History

The Late Eighties

Three engineers open Primera's first office in an incubator space at the Entrepreneur Center. Their staff quickly grows from three to five.

The Early Nineties

In 1991, Primera moves its team of five to their first independent office space at 230 N. Michigan Ave. and kicks off its relationship with the City of Chicago by beginning the massive undertaking of helping to convert thousands of the city's sewer and water drawings to digital format.

Adding to their growing portfolio of clients, Primera is asked to provide staff augmentation service to ComEd at all six nuclear stations and begin work on a 300 building, statewide fire protection program for a large telecommunications company.

With business booming, Primera surpasses $5 million in revenue and expands its scope to include in-house electrical services and participation in new and multi-disciplined programs.

The Late Nineties

In 1995, Primera moves its 15 employees to 25 E. Washington where they complete the engineering design for the City Colleges of Chicago's new $31 million West Side Technical Institute campus.

During this time, Primera works closely with Chicago Public Schools to provide full-service design work for Francisco Madero middle school where the firm also develops an ongoing mentoring program for students of the school. Primera is also selected by Chicago Public Schools to serve as Managing Engineer for the EDGE program, embarking on a practice of school design that continues today.

In 1998, Primera becomes one of the first firms in Illinois to offer Commissioning Services, and by the end of the decade, the company as a whole boasts a team of 48 professionals.

2000-2004

With a growing awareness of eco-conscious design and construction, Primera takes the lead by joining the United States Green Building Council and becoming a founding member of the Chicago Chapter.

In 2000 Primera begins design work on its first certified sustainable building - the US Navy's Great Lakes Bachelor Enlisted Quarters - also the first federal building to receive a LEED® certification. Primera continues their commitment to sustainability by designing the LEED® Gold library for the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, a project that gives the firm their first experience with geothermal design.

Primera continues to stretch its capabilities, partnering in 2001 with Hill Mechanical to form Primera-Hill Design-Build services and in 2003 with CH2M Hill and Bowman Barrett to earn the role of Master Civil Engineer for the highly publicized O'Hare Modernization Program. In 2004, and at the request of clients, Primera Construction Group is formed.

Despite the major changes during this period, Primera finds time to move their growing operations - now 60 employees - to their current Loop location at 100 South Wacker Drive.

2005-2007

After several successful projects in the healthcare market, Primera begins expanding its healthcare practice. The company also continues to build its relationship with City Colleges of Chicago, serving as design engineers for a new six-building campus called Kennedy King College.

From 2005-2006, Primera receives its first prime construction management contracts with IDOT and ISTHA and formally launches the Utilities Group to serve the power industry. With the addition of these new branches of service, Primera grows to over 100 employees.

In 2007, Primera celebrates its 20th anniversary. In this same year, the company's longstanding commitment to quality is formally witnessed with the accomplishment of ISO 9001:2000 certification of its Quality Management System.

Today

It is our goal to continue to be an engineer of choice, an employer of choice, and make positive contributions to our communities. With deep client relationships in a variety of markets, Primera continues to live by its' core values of Quality, Teamwork, Integrity and Balance. It is these values that will guide us as we enter our next twenty years.