History
A history of innovation at the foundation of many of the world’s largest construction projects
1990s
Deep roots in engineering and project management
Contruent Enterprise, formerly known as ARES PRISM, was originally developed by engineers—not for commercial sale, but to meet the rigorous internal demands of their own projects. Over 25 years ago, ARES Corporation, a provider of engineering, risk and project management services, created the software out of necessity when no existing cost management solutions met their high standards. What began as an in-house solution has since evolved into a powerful, enterprise-grade project controls platform used by organizations worldwide.
1995
ARES PRISM launches to external customers
ARES Corporation developed the first iteration of ARES PRISM to meet its own stringent cost management performance standards. Designed by seasoned project managers with decades of real-world experience, the software was later introduced to the broader market to tackle some of the construction industry’s most complex project control challenges.
1996
First customer breaks ground
A leading North American mining company became the first to implement ARES PRISM, marking a pivotal moment in the software’s evolution. This milestone drove the expansion of its capabilities into procurement, materials management, engineering progress and estimating—empowering complex, large-scale construction projects with greater control and precision.
2010
International expansion to meet demand
As ARES PRISM gained traction in the infrastructure and rail sectors, the company expanded globally to support its rapidly growing client base. New offices were established in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, with active projects spanning 26 additional countries. Today, ARES PRISM is recognized as the leading lifecycle cost management solution on the market powering some of the world’s largest and most complex rail initiatives.
2010
Major product enhancements developed
In response to growing market demand for a comprehensive and modern project management solution, ARES PRISM evolved to include powerful new modules—spanning Cost Management, Engineering, Contracts, Procurement, Integrator and Executive Dashboards—delivering greater visibility and control across the entire project lifecycle.
2017
Expanded capabilities earn global recognition
With the continuous expansion of its feature set, ARES PRISM garnered international acclaim. Prestigious honors—such as AACE International’s Excellence in Cost Management Award and the Global Award for Project Controls in a Megaproject at the Project Controls Expo UK—underscored ARES PRISM’s position as a global leader in project controls innovation.
2021
New investors, new leadership
With strategic backing from growth equity firm M33 Growth, ARES PRISM accelerated product innovation and scaled its global reach. Following the retirement of founder Richard Stuart, the company ushered in a new era of leadership under seasoned software executive Ryan Kubacki, whose vision is guiding the next phase of growth and transformation.
2022
Opening of new global headquarters
ARES PRISM transitioned its headquarters from Burlingame, California, to Naperville, Illinois—strategically positioning the company in the heart of the Midwest’s “Silicon Prairie.” This new central location serves as a dynamic hub for collaboration across North America and the global project controls community.
2023
A new name, a proven solution—Faster to Deliver
ARES PRISM is now Contruent, introducing a bold new brand and its most advanced solution yet: Contruent Enterprise. Backed by 30+ years of expertise, this out-of-the-box platform delivers instant impact—transforming project management with real-time cost tracking, contract oversight and automated workflows.
Fully deployed in just four months, Contruent Enterprise empowers teams with total visibility and control, enabling faster decisions, better forecasting, and on-time, on-budget delivery of complex megaprojects.
2024
A year of innovation and growth
Key product enhancements included the launch of Magic Grid for advanced data aggregation and a new Contracts Dashboard via Power BI integration. The acquisition of ProcureWare strengthened Contruent’s procurement capabilities, while strategic leadership additions signaled continued momentum and growth. Contruent also reinforced its industry presence by sponsoring major events like Advancing Project Controls and Project Controls Expo USA.
2025
Adancing change collaboration and digital innovation
In 2025, Contruent Enterprise is set to evolve with a focus on change collaboration, delivering web-based workflows, real-time data sharing and enhanced document management. Planned enhancements to cost planning, estimating and analytics will further reinforce Contruent’s leadership in modern project controls, while continuous updates to the platform will ensure customers have access to the latest tools to drive project success.