For over 90 years, Harder Mechanical has been a leader in mechanical contracting in the AEC industry throughout the Northwest, tackling some of the most demanding and challenging projects.
Along the way, the company has become an expert in numerous fields, including aerospace and automotive, biopharmaceuticals, chemical manufacturing, commercial buildings, data centers, education, mining, refineries, healthcare and renewable energy.
It’s been a solid strategy, with Harder reporting that its revenue topped $744 million last year.
When asked how the Portland, Ore.-based company has survived and thrived for so long in a highly competitive and challenging industry, Dustin Harder, president, says the secret lies in Harder’s adaptability, safety culture and willingness to work on the road when local markets slow down.
“Teams have gone where the work is, from Oregon to Washington, Alaska, California, Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Arizona, keeping the company moving and providing opportunities for employees in all regions,” he says.
Harder’s record of success has earned the company ENR West the honors of Northwest Specialty Contractor of the Year.
Steady as she goes
Harder says the business is currently stable and rebuilding after a challenging year, with strong momentum going into 2026 and 2027. He says the company has worked hard to reverse the impact of a few major projects that have been put on hold due to economic uncertainty.
“However, the company has successfully secured new projects that will take us through the next two years, ensuring stability and growth,” he says.
Right now, Harder’s three most popular market sectors are advanced technology; renewable energies and natural resources; and data centers, all of which are driving the next generation of industries in the West.
“We are expanding rapidly in this space with major projects underway in the Northwest,” Harder says. “The semiconductor market is particularly exciting for us because it brings long-term stability, technical sophistication and opportunities to showcase our integrated manufacturing and facility capabilities. Our work with these companies helps build the infrastructure behind America’s growing technology manufacturing ecosystem.”
“The company has successfully secured new projects that will take us through the next two years, ensuring stability and growth”
—Dustin Harder, President, Harder Mechanical
The company is also playing a role in the country’s clean energy transition.
Harder Mechanical leads critical projects in battery recycling and lithium mining. “These efforts not only support sustainability goals, but also strengthen the domestic supply of key materials for electric vehicles, making this a profitable and strategic domestic market for us,” says Harder.
The company is also increasing its presence in the data center sector. “These projects require speed, precision and innovation, areas where Harder Mechanical’s off-site manufacturing (OSM) capabilities give us a significant advantage,” says Harder.
“These markets are hot because they are at the intersection of technology, energy and sustainability, the three most transformative forces shaping modern industry,” he says. “The hardest combination of scale, technical depth and advanced [offsite manufacturing] Manufacturing allows us to meet the high demands of these projects safely, efficiently and with industry-leading quality.”
A key factor in the company’s efficiency and success has been moving more fabrication and modular work to its off-site fabrication shop. This strategy has improved safety, productivity and cost control while allowing field teams to focus on higher value tasks.
“Harder Mechanical’s focus on continuous improvement, from updating safety policies, adopting Revit company-wide, and achieving ISO 9000 certification in all fab shops, shows a company committed to evolution and excellence,” says Harder.
Harder was part of the Portland Airport Terminal Core project team that rebuilt the main terminal.
Photo courtesy of Harder Mechanical
high flying
Harder has been a key part of Portland International Airport’s $2.15 billion Terminal Core Redevelopment (TCORE) project, which is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2026. As a key business partner in this transformative effort, Harder works in the areas of security screening, baggage handling and baggage management systems, office space maintenance and concession systems.
To meet the ambitious project schedule and minimize disruption, Harder implemented an innovative modular construction strategy, designing and constructing 41 off-site modular pipe racks, 21 dedicated to utility systems and 20 to hydronic systems. This approach maximized prefabrication opportunities, improving both efficiency and worker safety in one of the most complex active airport construction environments in the Pacific Northwest.
“Harder Mechanical’s collaboration during the pre-construction phase of the Portland Airport expansion project was instrumental in shaping a cost-effective and buildable design,” says Bob McGinnis, senior director of pre-construction at Skanska USA Building. “His proactive approach to budgeting, value engineering and system coordination ensured seamless integration of complex mechanical solutions for this landmark project.”
Buffon Decker, senior project manager at Hoffman Skanska JV, says Harder was instrumental in the project’s success.
“They worked closely with the JV and other business partners in the initial planning and were responsive and quick with solutions when we faced the inevitable challenges in such a complex project,” says Decker. “They helped us ensure that the airport provided the passenger experience and convenience that PDX is known for.”
