Jacobs Associates and McMillen to merge

29 October 2014


USA - Jacobs Associates and engineering and construction company McMillen have announced their intention to merge. In a joint statement last week, a spokesman for the companies said the competencies of each would benefit the other.


First discussed in January 2014, the merger will come into effect on 1 December 2014. At this time the structure of the newly formed McMillen Jacobs Associates will also be confirmed. The companies have confirmed that the new entity will be a California corporation, and will operate with decentralised management.

"Jacobs Associates has focused primarily on detailed design and construction engineering in the heavy civil underground market since it started doing business in 1954. Merging with McMillen helps Jacobs Associates achieve three of its strategic initiatives: growing construction management, redefining how design-build is delivered, and diversifying beyond tunnels.

"McMillen LLC, which was founded in 2004, is an environmental, engineering, and heavy civil self-performing construction firm with close ties to the hydroelectric infrastructure and water resources industries. Merging with Jacobs Associates will expand McMillen's geographical reach as well as strengthen its engineering capabilities in rock mechanics, grouting, and underground structures."

McMillen Jacobs Associates‚ will have a staff of 380, working out of 19 offices across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Some 150 of these staff come from McMillen and 230 from Jacobs Associates.

McMillen places a particular emphasis on being "woman-owned". On the new structure, a spokesman said: "Preserving the corporate identity of McMillen is important. McMillen and Jacobs Associates have common interests in the role women play in ownership and management of our firms. Both companies currently have women ownership with executive leadership roles held by women. McMillen Jacobs Associates will continue in this manner in the future."