Chester Engineers: About Us

A Proud History... A Boundless Future

Chester Engineers' history spans nearly a century. From our humble beginnings in 1910, our success has been closely linked to the constantly evolving fields of municipal and environmental engineering as we grew to become an international leader in the art of integrating science and engineering technology. We have always approached our business with the goal of exceeding our clients' expectations and that focus will never change. It is the basis of our rich history of success and is the foundation of our confidence in a limitless future for Chester.

The Story of Chester Engineers

1910 - 1925: Beginnings
Founded in 1910 by John N. Chester and Thomas Fleming, Jr., and known as Chester & Fleming Consulting Engineers, the company began at a time when people and municipalities were awakening to the importance of proper water treatment and disposal of sewage. The firm specialized in designing facilities to meet these needs, a service we still offer today. Among our first projects was design work for the main pumping station and filtration plant for the South Pittsburgh Water Company, the predecessor of the system that now supplies water to the Pittsburgh area.

Other services included designing of water distribution systems, impounding reservoirs and dams, waste incineration plants, and valuation and rate studies. Our reputation and reach grew steadily, and the company performed work in cities in 17 states —in fact, many of these municipalities remain our customers today.

1920 - 1940: The Early Years
The company's name changed to J.N. Chester Engineers in 1920 with the departure of Mr. Fleming, and went through several additional name changes to reflect the growing number of prestigious individuals who joined the firm as partners. Some left to assume key public sector positions, like John F. Laboon, who became the chief engineer and chairman of the board of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN).

In 1937, the company changed its name one last time, to Chester Engineers. Throughout the period, Chester continued to serve its established public sector clients while forging new relationships with municipalities, strengthening the company's capabilities and expertise and solidifying its reputation for leadership in the engineering field.

Among our notable projects, Chester designed the facilities for Erie's sanitary sewage disposal plant, and a 300,000-gallon standpipe and a 32 million-gallon per day water filtration plant and pumping station for Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In Sewickley, Pennsylvania, the company completed a 2 million gallon per day water supply plant in 1928 that was among the first to treat water with gravity zeolite filters.

1941 - 1955: The War Years
Like most American companies, Chester turned its attention from routine business pursuits to become part of the country's wartime production effort.

The company also faced business challenges during this period as a result of limited manpower and reduced public spending on our core business. We adapted to conditions by shifting our focus to War Emergency Activities and began designing water and sewer systems for military ammunition plants and synthetic rubber production facilities, and at new and expanding military bases —a move that paved our entry into industrial markets.

In 1941, Theodore Haseltine joined the firm. Over the years, he became an innovator in biological treatment of wastewater and activated sludge processes.

John Chester retired in 1942, after leading the company for 32 years, and spent the remaining 13 years of his life traveling, collecting rare artifacts and literature, and serving his alma mater, the University of Illinois. Chester was succeeded by the firm's three principals, J.T. Campbell, D.E. Davis and E.E. Bankson. Under their leadership, the company's municipal and industrial businesses continued to expand into the 1950s. Notable additions to the company included Alfred E. Bailey, who rose the position of chairman and CEO during his tenure, and Walter Zabban, who joined the company in 1952 and pioneered the growth of our industrial business. In fact, Zabban was responsible for Chester winning numerous large companies as clients, including U.S. Steel, GTE, IBM, Corning Glass and Chrysler.

1956 - 1986: The Growth Years
Over the next 30 years, older partners passed the torch to younger engineers, who led the company as it expanded its reach into the industrial sector while continuing to extend its leadership within the municipal engineering field. Starting in the mid-1970s, the company also established regional offices in cities such as Ann Arbor, Michigan and Huntington, West Virginia, creating a local presence to better serve municipal and industrial clients.

During this period, the company completed a variety of sewer system and sewage treatment projects for municipalities including Huntington, West Virginia, and Warren, Greenville, Bethel Park, Butler and Bradford, Pennsylvania, along with key industrial waste treatment projects for companies such as LTV Steel, Allegheny-Ludlum Steel, and IBM.

1987 - 2003: Advanced Technology Systems Takes Wing
In 1987, Robert O. Agbede, an African-American and a University of Pittsburgh-trained engineer, formed Advanced Technology Systems (ATS). From the beginning, ATS embodied Agbede's vision of applying science and technology to create innovative solutions. Under his leadership, the company grew rapidly, becoming a leading provider of services including design, engineering and scientific analysis, field investigations, construction management, construction inspection, computer modeling and regulatory support.

As it grew, ATS also lead by example, mentoring and supporting other minority and women-owned businesses, assisting talented students by helping to fund their engineering educations, and encouraging others by example to support and serve the communities where the company did business.

During this period, ATS and Chester collaborated on several projects and ventures including a joint-venture to manage the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Capital Improvement Program. Chester Engineers also underwent several important changes as the result of acquisitions —becoming the Chester Environmental Group, then Chester Environmental, before returning to its original name. In the meantime, the company also played a key role in the creation of PENNVEST legislation that cleared the way for municipalities to finance infrastructure improvements through low-interest state loans.

In 1997, Chester was acquired by United States Filter Corporation (USFilter), and became the core of that company's Engineering & Construction group.

2003: The Re-Birth of Chester Engineers
Having worked together on a variety of projects, Robert Agbede and others at ATS were well aware of the expertise within Chester Engineers, the ways that the two companies complemented one another, and the growth potential of the combined markets that both served. That potential led ATS to acquire this core group from USFilter late in 2003, creating ATS-Chester Engineers.

ATS-Chester Engineers combined the strengths of both firms to create a full-service, technology-based, client focused company with the diverse capabilities to meet its clients evolving needs. After two full years of operations as ATS-Chester Engineers, a business decision was made to return to the Chester Engineers name, while maintaining the integrity of the capabilities and expertise of both former companies.

Today . . . And Into the Future
Today, Chester Engineers, Inc. is western Pennsylvania's leading municipal engineering services firm and the nation's largest African-American owned firm in its field, with offices in Pittsburgh and Charleroi, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Jacksonville and Miami, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, Ohio; New Orleans, LA; Richmond, VA; and Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Chester Engineers continues to be recognized for cost-effective, innovative solutions that integrate science and engineering technology to add value while helping to ensure a clean-safe environment, and for a commitment to community that helps build a brighter future for everyone.

As we continue to grow in size and geographic reach, we will continue to listen closely to our clients and respond to their needs, and adhere to the values that have guided us for nearly a century. We remain committed to developing innovative solutions that help our clients manage their operations, meet current challenges and plan for the future.

Since the beginning, we have approached our business with the goal of exceeding our clients' expectations. That focus will never change. It is the basis of our rich history of success, and of our reputation for leadership in our field.

And it is the foundation of our confidence in a limitless future for Chester Engineers.

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