TERRA Engineering, Ltd. (TERRA) is a woman-owned, full-service engineering firm that also offers Landscape Architecture and Land Surveying services. We provide quality services for client-specific solutions within scope, budget, and schedule.
Our mission is to become the Professional Service firm of choice by empowering our employees to be innovative and socially responsible while achieving sustainable and profitable growth.
History
TERRA Engineering, Ltd. was started by Karen Steingraber and Jamil Bou-Saab in 1992, beginning their journey building strong relationships with clients. In 2000, Senior Vice President George Ghareeb was added to the team and appointed to manage operations in a then newly opened office in Peoria, Illinois. This has since encouraged TERRA to expand our reach to greater communities and to broaden our markets. TERRA continues to open new doors, having added an office in St. Louis in 2011 and an office in Milwaukee in 2013.
Today there are over 100 employees with a wide variety of specialties. As the company continues to grow, we emphasize the importance of mentorship and presence. By focusing on the continuous growth of each of our experts, we continue to refine our skillets to remain on the frontier of engineering and design to serve our communities to the best of our ability.
Culture
Continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration are at the core of TERRA’s culture. We strive to create an environment in which all can comfortably and authentically express their thoughts and ideas and effectively engage with the organization. Each member of our team is an important part of TERRA’s success and the success of its people.
Giving Back
As an involved member of the community, TERRA and its employees contribute to the common good of our communities by helping those less fortunate. Our employees give back in many ways, such as serving as board members for local not-for-profit organizations, organizing group outings to support charities, and fundraising for a variety of causes.
Careers
Join our talented team at TERRA and help shape the future of professional services. If you’re looking for an opportunity to challenge yourself, be innovative, and collaborate with other smart and talented people, apply now!
Our LEADERSHIP Team
KAREN STEINGRABER
President
JAMIL BOU-SAAB, PE
Executive Vice President
GEORGE GHAREEB, PE
Senior Vice President
Awards
2022 - Present
Pritzker Military Archive Center - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award - 2024
CPD Headquarters - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award - 2024
Lawson House - AIA Lerch Bates Award - 2024
Pritzker Military Archive Center - Illinois ASLA President’s Award - 2024
River Trails School District 26 - U.S. Department of Energy Efficient and Healthy Schools Program Honoree - 2024
Chicago Park District Headquarters - Chicago Neighborhood Development Award - 2024
Kenilworth Green Streets Infrastructure Program - ACEC Illinois Engineering Excellence Merit Award - 2024
Pritzker Military Archive Center - ACEC Illinois Engineering Excellence Honor Award - 2024
Peoria Riverfront Master Plan - ACEC Illinois Engineering Excellence Honor Award - 2024
Park District of Oak Park (PDOP) Community Center - Metropolis Magazine Planet Positive Award in Civic and Cultural Honorable Mention Category - 2023
POPF!T - ASLA Honor Award - 2023
Pritzker Military Archives Center - ENR Midwest Regional Best Projects - 2023
Crain’s Chicago Business - Best Places to Work Award - 2023
Peoria Riverfront - ASCE Central Illinois Section Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Category (Planning Studies) Award - 2023
Village of Kenilworth Green Infrastructure Program - ASCE IL Section Sustainability in Civil Engineering Achievement Award - 2023
Fermilab Integrated Engineering Research Center (IERC) - ENR Midwest Best Project (Higher Education / Research) Award - 2023
UChicago’s Student Wellness Center - AIA Chicago’s Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award - 2023
Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub - The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award - 2023
800 Fulton Market - IIDA 2023 Interior Design Competition Award (Public Spaces and Commercial Lobbies) - 2023
Loyola Academy Performing Arts Center - The Chicago Building Congress Award (PreK-12 Education) - 2023
UIC Academic and Residential Complex - AIA Design Excellence Award (Educational Facility Design) - 2023
Pekny Park Green Infrastructure - Friends of the Chicago River - 2023
Lincoln Park Zoo Pepper Family Wildlife Center - Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award - 2022
McCrory Senior Housing - Chicago Neighborhood Development Award - 2022
UChicago Campus South Walk - ACEC IL Engineering Excellence Special Achievement Award - 2022
Western Avenue Reconstruction - ACEC IL Engineering Excellence Special Achievement Award - 2022
Wrigley Field 1060 Project -Chicago Building Congress Merit Award (Renovation & Adaptive Reuse over $15 Million) - 2022
River Trails Nature Playground - Illinois ASLA Merit Award - 2022
Western Avenue Reconstruction - ASCE Central Illinois Small Project of the Year - 2022
The Forge: Lemont Quarries - Chicago Blue River Ribbon Award Winner - 2022
2017 - 2021
Dineen Park Improvements - ACEC IL Engineering Excellence Merit Award - 2021
Lake Street Improvement Construction Engineering - ACEC IL Engineering Excellence Merit Award - 2021
Lake Street Improvement Construction Engineering - APWA Suburban Branch Award - 2021
Cedar Hotel/Viceroy - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award - 2021
UChicago Health and Wellness Center - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award - 2021
Northwestern Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Facility - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Honor Award - 2021
Northtown Library and Housing - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award Citation of Merit - 2021
