Northwest Construction’s Top Design Firm Survey

The Top Design Firms Survey shows some declines in revenue, backing up the prediction that the construction market will slow down in mid 2008 and 2009.

Total revenues for the top 10 firms in the 2006 survey were $826 million compared to $640 million in this year’s survey. The decline is due to several large firms not participating and a change in the way CH2MHill reported its numbers.  Last year the company had tri state Revenue of about $352 million, including its architecture arm.

One of the most unusual “largest projects” listed is GeoEngineer’s Beaufort Sea survey, with a pricetag of $6 million.  The spike in the price in oil and new oil drilling technology will no doubt encourage construction in the geographic area, if environmentalists and developers can reach a compromise.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct EIS, Phase 2, being completed by Parametrix, and the Harmony Road Area Transpsortation Improvement Project EIS, are the two road projects in the Top Ten mix.  Mixed-use housing projects, 5050 Madison and the 12th and Washington Mixed Use Building are listed as the largest projects by NBBJ, Seattle and Zimmer Gunsul Frasca, Portland respectively. ZGF plans to move into the building when it’s completed.

Continued success of companies such as Microsoft and its travel arm Expedia.com, which signed lease agreements for the bulk of the office space available in the Bravern and Tower 333, respectively are adding fuel to the fire.

If there was a trend for 2007, it’s been sustainable building. The Portland and Seattle markets have more LEED certified buildings than any other part of the country. LEED certified professionals work at firms of every size.  Sustainable building design is mainstream and seen as a cost saver, not a marketing gimmick or eccentricity.

In addition, to our listings, we are featuring a few projects from large design firms in each state.

If you would like to be included in this survey next year, please email lucy_bodilly@mcgraw-hill.com.

advertisement