History

History

In 1994, Walter E. Allen, a U.S. Navy Veteran, founded Acumen Building Enterprise as a sole proprietorship to help finance his master’s of science degree in civil engineering/project controls at the University of California, Berkeley. He decided to make green building efficiency the initial focus of Acumen’s professional engineering consulting services and chose Oakland, Calif. for its headquarters. In 2002, Acumen Building Enterprise, Inc. became an S Corporation and certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise, while its focus continued to evolve to transit efficiency and environmental protection. For more than 25 years, Acumen’s team of experts has been consulting with local governments, agencies and private firms to develop products and provide services that improve transportation systems. Today, our staff contributes their world-class acumen and technological innovations to support sustainable infrastructure improvements and advance mobility efforts around the globe. Learn more about Acumen and our leadership team.

Link21 Program

2022

LINK21

Acumen is on the Arup/WSP team providing planning and engineering services for the Link21 Program’s New Transbay Rail Crossing that will reduce traffic and pollution in Northern California.

2021

ALAMEDA CTC

Acumen provides Project Management and Project Controls Services to assist the Alameda County Transportation Commission in delivering its $3.5B capital program.

2020

CALTRAIN

To support on-call construction management for the electrification project, Acumen rail experts are providing project management services until 2024.

2019

ACCOLADES

Recognized by Los Angeles Sustainability Coalition as an On-the-Move Transportation Series Sponsor. Other LA projects include Metro ExpressLanes and Maintenance of Way Study.

2018

CHSR ETO

(CA High-Speed Rail Early Train Operator) Project kicked off. Acumen staff provided design, development and procurement consulting services along with technical writing services.

2017

ACUFARE

Received an order from BART for placement of these contactless smart card readers in all 49 station agent booths. Acumen was pleased to start to sell this product through GSA in 2016.

2016

ACUMEN-PARSONS JV

This Joint Venture was developed to provide General Engineering Services to BART, engineering, procurement and other activities associated with BART projects.

2015

RECOGNITION

Jacobs named Acumen a Diverse Business Enterprise; Walter E. Allen received The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials NorCal Advocate of the Year Award.

2014

MEASURE BB

Having supported Alameda CTC since 2001 with planning, policy, admin, Acumen and subs were instrumental in educating the public about this transportation measure voters passed in 2014.

2013

KAISER OAKLAND MEDICAL CENTER

Construction Site Security System designed and implemented by Acumen was a turnkey worker ID system that let Kaiser know who was onsite at any time of the day.

2012

AMTRAK

Northeast Corridor project in New York, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Acumen staff served as deputy engineer and inspector to improve safety, reliability and travel times.

2011

AWARDS

Won Inc. 5000 Top Engineering Companies and WTS Appre-ciation awards. In 2010 and 2012 also won Inc. 5000 awards for America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies.

2010

ACUFARE

Research and development team began to develop and test an affordable automatic fare collection device, a versatile, contactless solution for transit and other organizations.

2009

WMATA FARE COLLECTION

As prime contractor/program manager, Acumen provided scheduling, testing and certification and oversaw timely delivery of the SmarTrip® Fare Payment System.

2008

AC TRANSIT CM

As part of a 10- year federal transit improvement grant, provided construction management services for the Eastmont Mall Transit Center Improvements.

2007

BART AWARD

Acumen won a Teaming Success Award for work on the BART Automatic Fare Collection Modernization Program, with ticket vending machines, fare gates and add-fare machines.

2002

S. CORPORATION

Headquartered in Oakland, CA with 18 employees, Acumen became an S Corporation. The focus of the company continued to shift from green buildings to green transit infrastructure.

2001

BILL-TO-BILL CHANGER

Developed custom fare collection product for all 46 BART stations that allowed users of public transit to exchange $10 bills and $20 bills for $5 bills for ticket purchase.

1994

FOUNDED

Walter E. Allen started Acumen Building Enterprise, Inc. (Acumen) to focus on green building efficiency which evolved to transit efficiency and environmental protection.