McCormick Square MPEA Wintrust Arena - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award - 2021
Omega Yeast Labs - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award Citation of Merit - 2021
Pullman Art Space Lofts - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award - 2021
UChicago David Rubenstein Forum - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award - 2021
CHA Altgeld Library and Daycare - AIA Design Excellence Distinguished Building Award - 2021
Streitmatter Road Bridge - ACEC IL Engineering Excellence Merit Award - 2021
Wrigley Field 1060 Project - ACEC IL Engineering Excellence Special Achievement Award - 2021
UIC Academic and Residential Complex - Architizer A+ Awards - 2020
UChicago Keller Center - AIA Committee on the Environment Top 10 Green Projects - 2020
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago - ENR Midwest Best Projects - 2020
333 N. Green - US Green Building Council LEED Gold - 2020
Lathrop Homes - ENR Midwest Best Projects - 2020
MPEA McCormick Square Campus Expansion - ACEC IL Engineering Excellence Honor Award - 2019
UIC Academic and Residential Complex - US Green Building Council LEED Gold - 2019
Folkers Ave Reconstruction - ASCE Central Illinois Section Project of the Year - 2019
Wrigley Field 1060 Project - ENR Midwest Best Projects Award: Office/Retail/Mixed-Use - 2018
University of Chicago’s Physics Research Center - ENR Midwest Best Projects Award: Higher Education/Research and Excellence in Safety - 2018
2011-2016
Rush University Medical Center Transformation Project – Harrison Tunnel, Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award for Projects Under $5 Million, American Society of Civil Engineers - 2011
Joe & Rika Mansueto Library - Distinguished Building Merit Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago - 2011
Gary Comer College Prep - Distinguished Building Merit Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago - 2011
Glen & University Intersection Improvement - Transportation Public Works less than $2 Million Project of the Year, American Public Works Association, Illinois Chapter - 2012
The Electrical and Computer Engineering Building at The University of Illinois - Green GOOD DESIGN Award, European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies - 2012
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Paideia Academy - Engineering Excellence Merit Award, American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois - 2012
Jamil Bou-Saab - Community Service Award, Park District of Oak Park - 2013
Roosevelt Road Redevelopment Project – 2013 Engineering Excellence Merit Award, American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois - 2013
John W. Garvy Elementary School - US Green Building Council, LEED Silver - 2013
Sarah E. Goode Stem Academy - US Green Building Council, LEED Platinum - 2013
Rush University Medical Center, New Hospital Tower - American Institute of Architects Chicago / American Library Association, Honor Award - 2013
Main & University Intersection Improvements - American Society of Civil Engineers-Central IL Section, Achievement Award - 2014
Elmwood Downtown Streetscape - American Public Works Association, Project of the Year - 2014
Ping Tom Park Boathouse - American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois, Special Achievement Award - 2014
Red Gate Bridge - American Society of Landscape Architects, Honor Award - 2014
Saieh Hall Center for Economics, University of Chicago - Boston Society of Architects, Honor Award - 2014
University of Chicago New Academic Complex & Campus Precinct - Society for College and University Planning, Honor Award - 2014
Main & University Intersection Improvements - American Society of Civil Engineers-Central IL Section, Achievement Award - 2015
Chinatown Library Branch - American Institute of Architects Chicago / American Library Association Library Building Awards - 2016
Edison Park Elementary School - US Green Building Council, LEED Gold - 2016
2006-2010
Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service Inc. - Commercial Small Project Merit Award, Midwest Construction - 2006
2111 W Roosevelt Road - Commercial Large Project of the Year, Midwest Construction - 2006
Christy Webber Landscapes Headquarters - Special Recognition Sustainable Design, American Institute of Architects Chicago - 2007
235 Van Buren - Distinguished Building Merit Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago - 2009
Karen Steingraber, P.E. President - Recognized for Distinction, Best of 2010, Midwest Construction - 2010
Clark Street Beach Building - Design Award, Design Evanston - 2010
2001-2005
John G Shedd Aquarium Amazon Rising Exhibit - Rehab Construction Merit Award, Chicago Building Congress - 2001
Sofitel Chicago Water Tower - New Construction Chicago Finalist, Chicago Building Congress - 2003
Levy Senior Center - New Construction Suburbs Merit Award, Chicago Building Congress - 2003
La Rabida Children’s Hospital Inpatient Addition - Construction under $10 Million Merit Award, Chicago Building Congress - 2003
Illinois Institute of Technology State Street Dormitories -Residential Project of the Year, Midwest Construction - 2003
Homan Square Community Center - New Construction Merit Award, Chicago Building Congress - 2003
Field Museum Central Plant - Power Project of the Year, Midwest Construction Churchill Row, Distinguished Building Merit Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago - 2003
Chicago Center for Green Technology - Rehab Construction Merit Award, Chicago Building Congress - 2003
TERRA Engineering, Ltd., Top Design Firms of 2004, Midwest Construction - 2004
Contemporaine at 516 N Wells St, Residential/Housing Award of Merit, Midwest Construction - 2004
TERRA Engineering, Ltd. - Top Design Firms of 2005, Midwest Construction - 2005
TERRA Engineering, Ltd. - Best of 2005, Midwest Construction - 2005