Warren Bechtel founded Bechtel Corporation in 1898 when he started a sizable contracting business that specialized in railroad and highway building.
In 1925 Warren’s sons Warren Jr., Stephen, and Ken joined the business, incorporating as W.A. Bechtel Company.
In 1928 when the U.S. Congress mandated the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Colorado River, named the Hoover Dam in honor of president Herbert Hoover, W.A. Bechtel Company joined up with five competitors to form the Six Companies Corporation. The companies’ combined strength gave them the best bid, and Six Companies was awarded the contract in 1931.
After the Hoover Dam was completed two years ahead of schedule, Bechtel’s reputation soared. Warren’s son Warren Jr. was now running the company, and he diversified the company to engineering and oil contracts.
During WWII Bechtel built a shipyard for the US government and participated in the CANOL pipeline project, the company’s first pipeline and one for which they received criticism and eventually a federal investigation for mismanagement.
Through the 1940’s and 1950’s Bechtel continued to expand its pipeline business.
In the 1960’s and 1970’s the company expanded its energy engineering activities. At the same time Bechtel launched its development, finance, and investment arm, Bechtel Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
Today Bechtel has had involvement in a large number of high profile construction and engineering projects, numerous power projects such as refineries and nuclear power plants, and transportation projects. Notable projects include the BART system, the King Fahd International airport in Saudi Arabia, which is the largest airport in the world, and the rebuilding of civil infrastructure in Iraq through USAID.
Bechtel continues to be a family business and is run by fourth-generation CEO, Riley Bechtel.
Bechtel is #5 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies. The company has 52,700 employees and had $27.90 billion in revenue in 2011.
Bechtel Corporation
Warren Bechtel founded Bechtel Corporation in 1898 when he started a sizable contracting business that specialized in railroad and highway building.
In 1925 Warren’s sons Warren Jr., Stephen, and Ken joined the business, incorporating as W.A. Bechtel Company.
In 1928 when the U.S. Congress mandated the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Colorado River, named the Hoover Dam in honor of president Herbert Hoover, W.A. Bechtel Company joined up with five competitors to form the Six Companies Corporation. The companies’ combined strength gave them the best bid, and Six Companies was awarded the contract in 1931.
History
After the Hoover Dam was completed two years ahead of schedule, Bechtel’s reputation soared. Warren’s son Warren Jr. was now running the company, and he diversified the company to engineering and oil contracts.
During WWII Bechtel built a shipyard for the US government and participated in the CANOL pipeline project, the company’s first pipeline and one for which they received criticism and eventually a federal investigation for mismanagement.
Through the 1940’s and 1950’s Bechtel continued to expand its pipeline business.
In the 1960’s and 1970’s the company expanded its energy engineering activities. At the same time Bechtel launched its development, finance, and investment arm, Bechtel Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
Today Bechtel has had involvement in a large number of high profile construction and engineering projects, numerous power projects such as refineries and nuclear power plants, and transportation projects. Notable projects include the BART system, the King Fahd International airport in Saudi Arabia, which is the largest airport in the world, and the rebuilding of civil infrastructure in Iraq through USAID.
Bechtel continues to be a family business and is run by fourth-generation CEO, Riley Bechtel.
Bechtel is #5 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies. The company has 52,700 employees and had $27.90 billion in revenue in 2011.
