Cultural Heritage Research Services

What Cultural Heritage Research Services does

Cultural Heritage Research Services, Inc. (CHRS) is a private professional services firm founded in 1981 by Kenneth J. Basalik, Ph.D. and headquartered in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, with a second office in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. The firm delivers cultural resource management (CRM) services through three integrated departments—Archaeology, Research, and Historic Preservation—offering archaeological surveys (Phase I/II/III and data recovery), historic structure documentation, Section 106 compliance work, National Register nominations, preservation planning, and creative mitigation products such as documentaries and illustrated books. The firm employs 11-50 staff and serves federal, state, and local government agencies (notably Pennsylvania DOT, National Park Service, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, and multiple State Historic Preservation Offices), as well as enterprises in transportation, telecommunications (American Tower), energy (PECO), and land development across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, New York, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia.

CHRS generates revenue on a project-based, professional services model through direct engagement with clients, government procurement processes, and private contracting for cultural resource compliance work. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm's go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales anchored by 40+ years of institutional relationships, supplemented by thought-leadership marketing via conference presentations at industry bodies such as the Transportation Research Board, Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, and Preservation Pennsylvania. CHRS has received industry recognition including the 2015 Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Grand Jury Award and a National Park Service "Success Story" designation, and emphasizes its on-time delivery track record and integrated interdisciplinary approach as competitive differentiators.

The firm is entirely founder-owned with no external investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. The business operates with three named department directors (Thomas R. Lewis for Archaeology, Mary Alfson Tinsman for Historic Preservation, Philip Ruth for Research) reporting to President Basalik. No acquisitions, funding rounds, or material leadership transitions are documented in the available record.

Name

Cultural Heritage Research Services

Legal name

Cultural Heritage Research Services, Inc.

Website

https://chrsinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cultural Heritage Research Services (CHRS) is a Lansdale, Pennsylvania-based private professional services firm providing archaeological surveys, historic preservation planning, and Section 106 compliance services to government agencies, transportation, telecommunications, and energy clients across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Resource Management Services

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Archaeological surveys
• Cultural resource management
• Historic preservation services
• Section 106 compliance
• Historical research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansdale

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. Professional Services: CHRS generates revenue through providing archaeological surveys, historic preservation services, research services, and Section 106 compliance work on a project basis. Services are contracted to government agencies, engineering firms, developers, and private organizations requiring cultural resource management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cultural Heritage Research Services, Inc. (CHRS) is a professional services firm providing comprehensive archaeological, research, and historic preservation services through three integrated departments. The firm conducts prehistoric and historic archaeological surveys (Phase I, II, III and data recovery), historical research and documentation, and historic preservation planning and Section 106 compliance work for government agencies, transportation, telecommunications, energy, and land development clients.

Product overview

Cultural Heritage Research Services (CHRS) is a professional services firm offering a comprehensive suite of archaeological, research, and historic preservation services through three integrated departments. The Archaeology division conducts prehistoric and historic archaeological surveys including Section 106 compliance work (Phase I, II, III studies and data recovery). The Research division provides historical research and analysis supporting the other divisions and produces standalone historical documentation. The Historic Preservation division delivers preservation planning, Section 106 compliance documentation, national register nominations, and public education products. The three departments work collaboratively through integrated communication to deliver interdisciplinary cultural resource management solutions to government agencies, transportation projects, telecommunications companies, and land developers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Archaeology Services
• Historic Preservation Services
• Research Services
• Creative Mitigation Products

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm with a large cultural and environmental resources practice serving transportation, federal, and energy clients. Overlaps with CHRS on Section 106 and historic preservation services but competes at a vastly larger scale, often through bundled infrastructure bids.
• Stantec: Stantec is a global design and engineering consultancy with environmental and cultural resource services serving transportation and infrastructure clients. Comparable to CHRS through regulatory compliance and historic preservation work, but typically as part of larger multi-disciplinary projects.
• TRC Companies: TRC is a national engineering, environmental, and construction management firm with a cultural resources practice serving transportation, energy, and infrastructure clients. Comparable to CHRS through its CRM offerings and federal/state agency relationships, but at materially greater scale and breadth.
• Michael Baker International: Michael Baker International is a major engineering and consulting firm with cultural resources services supporting transportation and infrastructure projects across the U.S. Directly comparable to CHRS in serving PennDOT and similar DOT clients, though at significantly larger scale and broader capability.
• ICF International: ICF International is a global consulting firm with environmental and cultural resource services supporting federal, state, and transportation clients. Comparable to CHRS through its Section 106 and NEPA compliance offerings, but with a much broader portfolio of services.
• Tetra Tech: Tetra Tech is a leading global consulting and engineering firm with strong environmental and cultural resources practices serving federal, state, and infrastructure clients. Overlaps with CHRS on Section 106, archaeological surveys, and transportation-related CRM work but operates at national scale.

Direct peers

• SWCA Environmental Consultants: SWCA is one of the largest employee-owned cultural and natural resource management consultancies in the U.S., offering archaeology, historic preservation, and NEPA compliance services. Highly comparable to CHRS across service lines, customer base (federal/state agencies, transportation), and Section 106 expertise, but at significantly larger scale.
• Gray & Pape: Gray & Pape is a cultural resource management firm providing archaeology, architectural history, and historic preservation services to government agencies, engineers, and developers. Closely comparable to CHRS in service mix, regulatory specialization (Section 106), and target clients, though slightly broader geographically.
• Hunter Research, Inc. Hunter Research is a Mid-Atlantic cultural resource management firm specializing in historical archaeology, historic preservation, and architectural history surveys. Directly comparable to CHRS on geography (PA/NJ region), service offerings, and Section 106 compliance work.
• Cultural Resources, Inc. Cultural Resources, Inc. is a cultural resource management firm offering archaeological surveys, historic preservation planning, and Section 106 compliance. Highly comparable to CHRS in service mix, regulatory specialization, and target clients (DOTs, SHPOs, developers).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chrs-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Cultural Heritage Research Services