Morrison-Knudsen Corporation, or MK, was a construction management and civil engineering firm based out of Boise, Idaho for 89 years. The company was founded by Harry W. Morrison and Morris H. Knudsen in 1912 and changed names in 2000 after a merger with Washington Group International. MK is mostly known for their participation in the construction of the Hoover Dam, San Francisco Bay Bridge, Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center and 153 miles of the Trans-Alaskan pipeline.

Harry W. Morrison

Boise's development in the 20th century was significantly affected by Harry Morrison - both by his company and his family's philanthropy. Born in Illinois in 1885, Morrison moved to Idaho around 1905. After joining Knudsen, the small construction crew built roads in downtown Boise and irrigation canals throughout the Treasure Valley. Throughout the decades, many Boiseans began their career working for MK in their headquarters building on the corner of Front and Broadway. After several months drafting plans for projects, the workers were sent out into the field to supervise construction. Construction projects could be as far away as Brazil, Afghanistan, or Portugal, employees often worked for two years at a time, then moved to another project. As Morrison's company grew, his family gave back to their home town. 

MK impact in Boise:

In Boise, the Ann Morrison Park, was a commemoration of the first wife of Harry Morrison and was commissioned shortly after her death in 1959. The park was built by Morrison-Knudsen employees. Morrison Hall, a dormitory building on the campus of Boise State University, is also named for Ann Morrison.

The Morrison Knudsen Nature Center was partially funded and built by MK in the 1990s.

The Morrison Center for Performing Arts, on the campus of Boise State University, was commissioned by Velma Morrison, Harry's second wife.

The URS building, or Washington Group Plaza, is a business campus on the Northeast corner of Myrtle and Broadway, originally built in the 1970s to house MK corporate headquarters. Before then, MK headquarters operated out of several small brick buildings across Broadway, where Whole Foods is now.