HSW provides preconstruction, general contracting and construction management services across a wide range of sectors including corporate office, healthcare, education, data centres and housing.
Balfour’s move into Northern California and the Pacific Northwest is in line with its US expansion strategy .
The deal follows its acquisition of SpawMaxwell in Houston and its recent growth in Southern California through Barnhart Balfour Beatty.
Balfour Beatty will now become the third largest construction services provider in the US general building market.
HSW generated revenues £257m and pre-tax profits of £14.6m in the year ended 30 September 2010.
Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said: “Howard S. Wright is a well-regarded company with a strong reputation for quality as evidenced by its blue-chip customers, and is a leader in sustainable building.
“HSW is an excellent geographic and strategic fit with our existing US capabilities, and the acquisition extends Balfour Beatty’s skill base and reach in Northern California and the US Pacific Northwest, a significant growth market that is emerging from the downturn.”