First Office – Then
Located in the office park developer’s construction trailer. It was then moved into a temporary space at 14000 Thunderbolt Place, Suite C while the new space was being built out.
Now: ECS has grown to more than 60 offices and testing facilities spread across the Mid-
Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast and Southwest.
Number of Employees – Then
ECS started with 11 employees. By the end of the first month there were a total of 16.
Now: We have over 1,600 employees.
Technology – Then
It consisted of a few PCs. The largest hard disk at the time was 30MB. Boring logs were typed on a typewriter with symbols drafted by hand.
Now: Everything we do is at our fingertips with quick report turnaround times.
No Cell Phones – Then
The first portable phones were hard mounted phones installed in the vehicles. A big deal at the time, they were very expensive and exclusive.
Now: Everyone has a cell phone and is accessible everywhere on the jobsite.
Transmission of Data – Then
The fax machine was the only digital transmission available. The computer network was referred to as the “sneaker network,” otherwise known as bringing a floppy disk to someone’s desk.
Now: It’s instantaneous!
Awards – Then
In 1988, ECS was chosen as the Fairfax County New Small Business of the Year.
Now: ECS is currently ranked 81 in Engineering-News Record’s Top 500 Design Firms (ENR, April 2017)