Dubuque, IA—Origin Design (formerly IIW) marks its 40th year in business this month.
On February 1, 1982, Denny Waugh and Carl Schoenhard, Jr. founded Origin Design, then known as IIW Associates P.C., a five-person land survey and civil/structural engineering consulting firm.
“My goal at the time was to be one of the best engineering firms in Northeast Iowa and I think that goal was accomplished,” said Denny Waugh, PE, Co-Founder and Technical Advisor for Origin Design, as he reflected on when the company was founded.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the company saw tremendous growth with a focus on expanding their staff and the services they offered to their clients, including the addition of municipal engineering, traffic & transportation, water resources, land development, architecture and field services.
“I’m incredibly thankful for our former and current employees as they’ve shaped us into the well-respected and sought-after firm that we are today,” added Pat Ready, PE, President & CEO of Origin Design.
Some of the other more recent milestones in the company’s 40-year history include:
- In 1999, Carl retired and sold his controlling interest in the company to the employees.
- In 2010, the company expanded by opening a branch office in Davenport to better serve its clients in the Quad Cities area.
- In 2018, Denny retired and the following year the company became 100% employee-owned.
- In 2021, IIW rebranded and changed its name to Origin Design, and relocated its corporate headquarters to downtown Dubuque.
“When I retired in 2018, I felt really good about all the young talent here. It’s great to see them continue the success of the firm,” said Waugh.
Today, Origin Design is a 100% employee-owned, full-service professional design firm with more than 75 employees. Since 1982, the company has built a reputation of delivering impactful, sustainable solutions to help the clients and communities they work with thrive and grow.
“ For 40 years, we’ve had the fortune of partnering with wonderful clients who put their trust in us. We don’t take those partnerships for granted and we continue to be thankful and humbled every time a client gives us the opportunity to serve them. ”
Pat Ready, PE President & CEO
