A Global Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Consulting Company Specializing In Critical Infrastructure Development: Black & Veatch

The construction industry is perhaps one of the oldest industries in the world. The greatest civilizations are all remembered for their design, construction and innovation. The modern world is dependent on construction like never before and with the global population predicted to hit 9 billion by 2050, the demand for construction has never been greater. With revenues of more than $3 billion and a proven track record on construction projects all over the world, Black & Veatch operates in the Power, Oil & Gas, Water and Telecommunications markets using multiple contracting approaches including Prime Contractor, Joint Ventures, Consortiums or as a major subcontractor. The company self-performs projects in a variety of methods from direct hire, managing multiple subcontractors, or a combination of both, all with a focus on safety, quality, cost, schedule and client satisfaction.

A Legacy of Over 100 Years

Black & Veatch was founded in 1915 by Ernest Bateman Black and Nathan Thomas Veatch. The company began with 12 employees and an office in Kansas City, Missouri. In the early years, it mostly focused on water and power projects throughout the Midwest. Black & Veatch expanded dramatically in the United States between 1977 and 1984, opening 11 regional offices and also began a series of mergers and acquisitions starting in the late 1970s. Today, it continues to experience strong growth across its core markets. It currently has a global workforce of more than 10,000 working in over 100 offices worldwide with projects completed in more than 100 countries on six continents. The company is the 12th largest employee-owned corporation in the United States, according to the National Center for Employee Ownership. Black & Veatch’s World Headquarters is based in Overland Park, Kansas.

In Conversation with Steven L. Edwards, Chairman and CEO:

What has been your best construction experience to date?

Each project is unique and each has its own special characteristics. Our skilled craft workers and professionals have worked collaboratively with owners to reliably execute projects of all scopes and sizes. Some recent examples include:

• We are helping Alliant Energy create a healthier environment with an air quality control retrofit for Wisconsin Power and Light. We performed engineering, procurement and construction on both units of the 1,023 MW Columbia Energy Center.
• For Pacific Gas & Electric Company, we performed engineering, material procurement and construction for their substation supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) retrofit program. Black & Veatch installed remote terminal units (RTUs), relays, meters, tap changer controllers, winding and top oil probes to provide the capability to remotely monitor and control substation switches, circuit breakers, transformers, protection packages and voltage regulators.
• Black & Veatch was also part of a public-private partnership led by Midland County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1 that was contracted to address the water supply shortages for the city of Midland. The city required that 20 million gallons of emergency water per day be available. Black & Veatch, together with Overland Contracting Inc., was responsible for the complete design, procurement and construction of the production wells, high-service pumping stations, storage tanks, chlorination facilities and terminal control facilities for this fast-track water supply and conveyance project.
• We are presently working with a major utility in the Southeast United States to execute six projects concurrently, including solar and gas turbine based generation additions in excess of 1,800 MW.

Who will be on-site in charge of the construction and what are that person’s roles and responsibilities?

The assigned Black & Veatch project management team is primarily responsible for the successful completion of our work and is actively supported by senior leadership. We combine the reliability and commitment of dedicated project teams with cost-effective specialized support services to meet the unique needs of each project. A typical project will have an expert Project Director, Construction Manager, and Safety Manager, surrounded by a team of dedicated professionals experienced in the type of skill set required.  

For a construction business the biggest asset is ‘skilled workforce,’ how good is your workforce?

Project success is highly dependent on a skilled team from craft and supervisor through project management. We focus on an overall program that includes recruiting, training, safety, LEAN practices, retention, project controls and leadership. With more than 2,000 professionals involved in our construction operations, the company is well positioned for continued growth. Our construction professionals also draw on the experience of our solid base of engineering and procurement professionals, allowing us to benefit from a well-rounded and experienced workforce.

Do climate conditions affect your construction process? If yes, how do you deal with the same?

Climate conditions can have a critical impact on projects in the areas of safety, productivity and quality. At Black & Veatch we use our global experience to understand these impacts and take extreme precautions to protect the safety of all project stakeholders and maintain productivity and quality. We identify, quantify and mitigate the impacts of weather in the preliminary and construct ability reviews, detailed design, start-up and commissioning, as well as incorporating potential weather impacts on long-term plant operations. 

The Future Looks Promising

Black & Veatch continues to pursue global opportunities and expand capabilities through the recruitment of skilled talent and potential acquisitions. Economic development and a growing worldwide population will rely on increased Power Generation and Delivery, Oil & Gas, Water, and Telecommunications infrastructure investment, all of which will require extensive construction expertise. Additionally, increased global interest in renewable energy (solar, wind, energy storage, microgrids) will require specialized expertise across all critical infrastructure sectors, which positions Black & Veatch well for future growth.

About the CEO

Steven L. Edwards, Chairman and CEO:

Since joining Black & Veatch in 1978, Edwards has been responsible for a variety of global projects and business lines. He was named Chief Operating Officer in March 2013 in a transition role before becoming Chairman and CEO. He has overall responsibility for the company’s engineering, consulting, construction and related infrastructure businesses in the power, oil and gas, water, telecommunications, and security markets worldwide. He was appointed to the Black & Veatch Board of Directors in 2012. Edwards is a registered professional engineer and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri.

“Clients value our ability to understand the critical connection between engineering and construction and the need for both to work closely together. Today, through our wholly owned construction affiliates we offer both union and open shop construction solutions with the expertise, commitment and reliable execution to meet each project’s specific requirements.”