Our Legacy
Benesch started 80 years ago with just a handful of exceptionally bright engineers. Since then, we’ve grown into a nationally recognized team of more than 1,200 professionals.
Setting a Foundation
From the beginning, our founder, Mr. Alfred Benesch, understood the importance of bringing together a conglomeration of experts with different perspectives, backgrounds and skillsets. This led him–and all the leaders that followed–to continually seek out expertise that enables the firm to expand our service offerings and better serve our clients.
As a result, the firm has grown and prospered.
Eighty Years of Exceptional Work
Since our founding on February 2, 1946, Benesch has grown from a single small office to a national multidisciplinary firm committed to exploring new solutions, putting cutting-edge technology to the test and helping reimagine what is possible for our clients.
For 80 years, Benesch has leveraged technical expertise, collaboration and a client-focused approach to transform infrastructure across the county. From signature bridges and complex interchanges to community spaces and water systems, we’ve helped our clients find innovative solutions that improve nearly every part of their community.
Our Commitment to Clients
From the beginning, Benesch has been guided by three major principles: produce top quality work; treat all people fairly, while putting great emphasis on being helpful; and live up to our promises and our client’s expectations.
Eighty years later, we remain committed to delivering this client-focused experience and take pride in providing an unparalleled level of customer service, regardless of project size or complexity. At Benesch, our clients are never just a number–and we remain laser focused on surpassing expectations.
Value-Focused from the Start
Since the very beginning, Benesch has been fully dedicated to value-focused solutions. Weaving value engineering concepts into our daily work over the years has not only led to the development of our Value Methodology program, but it has propelled the practice forward across the industry.
Today, Benesch is well known for our Value Methodology expertise. With it, we’ve helped countless clients identify innovative solutions for their biggest engineering challenges while shortening construction schedules, strengthening stakeholder acceptance and saving anywhere from a few thousand to a few million dollars on projects of all sizes.
Learn MoreAward-Winning Infrastructure
We have a decades-long track record for developing highly innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges. From planning and design to construction management, our work has been recognized by industry organizations across the country, including receiving the highest possible accolades from the American Council of Engineering Companies.
10 & 30 South Wacker
An innovative structural framing system brought together unique structure types at 10 & 30 South Wacker, where two skyscrapers cantilever over a low-rise building below. The skyscrapers were the first in Chicago to be constructed entirely of concrete. The project received the ACEC-IL Eminent Conceptor Award in 1984.
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I-255 Over the Mississippi River
Benesch designed a new twin tied arch structure to replace its failing steel truss predecessor. Unique I-shaped girders and a streamlined design simplified the bridge’s connection detail and fabrication while reducing secondary stress potential. The 4,000-foot, 15-span bridge received the ACEC-IL Eminent Conceptor Award in 1992.
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Wacker Drive Reconstruction
This $200 million Wacker Drive Reconstruction consisted of the reconstruction of Chicago’s iconic double-decker viaduct originally built in 1926. Benesch provided overall construction management for this highly complex project. It received the ACEC-IL Eminent Conceptor Award in 2004.
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Murray Baker Bridge Truss Shortening
After conducting a Value Planning Study to weigh options for improving a section of I-74, Benesch developed an innovative solution: shorten the nearby Murray Baker Bridge via a custom-designed load transfer device. This shortening of an existing cantilever truss was an industry first and received the ACEC-IL Eminent Conceptor Award in 2009.
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Stearns Road Corridor
The Stearns Road Corridor project addressed rapid growth and high traffic demands—all while enhancing the surrounding natural environment. Benesch provided preliminary and final design and construction and corridor management for the five-mile project. It received ACEC-IL’s Eminent Conceptor Award in 2011.
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Wacker Drive & Congress Parkway Interchange
This reconstruction project improved one of Chicago’s busiest interchanges, earning it the ACEC National Grand Conceptor Award in 2014. Benesch oversaw the demolition of the existing interchange, rehabilitation of the foundation, deck and beam replacement, widening of the Congress Parkway fixed spans and more.
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CREATE P-1 Englewood Flyover
Benesch managed construction of this 10-span flyover and the approach bridges to eliminate an at-grade crossing over I-90/94, coordinating with agencies to build across the Dan Ryan Expressway. The project earned the 2016 ACEC National Honor Award.
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The Chicago Riverwalk
The Chicago Riverwalk connects the lakefront to the West Loop, enhancing the river’s cultural, environmental, economic and recreational value. Benesch was lead structural designer, construction manager and led hydraulic analysis. The project won the 2018 ACEC-IL Eminent Conceptor Award.
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I-74 Corridor over the Mississippi River
This $1.2 billion project increased capacity and provided structural improvements along the Quad Cities in Illinois and Iowa, earning it the ACEC National Grand Award in 2023. Benesch served as Corridor-Wide Coordinator and led design plans for the project’s extended Central Sections.
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I-95 over Cottman Avenue
Following the partial collapse of a critical section of I-95 in Philadelphia, Benesch led the development of an innovative emergency replacement design as part of a design-build delivery team. The effort received the 2024 Grand Conceptor Diamond Award from ACEC/PA.
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Lincoln South Beltway
The $350 million Lincoln South Beltway created a vital east-west route around southern Lincoln, Nebraska. Featuring multiple interchanges, 43 miles of roadway, 23 bridges and 11 roundabouts, Benesch’s design earned the 2024 ACEC-NE Grand Award.
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Weber Road at I-55
Built to address major capacity issues and rapid growth in Will County, IL, the Diverging Diamond Interchange at I-55 and Weber Road received the Lincoln Grand Conceptor from ACEC-IL in 2024. Benesch managed construction, overseeing complex traffic staging to implement the new pattern.
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Dedicated Investment in Technology
Benesch purchased its first computer–the Bendix G15–in the 1960s and was one of the first engineering firms in the country to implement automated design processes. Many of our staff became active in the development of computer programs to facilitate the design of buildings, bridges, highways and more.
Today, we continue to explore the latest computer innovations and seek out opportunities to partner with leading industry software and technology companies. We train our staff on the latest 3D design tools and we pilot new technologies that can improve the ways we collect data in the field, assess existing infrastructure and enhance design workflows.
Looking to the Future
A strategic effort to diversify our firm, both in terms of expertise and geographic footprint, has guided our continued growth. We leverage the specialized skills of our local teams to develop solutions for clients across the country, creating greater opportunities to workshare across divisions and provide best in class service.
While we got our start as a structural design firm specializing in transportation, today our work can be found everywhere—from airports to parks, local roadway corridors, schools, major highway systems and private developments of all kinds, our multidisciplinary team is ready for any project, big or small.
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