2011 Top 500 Design Firms

The 2011 Top 500 Design Firms
August 2, 2010

The industry is still working through odd patches between the recession and what appears to be
the early stages of recovery. As many firms search for clarity about markets and trends, ENR has
re-engineered a new approach to the findings of the ENR Top 500 Design Firms survey. Look for
new infographics with data and viewpoints from the nation’s largest design firms, presented in
easy-to-read formats created to provide readers with fresh insights.

Article:
The Top 500 Design Firms: Starting the Long, Slow Climb out of the Recession

Rankings:
The Top 500 Design Firms

Top 500 dialogue
Top 20 by sector
Top 50 designers in international markets
Top 100 pure designers
Top 500 up close

The industry is still working
through odd patches
between the recession and
what appears to be the early
stages of recovery. As many
firms search for clarity about
the top 500 design firms markets and trends, ENR
has re-engineered a new
Starting the long, Slow climb out approach to the findings of
of the receSSion by gary J. tulacz the ENR Top 500 Design
Firms survey. Look for
new infographics with data
and viewpoints from the
nation’s largest design firms,
presented in easy-to-read
formats created to provide
readers with fresh insights.

500
60 2010-2011 at a glance 62 Game changer 70 Top 50 designers in 73 Innovation
60 Past decade's revenue 64 Who bought whom international markets 74 Top 500 up close
61 Markets analysis 65 Top 500 dialogue 70 Hot markets 74 How to read the tables
61 Hiring 66 Top 20 by sector 72 Top 100 77 Top 500 list
pure designers
62 Global market analysis 96 Index of firms

00 2010 at a glance
00 Last Year/This Year
00 The Top Movers
00 Top 20 by revenue
00 Top 20 by catergory
00 Heading Here
00 Top 50 designers in
International Markers
00 Top 100 Pure Designers
00 How to read the list
00 Top 500 List
00 Index of Firms

enr.com April 25, 2011  ENR  59

ENR04252011TOP500_intro.indd 59 4/18/11 9:17:19 PM

the top 500 design firms

2010-2011 at a glance
Number of Firms Volume (in $ billions) Number of Firms
Reporting Profitability Total Revenue Reporting Size of Backlog
79.8
421 Domestic Revenue
202 Higher
International Revenue
Lower
Domestic Profits

Domestic Loss 57.9 Same

International Profit

International Loss 123 127

137 22.0

42 59

Comparing the
Past Decade’s $ 50.1 $ 50.1 $ 49.2 $ 53.0 $ 59.3 $ 69.6 $ 80.6 $ 90.6 $ 80.0 $ 79.8
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Design Revenue
(in $ billions) Source: McGraw-Hill Construction Reasearch & Analytics/ENR.

For the First time in over three years, the construction market would improve over the next 12 months. Of
industry is seeing signs that the deep industry recession the 418 firms on the Top 500 that answered this ques-
has bottomed out and the market is turning around. tion, 58.9% said the market would improve. Only 6%
But among large design firms, no one is ready to pop believed it would continue to decline, while 35.2%
any corks to celebrate. However, most firms believe thought the market would stay the same.
the recovery will be a long, slow climb with some “I don’t think anyone believes that we are out of
bumps along the way. “Yes, we have the recession yet,” says Brad Perkins, CEO of Perkins
The results can be seen in ENR’s Top 500 Design been pressed, Eastman. “We are looking a ‘bathtub’ curve of a re-
but there are
Firms list. The Top 500, taken as a group, had overall covery. We are out of the drain, but we will have a
some really
design revenue of $79.8 billion in 2010, down 0.2% good signs in long, gradual rise before we hit a significant upward
from 2009’s $80 billion and 11.9% from 2008’s high- the market slope,” says Craig Martin, CEO of Jacobs.
water mark of $90.6 billion. Not surprisingly, the do- for the next Dick Fox, CEO of CDM adds, “I think it is going
mestic U.S. market was hit harder for the Top 500 than 24 months.” to take two years for the market to come all the way
the international market. Design revenue for projects John Dionisio, back. I don’t think recovery will come this year, but
in the U.S. for the Top 500 fell 2.3% to $57.86 billion CEO, AECOM there will be slow increases in the market.”
in 2010 from $59.22 billion in 2009. Revenue from John Cryer, principal at PageSoutherlandPage, says
projects outside the U.S. rose in 2010 to $21.96 billion, he is seeing more private-sector requests for qualifica-
up 5.6% from $20.80 billion in 2009. However, do- tions but was surprised at how quickly federal-sector
mestic revenue dropped 15.1% over the two-year pe- bids shut down as the debate in Congress over budget
riod from 2008 to 2010, while international design cuts heated up. “This time, I think the private sector
revenue fell 2.1% during the same time period for the will lead us out of the recession.”
Top 500. John Dionisio, CEO of AECOM, says firms have
There is a general feeling among the Top 500 firms learned to work smarter and will be better prepared
that the markets will recover over the next 12 months. when the market turns around. “Yes, we have all been
The ENR online survey contained a series of market- pressed, but there are some really good signs in the
related questions, including whether survey partici- market for the next 12 months,” Dionisio says. He did
pants believed prospects for the U.S. construction not elaborate on what those signs are.
60  ENR  April 25, 2011 enr.com

