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Vanasse Hangen Brustlin
Work Here?
Infrastructure planning, design, and engineering consulting
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin
Work Here?
Infrastructure planning, design, and engineering consulting
Overview
VHB delivers planning, design, engineering, and consulting services to shape infrastructure and communities along the East Coast. Projects span government and private clients, with work centered on planning, design, engineering, and sustainable practices that meet client needs and long-term community goals. The company emphasizes long-term relationships, collaboration with small and local businesses, and a strong commitment to integrity, inclusion, and corporate sustainability. Its goal is to build tomorrow’s communities by balancing high performance with employee well-being and social responsibility, while continuously renewing its practices and partnerships.
About Vanasse Hangen Brustlin
Industries
Consulting
Industrial & Manufacturing
Government & Public Sector
Social Impact
Company Size
N/A
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Watertown, Massachusetts
Founded
1979
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- VHB won 2026 U.S. Best Managed Company, signaling disciplined execution and governance.
- VHB is staffing Florida and energy leadership, including Will Hawthorne and Josh Duckwall.
- VHB keeps landing model-first, flood mitigation, and roadway resilience speaking roles across 2026.
What critics are saying
- Rhode Island's Washington Bridge lawsuit keeps VHB exposed to project-delivery liability in 2026.
- Drive Engineering integration risks culture drag and margin pressure if acquisition synergies miss.
- A major bridge verdict would freeze public-sector trust and devastate one practice line.
What makes Vanasse Hangen Brustlin unique
- VHB's January 2026 Drive Engineering acquisition adds ITS and traffic-operations depth.
- VHB pairs transportation engineering with energy planning, digital delivery, and resilience consulting.
- VHB wins municipal trust through coastal resilience projects like Penobscot's Mill Creek Crossing.
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Benefits
Hybrid Work Options
Flexible Work Hours
Professional Development Budget
Company News
VHB shares digital delivery Insights at DBIA New England Friday Forum. Jeff Bachiochi and Aaron Guyette discuss model-based project delivery. August 31, 2026 Two VHB team members from Vermont, Transportation Technology Lead Jeff Bachiochi, PE, and Director of Structures Aaron Guyette, recently presented at DBIA New England's Friday Forum, Technology: No More Plans? A Virtual Procurement, Part 2, a discussion focused on the rapid evolution of digital delivery and model-based project development in the transportation industry. The virtual session brought together transportation professionals from across the region to explore how agencies are advancing digital delivery initiatives and leveraging 3D models to transform the way infrastructure projects are planned, designed, delivered, and constructed. Drawing on VHB's experience supporting digital delivery efforts in Vermont, Jeff shared lessons learned from transportation agency pilot programs, including the implementation of Model as a Legal Document (MALD), and discussed how model-centric workflows are reshaping project delivery practices. Throughout the session, Jeff and Aaron highlighted both the opportunities and challenges associated with moving beyond traditional plan-based approaches. The conversation explored how evolving technologies can improve collaboration, enhance project understanding, and support more efficient design-build delivery while also raising important considerations around procurement, risk management, and construction practices. "Digital delivery is changing the way our industry develops and manages transportation projects," said Jeff. "It's exciting to be part of the conversation as agencies, consultants, and contractors work together to define what the future looks like." As transportation agencies continue to advance digital delivery programs, VHB remains committed to helping clients navigate emerging technologies and implement practical solutions that improve project outcomes. Industry Insights Viewpoints / Video
