Wooten Celebrates 86 Years of Partnership Designing the Future

When engineers set out to design the Hoover Dam, nothing before had ever been constructed of 4.3 million cubic yards of concrete — enough material to pave a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York. But that didn't stop civil engineers and builders from taking on the challenge. In 1936, the monumental structure was completed.

Another enduring institution was established that same year. L.E. Wooten, born on a farm in Eastern North Carolina, founded our firm on October 3, 1936. We are fortunate to be able to say that it too has stood the test of time, operating continuously to this day. Our teams build on the legacy he began, taking on sustainable infrastructure projects and designing modern building systems across the region.

Wooten studied his craft at what was then known as State College in Raleigh. It is fitting that his most high-profile contribution was to his alma mater in the design and construction administration of Carter-Finley Stadium, where the unmistakable roar of college football fans has been heard on Saturdays since 1966.

Iconic as the stadium is, much of the civil engineering, architecture, and building system design that we develop is deliberately kept out of sight. The goal is for residents to have peace of mind that water travels reliably to and from their homes and that building owners can count on conditioned air and electricity to keep their operations up and running each day.

As we mark the anniversary of our founding, we thank local leaders for their continued partnership and recognize our employees’ dedicated work to exceed our clients’ expectations and realize our goals as a team. From improving water systems and outdoor amenities to powering energy-efficient schools and data centers, we carry forward L.E. Wooten’s tradition of designing the future for generations to come.