Company History Timeline

Our Company Our Organization & Vision Leadership in Action Serving Our Communities Celebrating 50 Years A Proud History A Legacy of Leadership Timeline A Bright Future

1957
Getting Started
With total investment of $6,000, James Haley (left) and Harl Aldrich (right) establish first soils engineering firm in New England. Haley leaves U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Aldrich gives up professorship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to form partnership.

"Jim Haley and I talked about the kind of a practice we wanted to have. First, we were dedicated to technical excellence, to innovation in our practice and to service to our clients. Over the years, this basic philosophy has served the company well." Harl Aldrich

"All we want are 10 to 20 good engineers." Jim Haley

Suburban Drive
Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 creates funding for many early Haley & Aldrich transportation projects in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine. Firm also works on early malls, such as the North Shore Shopping Center in Peabody, Massachusetts

"It worked magnificently. Five bridges and 10 miles of pavement - and if you drive over them, you won’t see a ripple in the road." Dr. Charles Ladd, professor of civil engineering at MIT, on award-winning work for Route I-95, New Hampshire, from Christian Science Monitor

1970
Building First
New techniques for the 70s, such as deep excavation with tiebacks at 40-story One Beacon Street and tied-back concrete-diaphragm-wall construction at 38-story 60 State Street in Boston, win company its first American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Award.

Mining For Transit
Thanks to an increase in federal mass transit funding, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority embarks on ambitious expansion program for two of its lines. Haley & Aldrich is involved in such challenging tunneling designs as Greater Boston’s first mined chamber in bedrock.

"I have a love-hate relationship with these geotechnical people. I love them because they are usually right and I guess that’s why I hate them." John E. Powers, Jr., Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

1975
CSO Relief
Rochester, New York, begins one of first Combined Sewer Overflow projects funded under the new Clean Water Act. Haley & Aldrich embarks on this 10-year project, including 19-mile network of bedrock sewer tunnels.

1976
Water Water Everywhere
Need for geotechnical expertise on water/wastewater projects worldwide brings Haley & Aldrich engineers to Egypt, Bangkok, Singapore, Ecuador, Turkey and Iran.

"Increased access to water and wastewater services has been achieved in Cairo -- where water and wastewater facilities now serve more than 9 million people" U.S. Agency for International Development

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1980 Bridge to Connecticut Site investigation and foundation design work performed for the Charter Oak Bridge in Hartford, a 3,400-ft-long span over the Connecticut River, the first major project for the Hartford office which opens in 1984.

1981 Environmental Practice Launched With clients increasing needs for environmental regulatory compliance associated with construction and site contamination, company formalizes environmental practice with Hazardous / Special Waste Group.

1987 Changing City Skylines Foundation work in the 1980s Boston building boom creates office space and revolutionary underground parking, such as the Beacon Companies’ Rowe’s Wharf with 15 stories above ground and 5 underground. New foundation engineering construction techniques are applied, including up-down construction, high-capacity caissons and load-bearing elements. Three building projects win ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards.	"There was nowhere to go but down." Engineering News Record on underground construction at Rowe’s Wharf, Boston

1988 Harbor Cleanup As a $3-billion cleanup of Boston Harbor begins, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority assigns environmental and geotechnical projects for new wastewater treatment facilities.		"I do not think that any of the major construction projects now being planned on the waterfront would be taking place without a revitalized Boston Harbor." Douglas B. MacDonald, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Executive Director

Advancing Remediation Technologies Xerox invests in state-of-the-art remedial approaches, building a long-term relationship with the firm. At Xerox’s facility in Webster, New York, Haley & Aldrich implements new groundwater treatment technologies and later helps develop Xerox’s patented 2-PHASE Extraction technology for enhanced contaminant recovery.		"Haley & Aldrich is not afraid to give us bad news. We give them high marks at Xerox because we’re then better able to deal with problems and correct them." James MacKenzie, The Xerox Corporation

1989 Tunneling Westward Haley & Aldrich manages construction of 10,200-ft-long sewer tunnel, as well as Muni Metro 18-ft-diameter twin compressed-air tunnels for light rail link in San Francisco.

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1992
Industrial Site Remediation
Due diligence and remedial services on General Motors plant divestitures and BP oil refinery closures sites grow multi-site program management services, later spurring new staff locations in Ohio and Michigan.

"More important than identifying contaminated areas, Haley & Aldrich offers solutions." Business to Business newspaper article July 1990

1993
Saved in Time
Historic preservation work starting with U.S. Capitol continues with such projects as Mt. Vernon, Connecticut’s Old State House and relocation of Block Island Light House, off Rhode Island.

"The successful move did not alter the fabric of the structure, and the lighthouse now rests on a location that geotechnical studies have determined will be safe for more than a century." Andrea E. Reynolds,
Southeast Lighthouse Foundation

1994
Brownfield to Mall
Brass Mill Center Mall opens in 1997, culminating a public/private partnership to redevelop 90-acre contaminated mill site into regional shopping center in Waterbury, Connecticut.

1995
Dig of the Century
Work well underway on Boston’s congested Central Artery. The largest transportation project in the nation’s history offers many challenges, including development of unprecedented support and ground improvement applications and the twin immersed tube tunnels crossing Boston Harbor.

