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The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the oldest and largest business association of engineering companies. It is organized as a federation of 51 state and regional councils with national headquarters in Washington, D.C., comprising thousands of engineering practices throughout the country. It administers extensive lobbying and education programs.
ACEC traces its roots to the Association of Architectural Engineers, founded in New York City in 1905 to promote the business interests of consulting engineers. The organization, which was based on individual memberships, changed its name to the American Institute of Consulting Engineers (AICE) in 1909. Similar organizations soon sprung up in many states. In 1930, notable member Blake R. Van Leer lobbied congress for a National Museum of Engineering and Industry.[1]
In 1956, representatives from 10 state associations created a national Consulting Engineers Council (CEC), representing engineering firms rather than individuals. By 1960, CEC had grown to 29 state member organizations, representing more than 1,000 firms.
In 1973, CEC and AICE merged to create the American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC). To accommodate the individual members of AICE, the new organization created a College of Fellows membership category.
ACEC's advocacy activities covered a broad range of issues, sometimes necessitating the creation of spin-off groups to pursue specific goals. For example, in 1986, ACEC founded the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) to lobby for the reform of unfair liability statutes nationwide.[2]
In 2000, ACEC changed its name to the American Council of Engineering Companies to reflect both its firm-based membership and the increasingly diversified and multi-disciplinary nature of engineering practices, including design-build practices.
In 2006, President George W. Bush gave a major mid-term address at the ACEC Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., recognizing the organization for its public policy advocacy.[3]
In 2012, along with the American Public Works Association (APWA) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), ACEC founded the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), which has developed the Envision® sustainability rating system for infrastructure works.
In May 2022, ACEC opened the doors to its new office located at 1400 L Street, NW in Washington, replacing the council's longstanding former office location at 1015 15th Street, NW.
In 2023, ACEC joined with industry peers the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to launch the Engineering and Public Works Roadshow. The Roadshow is an effort to draw public attention to the essentiality of engineering to society and to promote the growth of the engineering workforce. [4]
ACEC publishes Engineering Inc., an online magazine focusing on engineering business issues[5].
Last Word is the council's weekly online membership newsletter which draws from the Council's regularly published blog[6].
The "Tuesday Letter" e-mail communication from the ACEC CEO's office.
Regular sector-specific Private Market Briefs on the following markets: Commercial and Residential Real Estate, Educational, Energy and Utilities, Health Care & Science + Technology, and Intermodal and Logistics[7].
The Engineers Joint Contract Document Committee (EJCDC) is a collaboration of ACEC, ASCE, and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) to develop and disseminate standard contract documents for use in design and construction projects.
The Engineering Influence podcast[8].
ACEC hosts two conferences per year. Each spring, the ACEC Annual Convention and Legislative Summit is held in Washington, D.C., featuring political speakers and member visits to congressional offices, as well as business education.
The ACEC Fall Conference is held in different locations each year and focuses on business practice issues, markets, and political developments.
ACEC also holds an annual meeting of its Coalitions[9].