ENR04252011TOP500_overview.indd 60 4/18/11 9:12:15 PM

oVerVieW
General Building
16,713.4 (20.9%)

market Analysis
Transportation
Petroleum
16,459.5 (20.6%)
13,596.7 (17.0%)

Industrial Water
3,637.3 (4.6%) 5,334.4 (6.7%) Sewer / Waste Hazardous Waste Power
Manufacturing 5,273.7 (6.6%)
1,603.9 (2.0%) 6,847.4 (8.6%) 7,685.4 (9.6%)

Other
(Measured $ millions) Telecom 2,058.6 (2.6%)
Source: McGraw-Hill Construction 614.6 (0.8%)
Reasearch & Analytics/ENR.

Increase
Professional Professional
(Measured in
Domestic International Decrease
firms reporting)
Staff Hiring Staff Hiring Stayed the Same Source: McGraw-Hill Construction
Reasearch & Analytics/ENR.

“That the economy seems to be on a steady course
toward sustained growth is a cause for optimism, but
not exuberance,” says Kathleen McGinty, senior vice
457 parent companies. And two firms on this year’s Top
500 already have been acquired this year.
Among the larger deals was Jacobs’ $675-million
top 500 firms
president of Weston Solutions. She expects weak purchase of the mining and metals operations of Nor-
sent surveys in
growth in the short term. way’s Aker Solutions. Mining and metals is a very ro-
last year.
For most, if not all, the firms on the list, the biggest bust market, and the acquisition is squarely in the firm’s
concern is project funding in the public sector. “No sweet spot, says Martin. He says the acquisition puts
one has money, and no one has a good way to get
money, so the public sector is going to be problematic
41.6% Jacobs at the top end of that market, along with Fluor
and Bechtel.
in the near term,” says Jacobs’ Martin. Only those seg- saw revenue Martin says many design firms have a lot of cash
ments within the public sector that have revenue increases but few places to invest it other than through acquisi-
streams attached through such sources as tolls or rate- between 2009 tions. “Acquisition prices have finally come down from
payers will remain steady to strong, he says. and 2010. previous highs, with multiples now back down to sin-
Some firms say a pause in new projects hasn’t gle digits,” Martin states. He says Jacobs is looking for
stopped public agencies from preparing for a turn-
around in funding. “Utilities are continuing planning 57.1% deals in upstream oil and gas markets as well as the
right opportunities in power markets.
activity,” says Dan McCarthy, president of Black & saw revenue Canada’s Stantec is one of the most active compa-
Veatch’s global water group. “Even in California, where declines nies in acquisitions in the U.S. In 2010, it bought three
activity is down by half, agencies are engaged in long- between 2009 firms from last year’s Top 500 Design Firms list: No.
term planning. They know they can’t ramp up pro- and 2010. 85, Burt Hill, Philadelphia, for $36 million; No. 318,
grams quickly, so they want to be prepared when fund- WilsonMiller, Naples, Fla., and No. 485, ECO:Logic,
ing does become available.” Rocklin, Calif. And this year, it has acquired
Anshen+Allen Architects, which is No. 284 on this
Who Owns Them Now? year’s list. “I believe we have achieved critical mass in
One of the biggest trends in the design profession is the U.S., with nearly 5,000 staff to go [and] 6,000 in
consolidation among firms. This year, 12 firms from Canada,” says Stantec CEO Robert Gomes.
the 2010 Top 500 were acquired or absorbed into their Gomes says acquisitions were difficult in 2008 and


the top 500 design firms oVerVieW

global market Analysis
Asia / Australia
Canada 6,338.2 (28.9%)
5,186.1 (23.6%)

Middle East Europe
3,131.0 (14.3%) 4,602.4 (21.0%) Domestic Market
International Market Revenue: 57,867.5
Revenue: 21,957.3

Latin America
1237.8 (5.6%)

Africa
Carribean Islands 1,304.0 (5.9%)
157.0 (0.7%)

(Measured $ millions) (Measured $ millions)
Source: McGraw-Hill Construction Source: McGraw-Hill Construction
Reasearch & Analytics/ENR. Reasearch & Analytics/ENR.

