Bechtel

Revitalizing a Cultural and Historical Touchstone

Bechtel, a leading engineering, construction and project management firm, faced a large roadblock in relocating its headquarters from San Francisco to Reston, Virginia, in 2018. 

The corporate museum in the courtyard outside its San Francisco headquarters—a railcar reminiscent of the one the founding Bechtel family lived in at remote job sites—had fallen into disrepair. (The railcar was known as WaaTeeKaa for the way founder Warren A. Bechtel’s three sons pronounced their names as toddlers: “Waa” for Warren, “Tee” for Steve and “Kaa” for Kenneth.)

Bechtel partnered with History Factory to transform the aging exhibit into a modern storytelling platform that would align with Bechtel’s future-focused rebrand and contemporary new headquarters. We worked with them to:

• Develop a custom-built white model that came to life through various preprogrammed experiences
• Create a pavilion that surrounded the car on Bechtel’s campus, establishing a central location where guests and employees could experience the exhibit
• Design engaging visuals and storytelling that highlighted Bechtel’s company culture

Crafting a New Narrative of Global Partnerships and Community Impact

The original railcar exhibit, developed in the late 1980s, showcased iconic projects from the company’s found in 1898 to 1988, including the Hoover Dam and extinguishing the Kuwaiti oil fires. While these were impressive, Bechtel wanted to focus on new stories that showcased the company’s current work and community impact. Bechtel needed impact-based storytelling projects to demonstrate its effect on everyday livelihoods, such as the creation of data centers, fiber optic networks and alternate energy sources. We needed to reinvent WaaTeeKaa as an experience where people could connect with Bechtel’s past, present and future.

Our approach to revitalizing WaaTeeKaa focused on telling Bechtel’s story through the lens of global partnerships and positive community impact. Moving beyond traditional metrics of construction such as miles of steel or tons of concrete, we aimed to create a narrative that highlighted how Bechtel’s projects improve connectivity, sustainability and quality of life worldwide. 

In order to help us accomplish this, Bechtel gave the History Factory team full access to its corporate archives. This was a critical element that allowed us to reimagine the space and produce richer storytelling in the exhibit. 

Bringing the Story to Life With Immersive Design and Technology

To make the most of the limited space in the 50-foot-long, 10-foot-wide railcar, our team ideated, programmed and produced a projection mapping model. The resulting interactive display allows visitors to experience Bechtel’s projects—subway systems, power plants and more—in a compact, dynamic, visually engaging format. The minimalist industrial design—using materials such as exposed metal and natural wood—echoes Bechtel’s construction aesthetic, providing a modern, forward-thinking look.

To integrate WaaTeeKaa into Bechtel’s new Reston campus, we worked with Bechtel’s architects and facilities team to design a surrounding pavilion that would make the railcar into a central touchstone. This space has become more than an exhibit—it’s a gathering point for employees, a key asset for recruiting and a platform for community engagement, including partnerships with local schools for STEM education programs.

The revitalized railcar exhibit has become a powerful tool for Bechtel in multiple areas:

• A new way to engage clients and prospects: The exhibit serves as a storytelling platform that demonstrates how the company’s legacy and present-day work inspire innovation and drive real business results.  
• Onboarding new talent: It introduces new hires to Bechtel’s history, creating a sense of pride and connection to the company’s mission.
• Strengthening company culture: The surrounding pavilion has become a focal point for employees, reinforcing Bechtel’s legacy and promoting a sense of community within the company.

Want to bring your organization’s story to life? Get in touch.