Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 24, 2016	Jun. 26, 2015	Jun. 24, 2016	Jun. 26, 2015
Earnings Per Share
Period for aggregate contractual obligation				5 years
Numerator - basic and diluted:
Net (loss) income		$ (154,190)	$ 15,634	$ (130,466)	$ 43,139
Less: loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		92,148	644	93,003	(3,363)
Net (loss) attributable to CH2M		(62,042)	16,278	(37,463)	39,776
Less: income allocated to preferred stockholders - basic			63		77
Less: accrued dividends attributable to preferred stockholders		3,612	55	6,176	55
Net income available to common stockholders - basic and diluted		$ (65,654)	$ 16,160	$ (43,639)	$ 39,644
Denominators:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic		25,993,448	27,340,328	26,064,581	27,351,912
Dilutive effect of common stock equivalents (in shares)			12,000		19,000
Diluted adjusted weighted-average common shares outstanding, assuming conversion of common stock equivalents (in shares)		25,993,448	27,364,202	26,064,581	27,382,949
Basic net (loss) income per common share	[1]	$ (2.53)	$ 0.59	$ (1.67)	$ 1.45
Diluted net (loss) income per common share	[1]	$ (2.53)	$ 0.59	$ (1.67)	$ 1.45

[1] Represents net (loss) income attributable to CH2M less (i) income allocated to preferred stockholders of $63 and $77 for the three and six months ended June 26, 2015, respectively, and (ii) accrued dividends attributable to preferred stockholders of $3,612 and $6,176 for the three and six months ended June 24, 2016, respectively, and $55 and $55 for the three and six months ended June 26, 2015, respectively