Fred S. Kummer, President and CEO, originally started his career as a general contractor. He soon realized he could better serve the client’s best interests through careful and effective use of resources. So in 1960, Mr. Kummer founded Hospital Building & Equipment Company – a comprehensive design-build firm.

By developing a single-source delivery method, HBE could achieve a higher degree of efficiency, provide a more effective design, improve function and control the costs of the entire project.

The fledgling enterprise evolved into HBE Corporation, which has grown over five decades to become the leading nationwide provider of health care design-build construction, including replacement hospitals and hospital renovations and additions. Today, we continue to challenge the traditional concepts and industry norms in the highly fragmented engineering, architectural and construction industries.  HBE has completed over one thousand turnkey, health care projects across the United States, building a national reputation as an integrated organization capable of executing complicated projects on time and within budget.

Headquartered in St. Louis, HBE ranks as one of the largest privately held companies in St. Louis with a staff of over 400 people including architects, engineers and construction experts.  

On June 2, 2008, HBE Corporation announced the separation of its health care design-build business into a private, employee-owned, independent company to operate under the name of HBE Corporation.