre family to deliver comprehensive water resources design, but Calibre serves a distinct federal contracting niche not directly overlapping S2O's whitewater recreation focus.
• Huitt-Zollars: Dallas-based engineering and architecture firm that served as prime consultant on the Houston Community College RROC project with S2O. Huitt-Zollars is an ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, with complementary civil/architectural capability for training facility projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/s2odesign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1579124/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/s2odesign
• Xx.com/S2oDesign

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about S2O Design and Engineering