The 2020s: Continuing Our Legacy and Embracing the Future
We wrap up our 130th anniversary celebration with the final installment in our series that chronicles Freese and Nichols’ achievements decade by decade.
The 2020s have brought significant changes and several important milestones for Freese and Nichols in just five years. While the emergence of the COVID pandemic shaped some of our journey this decade, many of our achievements are unrelated to or perhaps despite the required adjustments.
We continued to move forward with our goals to relocate our headquarters back to downtown Fort Worth, deepen and expand our reach beyond Texas and earn national recognition for our highly intentional business practices for a second time through the rigorous Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award process.
Quick Innovation for Staff and Clients During COVID
Freese and Nichols quickly implemented virtual collaboration tools and other technologies that enhanced efficiency and outstanding project delivery while supporting clients with essential infrastructure projects. This rang true with Freese and Nichols’ events and conferences team as well. An extensive webinar program from 2020 to 2021 created for clients effectively maintained client interaction when meeting in person was off the table. The virtual collaboration tools also provided a service for those needing continuing education credits/hours for their licenses.
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid shift to remote work. In response to the evolving needs of our staff, the firm introduced alternate work schedules, floating holidays and refined paid time off benefits.
The year 2020 underscored the firm’s ability to pivot quickly, demonstrating resilience and preparedness in emergencies.
Returning to Our Downtown Fort Worth Roots
Freese and Nichols opened its new headquarters in Burnett Plaza in downtown Fort Worth. The new headquarters occupies three full floors in a 40-story office tower that has earned the Energy Star rating and is certified LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The new headquarters is near residences, cultural attractions and transit options, helping the firm continue its commitment to employee satisfaction. The Great Place to Work Institute repeatedly names Freese and Nichols among the Best Medium Workplaces in the United States and Texas.
Freese and Nichols’ previous headquarters was at International Plaza in southwest Fort Worth.
Increasing Our Impact on Clients Outside of Texas
In 2022, we surpassed the 1,000-employee milestone and continued to expand beyond Texas. The decade so far has brought new offices in Arkansas, Virginia, Colorado, Kansas, South Carolina, Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, and Northeast and Central Florida, along with a decade of service in Oklahoma.
Maintaining Award-Winning Business Practices in the Face of Major Growth and Change
One of our most significant achievements in 2024 was earning the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for the second time after becoming the first engineering/architecture firm to ever receive the award in 2010. Much has changed in our industry and firm since then, and receiving the Baldrige Award is the highest validation of our continued efforts and commitment to top-tier business practices in the ways we grow, serve and continuously improve each day.