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The story
1945–1991: Foundation and initial growth
Ramboll was founded in October 1945 as Rambøll & Hannemann in Copenhagen by a pair of engineers, Børge Johannes Rambøll (1911–2009) and Johan Georg Hannemann (1907–1980). Both had studied at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and were heavily motivated to be involved in the rebuilding effort following the devastation of the Second World War. One of the first undertakings of the newly-formed company was the construction of a ferris wheel for Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens.
During 1950, Rambøll & Hannemann built Denmark’s first giant radio transmission mast; despite a length of 142m, this mast weighed just 28 tonnes, being 12 tonnes lighter and using 30 percent less steel than competing designs. Later that decade, the company secured major contracts with the Danish broadcast engineering services (‘Radioingeniørtjenesten’) to erect broadcast towers across both Denmark and Norway. This experience contributed to future undertakings, including work on high-tension-line towers for power plants as well as with the Norwegian telephone directorate.
By the start of the 1960, the firm had around 30 employees; by the end of the decade, it had expanded to 170 employees as the undertakings it was involved in not only became more numerous but also more diversified. During the 1960s, the company worked on incineration plants and waste management projects for the first time; environmental affairs proved to be a key new area of growth. Rambøll & Hannemann started engineering what it referred to as future-proof buildings, such as the 16-storey National Hospital at the heart of Copenhagen (opened in 1970).
During 1972, the ownership of the company was transferred to a newly-created employee-controlled foundation. The stated aims of this move included the desire for all profits generated to be used to continue the development of Rambøll & Hannemann, to safeguard its long-term future and independence, as well as to benefit its employees, clients and communities. By this point, the company had offices in both Copenhagen and Aarhus, a branch office was opened in Oslo in 1976. During the 1980s, Børge Rambøll formulated the Ramboll Philosophy, which had since served as the basis for the organisation's values, culture and working practices.
1991–2003: Expansion in the Nordic region
In 1991, the company merged with B. Højlund Rasmussen A/S, greatly expanding its multidisciplinary reach. The combined entity initially traded as Rambøll, Hannemann & Højlund, however, during the mid 1990s, the company name was shortened to Rambøll.
During the late 1990s, the company decided to make use of digital tools in the execution of a railway electrification scheme that it had been tasked with. Covering 350 km of tracks and 20,000 steel masts, it was considered to be one of Ramboll's landmark projects at that time.
During 2003, Ramboll merged with rival company Scandiaconsult; the resulting company was the largest consulting engineering firm in the Nordic region. Around this time, Danish ceased to be the business' corporate language as an increasing focus on international operations took hold.
2003–present: International growth
In August 2006, the company acquired the Norwegian firm Storvik & Co.
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In August 2007, Ramboll bought the privately owned UK based engineering firm Whitbybird. At the time of the acquisition, Whitbybird employed 680 people based at offices throughout the UK as well as in Italy, India and the United Arab Emirates.
During April 2008, Ramboll's presence in India was strengthened by acquiring the Indian telecom design company ImIsoft.
In March 2011, Ramboll bought the privately owned UK based engineering firm Gifford. Gifford also has offices around the world.
During March 2011, Ramboll acquired the power engineering section of DONG Energy (now Ørsted A/S), DONG Energy Power.
In July 2011, Ramboll Informatik was divested to the Danish IT company KMD.
During 2014, Ramboll acquired the US-based global consultancy, ENVIRON, adding more than 1,500 environmental and health science specialists in 21 countries.
In 2018, Ramboll acquired North American engineering and design consultancy OBG (formally O'Brien & Gere), adding 950 consultants to Ramboll's North American presence. By 1 January 2019, Ramboll Americas consists of engineering and science experts across Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States.
In December 2019, Ramboll announced the acquisition of Henning Larsen Architects, effective on 2 January 2020.
During 2020-2021 Ramboll acquired Web Structures.
In August 2023, Ramboll announced the acquisition of the German Consultancy firm civity Management Consultants
In August 2024, Ramboll announced the acquisition of K2 Management
In September 2024, Ramboll announced the acquisition of SCC Scientific Consulting Company
In August 2025, Ramboll announced the acquisition of leading Canadian power systems consultancy, TransGrid Solutions.
From Wikipedia’s article on Ramboll, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5