Chicago Bridge & Iron

Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, commonly known as CB&I, was founded in 1889 through the strategic merger of Horace E. Horton's Minneapolis-based civil engineering firm with the Kansas City Bridge and Iron Company owned by George and William Wheelock. The combined enterprise established operations in Washington Heights, Illinois.

Throughout its remarkable 135-year operational history, the company completed over 60,000 structures across more than 100 countries worldwide. CB&I served major clients in the energy, petrochemical, water treatment, liquefied natural gas, and natural resource industries across six continents.

Originally headquartered in Washington Heights near Chicago's vital rail corridors and steel mills, CB&I later relocated corporate operations to The Woodlands, Texas. The company was ultimately acquired by Mason Capital Management in 2024 following McDermott International's bankruptcy restructuring.

About Chicago Bridge

Sector: Engineering, Procurement & Construction

Industry: Energy Infrastructure & Storage

CEO: Patrick Mullen

Website: cbi.com

Headquarters: The Woodlands, Texas

Founded: 1889 in Chicago, IL

Status: Acquired (Mason Capital)

Chicago Bridge Founders

Horace E. Horton

Co-Founder, Bridge Designer & Civil Engineer

George Wheelock

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

William Wheelock

Co-Founder & Business Partner

Chicago Bridge History

1889 Founded through merger of Horton's engineering firm with Kansas City Bridge and Iron Company in Washington Heights, Illinois near Chicago.

1954 Entered cryogenics, LNG storage, and nuclear power vessel manufacturing sectors, diversifying beyond traditional elevated water tanks.

1977 Company went public with listing on New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CBI after decades of private operation.

2018 McDermott International acquired CB&I for approximately $6 billion, ending the company's long independence as public entity.

2024 Mason Capital Management consortium acquired CB&I through $475 million leveraged buyout following McDermott bankruptcy proceedings.

FAQs

Who owns Chicago Bridge?

Chicago Bridge & Iron is owned by a consortium of financial investors led by Mason Capital Management LLC. The group acquired CB&I in 2024 following McDermott International's bankruptcy reorganization proceedings.

When did Chicago Bridge come out?

Chicago Bridge & Iron Company was founded in 1889 in Chicago, Illinois. Horace E. Horton merged his Minneapolis engineering firm with George and William Wheelock's Kansas City Bridge and Iron Company during America's industrial expansion era, similar to when Caterpillar and other industrial giants emerged.

Is Chicago Bridge an American company?

Yes, CB&I originated as an American company in Chicago, Illinois. While later incorporated in the Netherlands, it maintained U.S. operations from The Woodlands, Texas, similar to Halliburton and other major energy infrastructure firms.

Who made Chicago Bridge logo?

The CB&I logo was developed internally as part of the company's corporate branding. The current simplified CB&I wordmark was adopted after the 2003 corporate identity update when the company modernized its visual identity.