2009 because it was tough to value firms in a down
market based solely on expectations. Also, many firms
had unrealistic estimates of their own value in a reces-
sionary market. “As it turned out, we made no acquisi-
tions in the first half of 2010 but 10 in the second half,”
he says.
Stantec believes in the strength of its own brand.
“While there is value in brand names of acquired firms,
we are acquiring talent, not just a name,” says Gomes.
That is why it rebrands the firms it acquires under the
Stantec name. “We realize that it is difficult for some
firms, but we try to provide the people of the acquired
firms with greater resources to match greater chal-
lenges,” he says. Seven of the Stantec’s 11 senior vice
presidents are from acquired firms. Game changer | By gary J. tulacz
Another Canadian designer that made a splash in
the U.S. in 2010 was exp Global, which changed its public-parsons partnership
name from Trow Global on April 4. The firm acquired Many design firms in infrastructure in determining whether a particular
Teng Affiliated Cos., Chicago, which ranked No. 157 markets are seeking alternative project lends itself to alternative
on last year’s Top 500, and X-nth, Maitland, Fla., which financing sources for projects. financing and provide them
Parsons Corp. is taking the next options on how to proceed,”
ranked No. 198. “We had been in the pipeline and oil
step by creating a new group, McMorrow says. “We provide
sectors in the U.S., but two years ago we redirected the Parsons Enterprises, to help create clients options, and they decide
company to be more global in a broad variety of sec- alternative financing plans and, in what is best for them.”
tors,” says Rob Petrov, senior vice president of exp the right cases, invest in the But Parsons is not simply willing
Global. “We are now a full-service firm in the U.S.” projects themselves. to advise clients. “We proceed on
“The joke has been that you the assumption that we may be an
Defense contractor SAIC has made a major move
would go to conferences on equity partner in the project,”
into the construction design market. In the past alternative financing and discuss McMorrow says. Parsons has
three years, SAIC has acquired Oklahoma City- the same three projects over and worked on several P3 projects,
based Benham Group and Denver-based R.W. Beck. over,” says Ruth McMorrow, new including Autoroute 25 in Montreal
“We are one of the few major defense firms that have executive vice president at (see above). McMorrow says that
Photo Courtesy Parsons

Parsons. McMorrow helped she already is reviewing 12
moved into the construction market through acquisi-
arrange public-private deals on projects from other units of
tion,” says J.T. Grumski, senior vice president of civil works as an investment Parsons that may be equity
SAIC. He says that SAIC is continuing to look to add banker at Scotia Capital, Toronto. financing candidates in the
new firms but not to build size. “We are looking for “It will be our job to assist clients transportation and water sectors. 




specific expertise in enduring markets, such as energy
and technology.”
Who Bought Whom...
Buying Markets Firms from last year’s Top 500 that were recently acquired
Many firms are looking to acquire firms so they can
expand in their strongest markets. One of the biggest The Acquirers The Acquired
was CDM’s acquisition of Wilbur Smith Associates, a
deal that was announced on Feb. 25. WSA is ranked 158 Nolte Vertical 5
No. 70 on this year’s Top 500. “This has moved us into
the water market and transportation,” says Fox.
94 DLR KKE Architects (335)

