Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 24, 2016	Jun. 26, 2015	Jun. 24, 2016	Jun. 26, 2015
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gross revenue		$ 1,250,283	$ 1,324,048	$ 2,593,691	$ 2,588,034
Equity in earnings of joint ventures and affiliated companies		8,717	10,668	17,770	22,018
Operating expenses:
Direct cost of services		(1,227,770)	(1,077,982)	(2,308,090)	(2,080,431)
Selling, general and administrative		(236,350)	(227,351)	(467,625)	(459,373)
Operating (loss) income		(205,120)	29,383	(164,254)	70,248
Other income (expense):
Interest income		110	61	170	102
Interest expense		(2,879)	(4,484)	(6,146)	(8,380)
Loss (income) before provision for income taxes		(207,889)	24,960	(170,230)	61,970
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		53,699	(9,326)	39,764	(18,831)
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) income attributable to CH2M		$ (62,042)	$ 16,278	$ (37,463)	$ 39,776
Net (loss) income attributable to CH2M per common share (Note 5)1:
Basic (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ (2.53)	$ 0.59	$ (1.67)	$ 1.45
Diluted (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ (2.53)	$ 0.59	$ (1.67)	$ 1.45
Weighted average number of common shares:
Basic (in shares)		25,993,448	27,340,328	26,064,581	27,351,912
Diluted (in shares)		25,993,448	27,364,202	26,064,581	27,382,949

[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