URS Corporation’s oldest predecessor company was founded in 1904. URS was established in 1951, and incorporated in 1957 as Broadview Research—a research group active in the area of physical and engineering sciences. In 1967, management developed a growth strategy focused on building a multidisciplinary professional services firm. In 1968, Broadview Research acquired United Research Incorporated of Cambridge, Massachusetts. During this period, the name Broadview Research was changed to United Research Services and later shortened to URS.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, URS continued to expand through internal growth and strategic acquisitions that enhanced our engineering, architectural, and environmental practices. These acquisitions included Madigan-Praeger, Coverdale and Colpitts, John A. Blume & Associates, Hill Dreman Chase, and Dalton, Dalton and Newport.

In 1996, URS further expanded with the acquisition of Greiner Engineering, which broadened our presence in the transportation market. In 1997, Woodward-Clyde Group joined URS, bringing additional environmental capabilities and a broader international presence to the organization. When Dames & Moore Group joined the Company in 1999, it further expanded our geographic base, strengthened our program and construction management expertise, added to our Fortune 500 client base and expanded our presence in the mass transit market. In 2002, the acquisition of EG&G Technical Services, a provider of management and technical support services to U.S. government agencies—the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security in particular—placed URS in the ranks of the leading U.S. federal services contractors.

In November 2007, URS acquired Washington Group International, a leading engineering, construction and management solutions company. Founded as Morrison-Knudsen Company in 1912, the firm grew into an internationally recognized leader in engineering, mining, civil and industrial construction. In 1996, Morrison Knudsen Corporation merged with Washington Construction Company to form a company with global capabilities spanning five markets: infrastructure, mining, industrial/process, environment and power. In 1999, the company acquired Westinghouse Government Services Company LLC, a science and technology services leader. This acquisition brought U.S. Department of Energy hazardous facilities management and operations capabilities, technology evaluation and application expertise, and the world’s largest staff of nuclear safety analysts to the company. In 2000, Morrison Knudsen changed its name to Washington Group International and further expanded its market leadership by acquiring Raytheon Engineers & Constructors, a global leader in chemical demilitarization and power facility development.