Another firm getting into new market sectors is 01 AECOM
CDI Engineering Solutions, which last year purchased
L. Robert Kimball & Associates, Ebensburg, Pa. Kim- 12 Arcadis RTKL Associates Inc. (56)
ball was ranked No. 155 on last year’s Top 500. This
move gives the firm new capabilities in the infrastruc- 55 T.Y. Lin Medina Consultants (453)
ture market, says Bob Giorgio, CDI’s president. Kim-
ball’s capabilities let CDI to play in the general infra-
102 H.W. Lochner
structure markets as well as allow it to provide added 59 exp Global
infrastructure support to its industrial customers, both
in the U.S. and abroad, he adds.
But not all design firms are looking to grow through
acquisition. HNTB topped the $1 billion mark in 2010 25 Stantec Eco:LOGIC Engineering (485)
by just $60,000, but the company did it through organic
Burt Hill (85)
growth. The milestone was a long time coming, says
Paul Yarossi, president of HNTB Holdings. “We have
not made a major acquisition in the past 10 years.”
The move toward consolidation has put many mid- 31 Michael Baker
size firms on the defensive. However, some midsize
firms say expertise is more important than size. “Firms
like AECOM are huge compared to us, but their bridge
Acquiring Firm Acquired Firm
division is no bigger that ours,” says Mike Britt, vice
president of Modjeski and Masters Inc. “I have never 00 2011 Rank (00) 2010 Rank
had a client ask me how big we are. They are more
concerned about whether we can provide them with a
highly skilled team on-site,” says Craig Goehring,
CEO, Brown and Caldwell. He adds that consolidation Many design firms are expanding their array of ser-
also has removed a few competitors that have been on the vices. For example, AECOM acquired Tishman Con-
absorbed into larger firms. Web struction last summer for $245 million. “We always
The recession has taken its toll on design firms, but thought of ourselves as pure designers, but everything
relatively few have failed. This is because most major is changing, and we found we needed to get into the
firms have paid attention to their bottom lines, despite construction side,” says AECOM’s Dionisio. He notes
pressures to maintain the top line. “We have been more For expanded that AECOM has no plans to do any self-perform con-
content on the
selective in selecting projects,” says Carl Roehling, struction and will stick to the construction manage-
Top 500 List
CEO of SmithGroup. “We don’t want to pursue work see enr.com/ ment side. He says the Tishman acquisition allows
just for the sake of volume.” toplists. AECOM to bring both construction and design per-
For exp Global, growth is a matter of flexibility. spectives to a client.
“You have to have a growth scheme where people can SSOE is another firm that is exploring new services.
move from one market to another to take advantage “For the past two years, SSOE has a new focus on
of opportunities,” says Ivan Dvorak, executive vice construction and program management,” says Vince
president of U.S. operations for exp Global. However, DiPofi, senior vice president of the SSOE Group. He
he says business development is a constant challenge. says the firm now can provide clients a full range of
“It is like mowing the grass. You let it go for one week project services, including construction and program
and things start looking bad,” says Dvorak. management as well as planning and design. “It is now


oVerVieW

the top 500 dialogue
ENR: Do you see any existing or new technologies ENR: What do you think about the trend toward
that are helping change the design process? industry consolidation?

BRaD PERkiNs, CEO viNCE DiPOfi,
PERkiNs EastmaN sENiOR viCE PREsiDENt
New York, N.Y. ssOE
Toledo, Ohio

“When you have a small professional team at an “the problem is there is a lack of succession
international location, it takes a sophisticated planning. the retiring baby boom generation is
communication capability to support them. it is leaving many firms without a solid succession
hard to imagine how you can work internation- plan in place. since there isn’t viable
ally without Bim and Web-based technology.” succession, the best option is to sell.”

CaRL ROEhLiNG, CEO ChRis viNCzE, CEO
smithGROuP tRC COs. iNC.
Detroit, Mich. Lowell, Mass.

“the industry is grinding ahead with Bim, but “Consolidation is inevitable as globalization
we are not at the point where we can plug in all becomes a bigger factor in the industry. now
the elements of design, costs and construction we are seeing an invasion of foreign players in
into a model. We are not even close to the industry. Unfortunately, this means regional
design-on-the-fly yet.” players are getting squeezed.”

ivaN DvORak, ExECutivE viCE kEith WaRta, PREsiDENt
PREsiDENt Of u.s. OPERatiONs BaRLEtt & WEst iNC.
ExP GLOBaL Topeka, Kan.
Chicago, Ill.

“We do not hire technicians anymore because “success in our industry has always been
the young professionals coming out of schools based on one-to-one relationships. We believe
now can handle the technology themselves and that effectively establishing and maintaining
work it faster. i am amazed how they can those relationships is what is most important,
provide so many alternative solutions.” not the size of the company.”

fRaNk CODisPOti, PREsiDENt CRaiG GOEhRiNG, CEO
saiC-BENham CONstRuCtORs BROWN aND CaLDWELL
McLean, Va. Walnut Creek, Calif.

“the world is definitely getting quicker. We have “this industry is very local and highly
a new generation of engineers who are growing fragmented in nature. i have never had a client
up on twitter and facebook and are beginning ask me how big we are. they are more
to show those of us in the non-twitter concerned about whether we can provide them
generation how to better communicate.” with a highly skilled team on site.”

