Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a global engineering, architecture, and construction firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1898, the company operates as a 100% employee-owned ESOP and is consistently ranked among the top firms in its field by publications like Engineering News-Record. It provides a comprehensive suite of services across diverse sectors including energy, aviation, defense, and water resources.

History

The firm was established in 1898 by engineers Robert E. Burns and Clinton S. McDonnell, initially focusing on railroad and interurban projects in the Midwestern United States. A pivotal early project was designing the Kansas City Terminal Railway's intricate network of bridges and yards. Throughout the 20th century, the company expanded its expertise into the power generation sector, contributing to major projects for utilities like Kansas City Power & Light and supporting national efforts during World War II. A transformative moment occurred in 1986 when leadership, including then-CEO David G. Ruf, transitioned the firm to a 100% employee-owned structure, fueling significant growth in both domestic and international markets.

Services

The firm delivers a fully integrated portfolio from consulting to turnkey construction. Its core engineering services span electrical engineering, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering for complex infrastructure. In the architecture domain, it designs facilities for the aviation, federal, and healthcare sectors. The construction division, operating under a design-build model, manages projects from groundbreaking to completion. Additional specialized services include environmental consulting, air quality management, and cybersecurity for industrial control systems, serving clients such as the Department of Energy and major investor-owned utilities.

Notable projects

The firm's portfolio includes landmark infrastructure across the globe. In aviation, it has executed major programs at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Kansas City International Airport, where it led the design-build team for the new terminal. In the energy sector, key projects include the Coyote Springs Generating Station in Nevada, the Tennessee Valley Authority's John Sevier Combined Cycle Plant, and extensive modernization work for the New York Power Authority. Other significant undertakings involve designing the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility for the Department of Agriculture and providing critical water treatment solutions for municipalities like the City of Phoenix.

Corporate structure

Burns & McDonnell is organized as a 100% employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a structure championed by former CEO David G. Ruf. This model extends ownership to all employees, who are classified as member-owners. The firm is governed by a board of directors and operates through numerous regional offices and specialized subsidiaries across the United States, including in Chicago, Houston, and San Diego. Its global footprint includes permanent offices in Canada, the United Kingdom, and India, allowing it to serve international clients like the UK Ministry of Defence and Saudi Aramco.

Awards and recognition

The firm consistently receives top rankings in the Engineering News-Record (ENR) lists, often placing in the Top 10 for multiple categories including Design-Build and Transmission and Distribution. It has been repeatedly honored as a "Best Place to Work" by publications like *Fortune* magazine and the Kansas City Business Journal. Project-specific accolades include awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies, which granted its prestigious Grand Conceptor Award for work on the National Air and Space Museum's restoration, and the Design-Build Institute of America, which has recognized projects at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and for the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Category:Engineering companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Kansas City, Missouri Category:Architecture firms based in Missouri Category:Construction and civil engineering companies