Harris & Associates Celebrates 50 Years of Building Stronger Communities

Home > News > 2024 > Harris and Associates Celebrates 50 Years of Building Stronger Communities

On July 14, Harris & Associates marked its 50^th anniversary of serving as a trusted partner and advisor to clients across the West Coast in four key markets: Municipal, Transportation, Water and Education. The award-winning firm solves complex challenges spanning the full project lifecycle—from sustainable and resilient planning to innovative design and construction—to improve the quality of life for all.

“The roads and rails we ride, the schools that educate our children, the water that flows through our pipes, and the rich biodiversity in our neighborhoods are daily reminders of what Harris—alongside our clients—has built and preserved for 50 years and counting,” said Michelle White, President & CEO of Harris & Associates.

Harris’ founders Carl Harris and Dave Newton started the firm in 1974 with a culture that empowered employees and provided plentiful opportunities for growth—creating a workplace that nurtured passion and expertise equally.

The firm grew steadily by recruiting an interdisciplinary team of world-class civil engineers, construction managers, environmental experts, public finance professionals, and strategic advisors. In 2012, Harris transitioned to a 100% employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), S-corporation, which further demonstrated a commitment to keeping people at the heart of its aspirations.

Throughout the past 50 years, Harris has continually refined its offerings to meet the evolving needs of clients and communities. A broad-ranging portfolio features many notable projects, including:

• Overseeing the expansion of the Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant, which now can handle more than twice its previous capacity and should continue to do so for at least the next two decades.
• Working closely with San Diego city officials to design facilities that would allow cleaner water to enter and exit the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System during significant storm events.
• Helping the City of Santee calm concerns around the environmental impact of the Fanita Ranch development project, including coordinating with the City’s legal team and convening a team of specialists to prepare a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
• Using the design-bid-build delivery method to assist with the construction and improvement of numerous schools in the San Diego Unified School District—including providing services to keep the multi-faceted project on track over an 18- to 20-year timeline.
• Partnering with Los Angeles Metro officials on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor project to provide additional public transit options that help ease LA’s congested roadways while offering economic and employment opportunities along with environmental benefits.

While all Harris projects differ, they share many common priorities, such as safety, inclusivity, equity, and sustainability. Harris also strives to incorporate the latest best practices and innovative methods to help clients realize the greatest returns for their investment. 

“Harris employee-owners apply their passion and expertise to build brighter futures for the communities we serve," adds White. "Together with our clients, we’ll continue to create a purpose-driven legacy for generations to come."

About Harris

Harris is a 100% employee-owned company focused on helping communities solve today's complex challenges in planning, financing, environmental compliance, civil engineering, and construction management. Our offices and project sites span the West Coast in California and Washington with a staff of over 280 employee-owners. We focus on serving clients in the municipal, water, transportation, and education markets. www.WeAreHarris.com