Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. or VHB is a multidisciplinary American civil engineering consulting and design firm headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts with offices throughout the country.[2][3] The company was founded in 1979 by Bob Vanasse (1979-1990), Rich Hangen (1979 - retirement), Robert S. Brustlin (1979 - retirement), William J. Roache (1979 - retirement), John Kennedy (1979 - retirement) and James D'Angelo (1979 - 2001).[4][5] The company primarily focuses on transportation and land development.[6] VHB was a finalist in the US DOT Safety Visualization Challenge.[7] VHB works on a variety of transportation civil engineering projects in the Northeast and along the east coast.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Civil Engineering |
Founded | 1978 |
Founder | Bob Vanasse Rich Hangen Robert S. Brustlin William J. Roache John Kennedy James D'Angelo |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Eastern Seaboard |
Key people | Mike Carragher (CEO)[1] |
Number of employees | 1,600 (Jan. 2020) |
Website | www |
VHB was the lead designer and project manager for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's South Coast Rail project.[14][15][16][17][18] In 2018, VHB received a Bronze Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies for their work on South Coast Rail bridges.[19] VHB also is developing the permitting and environmental review for the Brooklyn–Queens Connector.[20][21][22][23]
VHB also worked on the rebuild of the Washington Bridge in Providence; a company engineer spotted the sheared pins that results in an emergency closure in December 2023.[24]
In 2009 VHB opened an office in Albany, NY.[25] In 2010 VHB acquired New York based Saccardi & Schiff and Orlando based MSCW.[26][27] In 2011 VHB acquired New York based Eng-Wong, Taub & Associates.[28] In 2012 VHB opened an office in South Portland, Maine.[29] IN 2013 VHB acquired Raleigh, NC based Martin/Alexiou/Bryson.[30] In 2015 VHB acquired Orlando based GMB Engineers & Planners Inc.[31][32] In 2019 VHB acquired Burlington, VT based The Johnson Company.[33]
In 2018 VHB ranked 69th on the Engineering News-Record ranking of the Top Design Firms.[34][35] In 2019 they ranked 62nd.[36] In the Engineering News-Record 2019 top design firms by sector, VHB ranked #5 in Massachusetts, #3 in New Hampshire, #2 in Rhode Island and #1 in Vermont.[37]
In 2018 VHB was named as the Women in Transportation Employer of the Year.[38]