"The design and construction of the
I-90/I-93 Interchange at Fort Point Channel will be a watershed in U.S. geotechnical engineering." Civil Engineering, from article on Boston’s Central Artery / Tunnel Project, December 1996

1996
Winning Approach
Reconstruction of old sewer pipes in downtown Boston requires innovative use of trenchless technologies to minimize traffic and business impacts. New St. James Avenue Interceptor receives awards including the1997 Grand Award winner in national ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards competition.

"Numerous nominations cited the project as worthy of consideration for the 1996 Project-of-the-Year. Our review panel supported the nominations, warranting its selection for this year’s honors." Paul J. Miller,
Trenchless Technology magazine

1998
Research Creates New Options
The first water treatment study for Methyl Ter-Butyl Ether (MTBE) using high-energy electron injection technology (E-beam) conducted by staff working with process developers. Technology offers promise for low-cost treatment. Refractive Flow and Treatment (RFT) method to treat contaminated groundwater in bedrock developed and patented by staff.

Landmark for Urban Renaissance
Providence Place Mall in Rhode Island, with over 1 million sq ft of retail space, spans over the Woonasquatucket River and Amtrak rail lines. Overcoming site constraints including high groundwater, vibrations, and adjacent highway and rail resulted in a major new facility, an early landmark for this city’s remarkable revitalization efforts.

"Our unusual mall is one of the largest private projects in Rhode Island, Haley & Aldrich kept the work progressing to meet our aggressive schedule." Karel Steiner, Commonwealth Development Group about Providence Place Mall

Industry Sets International Goals
Nissan North America is one of the first U.S. auto manufacturers to achieve ISO 14001 Certification with Haley & Aldrich environmental management system support. Global TEAM established in following year to serve multinational clients with network of in-country EHS professionals.

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2000
Accelerated Remediation
Dual-phase extraction remediation of toluene for Nashua Corporation is implemented without interrupting ongoing manufacturing operations. Use of this technology greatly accelerates the remedial program at costs comparable to an alternative, long-duration, passive remedy.

"One thing that was very important to us was to work with a consultant who understands and shares our goals. Haley & Aldrich has been a true partner in helping us meet those goals." Raymond Pieczarka, Facilities Manager, Nashua Corporation, commenting on use of dual-phase extraction for site remediation

Design-Build Gains Acceptance
Design-build process used for South Carolina’s Route 170 project to widen 17.7 km of roadway and 2.8 km of bridge structures.

"Highway 170 now is a heavily traveled route with a lot of congestion. This improvement project will provide a substantial relief for the local commuters." Don Freeman, State Highway Engineer, South Carolina Department of Transportation

2001
Award-Winning Restoration
Renovation and restoration of the State House in Augusta, Maine was accomplished while accommodating ongoing legislative and governmental operations. Controlled drilling and blasting techniques were used to protect existing structures.

"It would be hard to imagine a higher profile project than blasting solid ledge directly beneath the Governor’s office." Maine State House Restoration Architect, Richard Burt, commenting on the award-winning West Wing Connector Project

Energy Supplies for the Future
Staff leads multidisciplinary team of consultants to conduct environmental studies for permitting the development of a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal and pipeline from the Bahamas to Florida. Permit application is completed and submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on behalf of AES Corporation for this multi-billion dollar project.

2002
Sports Fuel Public Passions
Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts provides world-class venue for the New England Patriots, Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX Champions.

New Company Vision Adopted
Our Company Charter establishes new Company Vision to guide us over the next 20-30 years: "To be the company most sought after to integrate technology and human potential to tackle tough issues facing the world."

2003
Creating Model Programs
Streamlined RCRA Corrective Action pioneered for General Motors achieves EPA Region V approval and serves as a model for other regions.

Signature Bridge Caps Big Dig
Central Artery / Tunnel Project opens with completed I-93 North and South Tunnels and Leonard P. Zakim Bridge. Bridge wins ACEC/MA Grand Conceptor Award and National American Society of Civil Engineering Project of the Year.

"Lenny lived by the belief that each of us has a moral responsibility to make the world a better, more inclusive and respectful place for all people.He would be so proud to know that this magnificent structure will stand as a symbol of unity, hope and respect for all Bostonians," Joyce Zakim, wife of activist Lenny Zakim at bridge dedication.

Building Our Work Community
Haley & Aldrich achieves first place in the "Best Civil Engineering Firm to Work for" competition by CE News.

"..it is clear that the firm truly operates according to its Company Charter, which, in part, states that the firm � will invest in ourselves for tomorrow." Shanon Fauerbach, Editorial Director, CE News

Creating a Deep-Water Port
Construction of the new Mack Point Cargo Pier in Searsport, Maine involved dredging up to 100,000 cu yds of harbor bottom sediments to facilitate shipping access.

"Dredge spoil stabilization creates a new and innovative alternative for the beneficial reuse of material previously considered a waste product." Paul Pottle, Project Manager, Maine DOT about our work at the deep-water port in Searsport, Maine


	2004 Legacy Becomes Campus Resource Remediation of a former paint pigment factory site at Wellesley College restores underutilized campus areas and contaminated wetlands for needed playing fields and open space, winning awards from Massachusetts Environmental Business Council, Associated General Contractors and ACEC/MA.				"Haley & Aldrich staff have provided strong leadership, and creative geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, and hydrogeologic services." Barry Monihan, Assistant Vice President for Administration and Community Affairs, Wellesley College