Halcrow Group facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Design, construction, engineering and business services |
| Founded | 1868 by Thomas Meik |
| Headquarters | London United Kingdom 90 offices worldwide, of which 28 are in the UK |
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Key people
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Tony Pryor, Chairman, Peter Gammie, Group Chief Executive, |
| Revenue | £238 million (2011) |
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Number of employees
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3377 (2011) |
| Parent | CH2M Hill (acquired by Jacobs in 2017) |
Halcrow Group Limited was a British engineering consultancy company. It was one of the UK's largest companies in its field. Halcrow specialized in planning, designing, and managing big building projects around the world.
They worked on many types of projects. These included transportation (like roads and railways), water systems, ports, and buildings. The company completed projects in over 70 countries. They had more than 90 offices globally.
The company was started by Thomas Meik in 1868. Early on, they focused on projects for the shipping and railway industries. These were mainly in the British Isles. Later, in the 20th century, William Halcrow led the company. He helped them get into new areas of engineering. These included building deep tunnels and hydroelectric dams.
Halcrow's skills were very important during the Second World War. They helped build the Mulberry Harbours. These were special floating harbours used in the D-Day landings. They also advised on the famous "bouncing bomb." After the war, Halcrow worked on new hydroelectric schemes. These projects generated power for homes. An example is the Glen Affric scheme. They also built many dams in Wales. These dams helped control water levels and supply drinking water.
The company was also involved in the design studies for the Channel Tunnel. This tunnel connects the UK and France. They worked on other railway projects too. These included the Woodhead Tunnel and London's Victoria line underground railway.
By the year 2000, about 60% of Halcrow's work was in Britain. The rest came from their projects overseas. In 2011, a US company called CH2M Hill bought Halcrow. The Halcrow name was eventually phased out. In 2017, Jacobs Engineering Group then bought CH2M Hill.
Contents
Company History
Early Beginnings
The company started in 1868. It was founded by a civil engineer named Thomas Meik. At first, the company was named after him and his sons. These were Patrick and Charles.
They worked a lot on ports, sea projects, and railways. Their projects were mainly in the North of England, Wales, and Scotland. In the 1890s, they started taking on their first projects outside the UK.
Growing in the 20th Century
In the early 1900s, William Halcrow (who later became Sir William) guided the company. He helped them expand into other types of civil engineering. This included building tunnels and hydroelectric power plants.
During the Second World War, the company helped with many projects. They designed and oversaw the building of deep tunnel shelters. They also built military ports. A very important project was the Mulberry Harbours. These were used during the D-Day landings. Halcrow also advised on the "bouncing bomb" developed by Barnes Wallis. They helped with ways to control damage during The Blitz.
After the war, Halcrow focused on projects in Scotland. They developed new hydroelectric schemes. These generated electricity for people to use. The Glen Affric scheme, started in 1947, was the largest. Other similar projects were in Glen Garry and Glen Moriston. Glen Moriston had one of the first underground power stations in the UK.
In Wales, Halcrow's biggest projects were about water supply. They built dams like the Claerwen dam (finished 1952) and the Clywedog dam (finished 1967). These dams created reservoirs. They helped control river levels and supplied drinking water to towns in the West Midlands.
Halcrow also designed several railway tunnels. These included the Woodhead Tunnel (finished 1954) and one at Potters Bar (finished 1955). They also started work on the new Victoria line underground railway in London. Halcrow was involved in the design studies for the Channel Tunnel. After the Aberfan disaster, Halcrow was asked to check coal waste piles across the country.
At this time, their overseas work included many roads, bridges, and harbours. They built these in countries like Ghana, Libya, and Mozambique. Halcrow also worked on several dams in Venezuela. They built a power station in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The company's name changed several times in the 20th century. It was known as CS Meik and Buchanan (1920), CS Meik and Halcrow (1923), WT Halcrow and Partners (1941), Sir William Halcrow and Partners (1944), and finally, Halcrow Group (1998).
The 21st Century
By the year 2000, about 60% of Halcrow Group's projects were in Britain. The rest of their work was done outside the UK. By this time, the company offered many types of consulting services. These included projects related to water, transportation, sea, environment, power, and property. Their clients included government groups, public services, and other companies.
In 2008, the company reported a turnover of £468 million. By then, almost half (48%) of their total work was outside the UK. Halcrow was owned and managed by its employees and staff shareholders for a long time. It operated independently until late 2011.
Becoming Part of CH2M
In September 2011, CH2M Hill, a US company, announced it would buy Halcrow. On November 10, 2011, CH2M Hill announced they had completed the purchase for £124 million.
It was later reported that CH2M Hill effectively saved Halcrow. Halcrow had lost £71 million in its last year as an independent company. CH2M Hill's financial support was very important for Halcrow to continue operating.
Joining Jacobs Engineering Group
On August 2, 2017, CH2M agreed to be bought by Jacobs Engineering Group. This was a deal worth US$2.85 billion. Shareholders approved the deal in December 2017. The purchase was completed on December 18, 2017.
Cool Modern Projects
Halcrow Group worked on many important and impressive projects in modern times. Here are some of them:
- Second Severn Crossing (UK; finished 1996) - Halcrow helped design this large bridge. It crosses the River Severn in the UK.
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (Toronto, Ontario, Canada; finished around 2006) - Halcrow Yolles was the main structural engineer for the passenger terminal. They helped design the roof structure.
- Clyde Arc Bridge (Glasgow, UK; finished 2006) - Halcrow designed this unique bridge across the River Clyde in Glasgow. It helps people get to the Pacific Quay area.
- One King Street West (Toronto, Ontario, Canada; finished 2007) - Halcrow provided all the structural engineering for this tall 51-story building. It's a hotel and apartment building.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (finished 2007) - Halcrow supervised the construction of this huge mosque. They worked on the main structure and then advised until it was finished.
- Channel Tunnel Rail Link (High Speed 1) (UK; finished 2007) - Halcrow was part of the team that designed and managed this high-speed railway. It connects London to the Channel Tunnel.
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (Abu Dhabi; finished 2008) - Halcrow planned, designed, and supervised the building of a second runway at this airport.
- Al Garhoud Bridge (Dubai; finished 2008) - This is a major bridge in Dubai.
- Yas Island Development (Abu Dhabi; finished 2009) - Halcrow was the main consultant for this large island development. They oversaw the design and building of the main infrastructure.
- Busan-Geoje Fixed Link (South Korea; finished 2010) - Halcrow advised on this big transport link. It includes a bridge and a tunnel.
- Bond Street Station Upgrade (UK; detailed design 2010-12) - Halcrow was part of the design team for upgrading this busy London Underground station.
- Thames Hub (UK; concept 2011) - Halcrow gave technical advice for a big plan to develop infrastructure in the Thames Estuary.
- Tottenham Court Road tube station Upgrade (UK; finished 2017) - Halcrow was the lead designer for upgrading this London Underground station.
See also
- Hafren Power
Images for kids
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Halcrow offices at Burderop Park, near Swindon, in 2013
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As designer, Halcrow Group delivered the ‘Clyde Arc’ across the River Clyde in Glasgow.
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Toronto Pearson International Airport: Halcrow Yolles was the structural engineer of record for the passenger terminal facility.
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The 1260m long Medway Viaduct carries the high-speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link across the estuary of the River Medway. The viaduct is the largest bridge on the CTRL route and it has become a symbol for the new high speed railway.