VHB and partners earn 2026 Preservation Award for adaptive reuse project. The project transformed historic barracks into 65 permanently affordable homes. August 05, 2026 VHB and project partners recently earned a 2026 Preservation Award for transforming three historic barracks into 65 permanently affordable homes in Colchester, Vermont. Presented by the Preservation Trust of Vermont at the Downtown & Historic Preservation Conference, the award recognizes meaningful contributions to preserving Vermont's historic architecture. Built in 1904 as part of Fort Ethan Allen, the buildings housed the 10th Cavalry - the famed all-Black U.S. Army regiment known as the "Buffalo Soldiers" - from 1909 to 1913. After the fort closed in 1960, they became St. Michael's College dormitories and later sat vacant for nearly a decade before co-developers Evernorth and Champlain Housing Trust acquired them in 2022. The 10th Cavalry Apartments redevelopment advanced amid a severe housing shortage, with Chittenden County's vacancy rate near one percent - among the nation's lowest and far below the five percent considered healthy. As housing costs rose, the project helped create new options for vulnerable households. VHB supported the redevelopment through site planning, landscape architecture, and cultural resources services, helping shape the placemaking aesthetic with architect Freeman French Freeman and coordinating closely with state and federal preservation agencies. Key project details include: * A $32-million adaptive reuse project that created 65 permanently affordable studio and one-bedroom apartments. * A $2-million environmental cleanup addressing PCBs, PAHs, lead paint, and asbestos across the 78,000-square-foot site. * A 1.5-year phased renovation led by Engelberth Construction and completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards to qualify for nearly $5 million in historic tax credit funding. * Educational displays and outdoor interpretive panels developed by VHB's Cultural Resources and Graphic Design teams to share the history of Fort Ethan Allen and the barracks. One key challenge was preserving the Colonial Revival-style buildings' pressed metal ceilings. VHB documented and cataloged the original tin, which was restored and reinstalled in common areas and replicated in apartment units. Masonry, porches, windows, slate roofs, mushroom vents, and new ADA-compliant ramps also required creative design solutions supported in part by building information modeling tools. The project also prioritized sustainability through exterior insulation, high-efficiency boilers, custom storm windows, and energy recovery units. These efforts earned a Best of the Best Award for Affordable Housing Innovation from Vermont's energy efficiency utility Efficiency Vermont. Residents began moving into the development in early 2025. Rents average about half the regional rate, with 18 Burlington Housing Authority voucher units capping rent at 30 percent of income and 15 units serving people who have experienced homelessness. State officials have praised the project, which used 18 funding sources, as a model of adaptive reuse. Department of Housing and Community Development Commissioner Alex Farrell said: "This [development] represents a tremendous example of the type of housing that we hope to see more of as we try to solve the greatest issue facing Vermont." "This high-profile project was a major accomplishment with important clients and partners, and we are proud of our award-winning work to preserve a rich piece of Vermont's history while addressing a critical housing shortage," said Britta Tonn, Vermont Director of Cultural Resources. Featured Service Industry Insights
VHB welcomes Will Hawthorne as Florida Director of Transportation Engineering. Expanding transportation leadership to help Florida communities move forward. August 03, 2026 VHB welcomes Will Hawthorne, PE, MBA, as Florida Director of Transportation Engineering, expanding and strengthening its transportation planning, engineering, and technology practices. He will oversee and grow VHB's transportation practice across Central Florida and the Gulf Coast region, strengthening client relationships, advancing business development efforts, and leading multidisciplinary teams in delivering integrated transportation solutions. In this role, Will will help drive strategic growth across Florida while fostering collaboration across disciplines and regions. Will's knowledge in transportation planning, engineering, program delivery, and strategic growth will support clients in addressing evolving mobility needs and delivering projects that enhance connectivity, safety, and economic vitality throughout the state. Will brings more than 15 years of transportation engineering, planning, and infrastructure leadership experience across both the public and private sectors. Most recently, he served as Director of Transportation Planning and Policy at the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX), where he led agency planning and strategy initiatives, directed development of the agency's Master Plan and Strategic Plan, and helped align major infrastructure investments with regional growth and transportation needs. In previous leadership roles at CFX, he oversaw development and delivery of the agency's multi-billion-dollar five-year capital program, advancing transportation improvements across Central Florida's expressway system. Throughout his career, he has led high-performing teams and built strong partnerships with clients, stakeholders, and agency leaders across Florida. "I'm thrilled to have Will join VHB," said Matt Lamb, Southeast Regional Manager. "His collaborative leadership style and deep understanding of our state's transportation landscape will help us deliver exceptional value to our clients and communities." Featured Offices
