About RS&H

A Break from the Status Quo

In 1941, the threat of war became imminent for the United States. Prior to this period, most engineers and architects practiced in small independent firms. However, two Florida professional engineers, George B. Hills and John F. Reynolds, and architect Ivan H. Smith, reasoned that to most effectively mobilize a country, a single organization with the ability to combine comprehensive architectural and engineering capabilities would be more efficient than a variety of smaller engineering and architectural firms. Thus, the three formed RS&H in Jacksonville, Florida, and remained committed to creating innovative solutions to the world’s infrastructure problems.

Post-War Expansion

The firm initially focused on military projects. Among the many were designs for aviation support facilities at the Banana River Naval Station in 1942, which later became Cape Canaveral Air Force Base and Patrick Air Force Base. As the war ended and post-war construction boomed, RS&H continued to grow into diverse markets, including airports, power plants, industrial facilities, defense installations, and transportation.

At the Beginning of Space Exploration

In the 1960s, RS&H was selected to design launch facilities to support NASA’s piloted spaceflight program and Air Force missile programs. Over the next 20 years, RS&H added subsidiaries and affiliates, increasing its staff and opening new offices across the United States. RS&H’s services expanded to include architecture, engineering, planning, landscape architecture, land surveying, construction, environmental sciences, interior design, real estate, and management/economic consulting.

Reinforcing Employee Ownership

After being purchased by Hunter Environmental Services Inc. in 1987, RS&H led an effort to arrange the acquisition of the company by our associates. The employee buyout was completed on June 28, 1990, thus positioning RS&H to utilize its long-established expertise and reputation to meet the needs of its clients.

Over the next several decades, RS&H continued to expand to new states and with new service lines, experiencing unprecedented growth that allowed us to serve our clients better.

From Start to Future

The entrepreneurial spirit that fueled our beginning continues today as we integrate new areas of expertise and enhanced technology to design and deliver exceptional quality buildings and infrastructure.

Together, we tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, turning them into opportunities to create a more connected, sustainable future for all.