From marine science and environmental permitting to port redevelopment and power delivery, HDR has played key roles on U.S. offshore wind projects. Drawing on decades of expertise across engineering, environmental services, and maritime infrastructure, HDR continues to support projects that strengthen grid resilience, modernize ports, and support responsible offshore energy development.
HDR, the largest 100% employee-owned architecture and engineering firm in the United States according to the National Center for Employee Ownership, emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence. With more than 14,000 employees across over 200 locations worldwide, the company continues leveraging its broad expertise to help deliver the next generation of offshore wind, port, and energy infrastructure projects.
HDR’s offshore wind experience traces back to 2015, when the company expanded upon its U.S. Navy marine mammal monitoring expertise to support the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Realtime Opportunity for Development Environmental Observations (RODEO) program. Through this work, HDR contributed to early environmental studies at the Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island and later at the Coastal Virginia Offshore Windpilot project. More recently, HDR has also provided similar environmental monitoring support for BOEM at Vineyard Wind 1 and the South Fork Wind Projects. Their work included advanced assessments of underwater and airborne noise, benthic habitats, seafloor conditions, visual impacts, and turbine biofouling.
Since then, HDR’s offshore wind portfolio has continued to expand. Beginning in 2018, the company supported Orsted in securing approvals for a project designed to power approximately 500,000 New Jersey homes and businesses. HDR later provided engineering and power delivery services for Eversource Energy on South Fork Wind, delivering detailed design and specification of protection, control, and SCADA systems for the project’s landside substation.
Today, HDR continues supporting offshore wind through multidisciplinary expertise spanning maritime planning, environmental permitting, engineering, strategic communications, and construction management. Since 2022, the company has served as a port development and permitting liaison for New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), helping advance New York’s offshore wind program through infrastructure optimization, grid integration planning, and sustainable port development initiatives.
One major accomplishment includes HDR’s support services for the redevelopment of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, now a primary staging hub for Empire Wind 1. The completed facility features heavy-lift crane infrastructure, dredged berths, shore power capabilities, warehouse space, and extensive staging areas designed to support offshore wind deployment activities.
HDR’s approach combines technical expertise with practical problem-solving. On the South Fork Wind Project, HDR collaborated closely with both Orsted and Eversource to develop a unified equipment naming system that streamlined communication and operational efficiency across stakeholders. The company also successfully navigated a complex federal and state permitting process, including a landfill closure approval process for the Port of Albany Expansion Project, securing regulatory approvals that allowed construction to proceed without delay.
Beyond project work, HDR values the relationships and collaboration fostered through Oceantic Network membership and industry events like the annual International Partnering Forum. Through participation at IPF, HDR formed new international partnerships — including its ongoing collaboration with European offshore wind consultancy Green Ducklings — helping expand opportunities across global offshore wind markets.
