Founded in 1915 by Clarence W. Hubbell, the firm operated under his name until 1922 when two partners were added and the firm name was changed to Hubbell, Hartgering & Roth. Fifteen years later, the firm became Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc.

Early years focused on developing innovative engineering solutions to the city of Detroit’s growing infrastructure and wastewater handling needs. Many sewers were built to support the emerging communities including: Weatherby Avenue Sewer, Lonyo Road Sewer and Seven Mile Road Sewer.

After acceptance of HRC’s Design Report in 1953, the Twelve Towns Drainage System was built in the early 1960s, consisting of very large diameter sewers capable of convey- ing storm water without causing basement flooding. In 1965, the Royal Oak Sewage Treatment Plant was decommissioned and the sewage flow directed to the Detroit Sew- age Treatment Plant. e storage volume of the combined sewers was 32 million gallons and the excess flow discharged, over a weir structure at Stephenson Road, to the open ditch Red Run which became known as the Red Run Drain. In the early 1970s, the open ditch Red Run, was replaced by two concrete boxes, each 18 feet high by 30 feet wide (inside dimensions). The double concrete box provided an additional storage volume of 62 million gallons and was designed for a flow of 7,500 cubic feet per second (3.3 million gallons per minute). e chlorinated, disinfected discharges were reduced to 6 or 8 times per year instead of at every rain event. e surface of the backfilled ditch has been transformed into recreational facilities: e Red Oaks Golf Course and the Red Oaks Water Park. In 1999, the Red Run Drain was re-named the George W. Kuhn Drain after the retired Drain Commissioner.

The Quarton Lake restoration project included dredging of sediment which accumulated over the past 30 years, shoreline stabilization utilizing bio-engineering techniques, creation of fish habitat in the lake, and an assessment of the tributary stream corridor. The stream assessment included a streambank erosion inventory and severity index based on MDEQ procedures to identify areas of erosion and sediment sources. Other components of the stream assessment included GLEAS habitat survey, biomonitoring, outfall toxicity tests, TSS, flow, and water quality monitoring. Restoration activities were coordinated with improvements to the adjacent park.

The project included 5.6 miles of concrete freeway reconstruction and widening, and rehabilitation of six structures. HRC performed all construction engineering, testing and inspection on this project. Inspection included removal of one four-span bridge to the footings, widening and reconstruction of the same bridge. Four bridges were hydrodemolished with new joints, barrier, surface and paint. The roadway was removed, drainage, subbase, OGDC, Geotextile and concrete (reinforced on southbound, non-reinforced on northbound) placed. Guard rail, trusses, cantilevers and signs were removed and replaced. Concrete shoulders, valley gutter and median barrier (much variable height) with glare screen was placed. Ramps were totally or partially replaced. Verification tests were done on all concrete.

The City of Bay City was faced with the challenge of meeting discharge limitations with an aging wastewater treatment facility, part of which was constructed in the 1950s. The City also had to meet a limitation for the toxic compound polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), which frequently is found in the City’s influent and sometimes in the effluent. With the NPDES permit limitation for PCB less than detection, new facilities were required to meet a consent judgment stipulation that the City provide the best available treatment for PCBs. Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. conducted master planning and pilot studies to evaluate the existing wastewater treatment facilities and ultimately designed a direct carbon filtration system which received a US patent. These cost-effective renovations allow the facility to continue to meet NPDES limitations for conventional pollutants and new facilities to meet the stringent PCB limitation.

The HRC Team provided design, site plan development, permit administration, and reporting for the projects. Design included substantial toe protection, mid-bank and upland areas adjacent to the river using a combination of deep rooted vegetation, hard armoring, and bioengineering techniques.

A consortium of stakeholders led by the University of Michigan (U of M) selected the team of Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. (HRC) and Grissim Metz Andriese Associates to redesign a major on-street transit transfer center, pedestrian crossing, pedestrian plaza, and North University Avenue on the Central Campus of U of M. The stakeholders consisted of two U of M departments–Architecture, Engineering, and Construction and Parking and Transportation Service, the City of Ann Arbor, and the Ann Arbor Transit Authority. The stakeholders were awarded federal funding to reconstruct North University Avenue and the Central Campus Transit Center. Bus activity occurs on both sides of North University and is used by the University transit service, the public transit authority, and school buses dropping off students for field trips to the Ruthven Museum.

Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. provided design services for enhancement of the Main Street (M-150) bridge over the Paint Creek in the City of Rochester, Michigan. The bridge was enhanced by stabilizing the banks of the creek with layered limestone adjacent to the bridge abutments. The limestone was layered to the top of the bridge deck to form an overlook plaza with benches for viewing on both sides of the creek. A waterfall was created over the layered limestone to further enhance the appearance. The banks of the creek downstream of the bridge were landscaped and planter boxes were added to the bridge railing.

The Road Commission of Kalamazoo County (RCKC) received federal funds to rehabilitate Drake Road from KL Avenue to M-43. This project included a 4-inch mill and resurface of the pavement, curb and gutter repairs, sidewalk ramp replacements for ADA compliance, and storm sewer repairs. The project also included Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding for the installation of fiber optic interconnect cabling from Parkview to M-43 along Drake Road, signal modernization including a monotube signal at Parkview, and detection upgrades at seven signals along Drake Road from KL Avenue to West Main Street (M-43). A portion of the CMAQ funding also included the purchase and use of a new signal programming system, Centracs. This system allows for remote access and control of all signals in Kalamazoo County.