VHB earns three Distinguished Engineering Awards in New Jersey. Advancing redevelopment, housing, and economic growth across New Jersey. July 31, 2026 VHB received three Distinguished Engineering Awards from the New Jersey Alliance for Action, recognizing projects that demonstrate engineering excellence and advance capital construction, infrastructure investment, and sustainable growth across New Jersey. This year's award-winning projects showcase how integrated planning and engineering are helping clients transform underutilized properties, expand housing opportunities, and create more connected communities across New Jersey. Strengthening regional logistics infrastructure. Tac Pal Logistics Center & Building Expansion Palmyra, NJ The Tac Pal Logistics Center transforms a 143-acre brownfield site into a mixed-use development that supports regional logistics, residential growth, and economic opportunity. VHB guided the project through complex environmental and infrastructure challenges, applying innovative stormwater management, environmental enhancements, and sustainable design to revitalize the property and support long-term economic and environmental goals. Creating an inclusive residential community. Horizons at Wall Wall Township, NJ Horizons at Wall reimagines a former corporate campus as a community designed to promote accessibility, independence, and connection. VHB supported the project through coordinated planning, engineering, and permitting, helping advance a redevelopment that provides barrier-free housing for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans alongside additional market-rate and affordable units. Advancing transit-oriented development. The Crossings at Brick Church Station East Orange, NJ The Crossings at Brick Church Station revitalizes an aging retail center into a mixed-use destination centered on NJ TRANSIT's Brick Church Station. VHB led the project's transportation and environmental planning, helping create a multimodal community with new housing, retail, pedestrian connections, and improved access throughout the corridor. "It's exciting to see these projects recognized because each one started with a complex site and a clear opportunity to create something valuable for the community," said Brian Perry, Managing Director of VHB's New Jersey offices. "Our teams are proud to have played a role in helping turn those opportunities into projects that will support New Jersey's future." Congratulations to its clients, partners, and project teams on this well-deserved recognition. Interested in joining its New Jersey team? Explore career opportunities and help shape the future of communities across the state.
VHB Co-Authors ASCE Feature on UNC Charlotte's Digital Twin. ASCE Civil Engineering Magazine features data-driven infrastructure management. July 24, 2026 VHB collaborated with UNC Charlotte to co-author the article, "UNC Charlotte Learns About Its Water System Through a Digital Twin," published in the July 2026 issue of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Civil Engineering magazine. UNC Charlotte's Kevin Moluf, PE, M.ASCE and VHB's Dale Abbott, GISP, Richard Mathews Jr., PE, and Craig Schneider explore how the university transformed disconnected utility records, GIS data, hydraulic models, and water-meter information into a living digital twin of its campus water distribution system. Together they discuss how recurring low fire-flow issues across UNC Charlotte's growing campus prompted the university to take a closer look at its water distribution network. To gain a comprehensive understanding of system performance, UNC Charlotte partnered with VHB to develop a digital twin, a dynamic virtual model that integrates asset, network, and operational data to develop a more complete and reliable view of how the water network functions. This innovative tool allows engineers to evaluate how changes in one area of the system affect overall performance, helping identify hydraulic challenges, inform maintenance and planning decisions, and support future infrastructure investments. As a living model, the digital twin will continue to evolve, enabling UNC Charlotte to enhance the reliability, resilience, and long-term management of its water system. Ultimately, this digital twin serves as a living asset-management and decision-support tool, helping UNC Charlotte shift from reacting to isolated issues to proactively managing its water system as an interconnected whole. News + Insights Featured Project
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin is Hiring for 131 Jobs on Simplify!
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About Vanasse Hangen Brustlin
Industries
Consulting
Industrial & Manufacturing
Government & Public Sector
Social Impact
Company Size
N/A
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Watertown, Massachusetts
Founded
1979
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin is Hiring for 131 Jobs on Simplify!
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today