Oregon Magazine

Cover
Oregon Firm Goes Global
To Battle Infirm Economy

          By Fred Delkin

     A Portland company has defied our nation's ailing economy by embracing globalization as the next step in a growth pattern constant throughout WRG Design's 17-year history.  This land development consulting and engineering firm now flies a new flag as Cardno WRG, reflecting its merger with Australian worldwide company Cardno Limited.  WRG was founded in 1991 by its President, Darren Welborn.  It has offered a mix of services to such prominent firms as Costco, IKEA, Kohl's, Lowe's and Cabela's and operates in both private and public sectors.

WRG is licensed in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Montana, North & South Carolina and Canada.  It has accomplished an annual growth rate of over 25%.  Headquartered at 5415 SW Westgate Dr. in Portland, WRG has regional offices in Sacramento, Boise, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Charlotte, NC.  Now it merges with a Cardno staff of over 3,000 that has served projects in some 60 nations, including the recent architectural blockbusters in Dubai.  The WRG staff of over 150 includes engineers, planners, landscape architects, surveyors and administrative support folk.  Work areas include Resorts, Education & Athletics, Parks & Trails, Mixed Use Developments (retail & office), Water Resources and Transportation.  

(Photo: The world's tallest hotel is in Dubai. You wouldn't believe some of the structures they've built, there, and WRG has had a part in some of them.)

Notable recent projects in the Portland area include Hillsboro's new Century high school, the IKEA superstore at Portland airport and the Tanasbourne retail complex.  The Skamania resort was honchoed by WRG.  Recent additions to the Las Vegas Hilton complex and the new Margaritaville restaurant at the Las Vegas Flamingo were guided by WRG as well as an  addition to the University of Las Vegas campus and the new baseball stadium at Oregon State University.  Shopping centers in California and Arizona are other recent projects as well as planned communities in both Carolinas.

The Cardno connection offers 30 offices in 22 states as a U.S. network with aggressive growth plans. While private land development and public infrastructurre projects are slowed by current economic hurdles, WRG offers a sound client base, a solid history of urban development and a widely diversified team of experts.  All is not fiscal gloom with WRG and Cardno.

(OrMag: Normally, you would find a link to the company website, here, but for some reason we can't bring it up. It's http://www.wrgd.com/ )