Huitt-Zollars Celebrates 50 Years: Plants Flag in Philadelphia

Huitt-Zollars, Inc. is a full-service engineering, architecture, and planning firm with 24 offices nationwide. Established in 1975, and employee-owned, Huitt-Zollars (HZI) has grown to 600 employees. HZI has been doing transit work across the nation for decades. They have worked with agencies large and small since the 1980s, delivering comprehensive planning, design, and oversight services for projects spanning from Seattle to Houston and Philadelphia.

In 2023, Huitt-Zollars took a strategic step forward in its continued growth by opening a new office in the historic and vibrant city of Philadelphia. This expansion represents more than just a new location—it reflects the firm’s dedication to broadening its reach and deepening its impact across key regions.

At the helm of the new office is Tamra Dann, PE, who joined Huitt-Zollars as Vice President and Managing Principal for the Philadelphia office. With over 30 years of diverse experience spanning a regional transit authority, a state department of transportation, and engineering consulting firms, Tamra brings a depth of knowledge, leadership, and vision that has quickly energized the Philadelphia team.

In her first few years, Tamra successfully built a high-performing team of six talented professionals consisting of engineers, architects, planners, and project support who each share her commitment to excellence and client service. The team is supported by PA native and Senior Vice President, Richard (Rick) Robyak, PE, who leads the Corporate Transportation Practice and has been a driving force behind the firm’s Rail and Transit Practice.

The Philadelphia team contributes management and niche expertise for transit planning, design, and program management contracts. The team’s local presence at 1900 Market Street, bolstered by broad talent across HZI, has led to valuable work across Pennsylvania—including the SEPTA General Planning Open-End contract, transit planning studies in Harrisburg and Johnstown, the design of the Lebanon Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility, and PennDOT Transit Program Management. These projects are testament to the team’s agility and collaborative approach.

The PennDOT Transit PMO project, in particular, stands as a premier success for the Philadelphia office. Acting as an extension of the Bureau of Public Transit (BPT) staff, HZI oversees the $800M construction program. Covering everything from planning and scoping to compliance navigation and technical quality reviews, to dashboards and metrics, the team fully demonstrates a shared owner mission through strategic planning, project delivery, and innovative solutions.

As Huitt-Zollars continues to grow its footprint, the Philadelphia office exemplifies the firm’s commitment to listen, collaborate, and deliver for shared success with clients. The firm looks forward to building on this momentum, forging new partnerships, and continuing to contribute to the advancement of transportation infrastructure across the region.

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