RON GuiLiaNi, GLENN BELL, CEO
sENiOR viCE PREsiDENt simPsON GumPERtz & hEGER iNC.
ssOE Waltham, Mass.
Toledo, Ohio

“We are seeing a definite trend toward facility “We are not looking to acquire for size, but to
re-use projects. Laser scanning and point cloud add niche markets or to gain specialized skills.
technology allow us to gather information about for example, we are looking for firms with
the existing structure quickly without having to expertise in energy markets, and in advanced
conduct field studies or surveys.” building skins and materials science.”




the top 20 by sector
1 iNDustRiaL PROCEss/ 2 tRaNsPORtatiON 3 GENERaL BuiLDiNG
PEtROLEum revenue: $10.6 Billion
top 20 market share: 64.27%
revenue: $7.1 Billion
top 20 market share: 42.46 %
rank top 20 market share: 88.36 % rank rank
2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010

1 1 fLuOR CORP. 1 1 aECOm tEChNOLOGy CORP. 1 1 aECOm tEChNOLOGy CORP.
2 2 JaCOBs 2 2 uRs CORP. 2 2 uRs CORP.
3 3 kBR 3 3 PaRsONs BRiNCkERhOff iNC. 3 3 GENsLER
4 5 amEC 4 6 hNtB COs. 4 4 JaCOBs
5 4 BEChtEL 5 4 LOuis BERGER GROuP 5 5 PERkiNs+WiLL
6 8 uRs CORP. 6 5 JaCOBs 6 6 hOk
7 7 Ch2m hiLL 7 7 Ch2m hiLL 7 7 hDR
8 6 mustaNG ENGiNEERiNG 8 8 hDR 8 10 tEtRa tECh iNC.
9 9 CB&i 9 9 PaRsONs 9 8 skiDmORE OWiNGs & mERRiLL LLP
10 14 WORLEyPaRsONs GROuP iNC. 10 10 stv GROuP iNC. 10 ** aRCaDis/maLCOLm PiRNiE/RtkL
11 10 thE shaW GROuP iNC. 11 14 miChaEL BakER CORP.. 11 11 NBBJ
12 16 fuGRO (usa) iNC. 12 11 atkiNs NORth amERiCa 12 15 CaNNON DEsiGN
13 13 uNivERsaLPEGasus iNtERNatiONaL iNC 13 13 tRaNsystEms CORP. 13 9 hks iNC.
14 15 ENGLOBaL 14 12 kimLEy-hORN aND assOCiatEs iNC. 14 14 Ch2m hiLL
15 12 s&B ENGiNEERs aND CONstRuCtORs LtD. 15 ** kBR 15 17 smithGROuP iNC.
16 11 mCDERmOtt iNtERNatiONaL iNC. 16 17 t.y. LiN iNtERNatiONaL 16 16 PaRsONs BRiNCkERhOff iNC.
17 17 CDi ENGiNEERiNG sOLutiONs 17 18 hatCh mOtt maCDONaLD 17 ** amEC
18 19 iNsitufORm tEChNOLOGiEs iNC. 18 15 WiLBuR smith assOCiatEs iNC. 18 18 tERRaCON CONsuLtaNts iNC.
19 ** CaRDNO usa iNC. 19 16 GaNNEtt fLEmiNG 19 13 PaRsONs
20 ** BuRNs & mCDONNELL 20 20 BEChtEL 20 ** hammEL GREEN & aBRahamsON iNC. (hGa)

20% of our business globally.” firms’ competitiveness. “Contractors are seeing us as
Many firms have been able to adapt their organiza- a commodity,” says Dvorak. He says architects par-
tions to deal with the sluggish markets. “We have been ticularly are vulnerable to this competitive pressure in
able to grow a bit in this market,” says Eric Keen, ex- design-build projects. “They treat all architects as the
ecutive vice president of HDR. He attributes this same, except perhaps for the star-chitects.” He says
growth to HDR’s ability to share work. some designers are so desperate that they are willing
“This is to do preliminary design work on bids for free, and
The Competition Is On beginning to contractors and developers are more than willing to
look like the
The soft market means that competition remains recession of
take advantage of that fact.
tough. “Some firms are taking jobs at cost or even be- the 1970s ... For midsize firms, teaming with contractors on
low cost,” says Dvorak. “The competition is very inflation and design-build projects can be frustrating. “If you are
strong, and we are seeing some clients driving costs spiking oil working on a bid, some contractors expect you to work
below what is sustainable,” says Glen Bell, CEO of prices that on ‘sweat equity’ in preparing the bid,” says Britt of
caused us to
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. He says clients in- struggle even
Modjeski and Masters Inc. Contractors often will tell
creasingly are looking for more ways to shift risk. after the designers to limit their pre-bid work to just basic en-
An executive at one large firm is more blunt. “En- recession gineering on a “least cost” design, rather than what
gineering firms continued to reduce fees for engineer- ended.” may be the most appropriate for the project, he says.
ing services, resulting in an erosion of respect that the John Cryer, The recent softness in the public markets has added
rest of the world has toward the profession. We have Page- to the competitive pressures, drawing more firms into
Southerland
to stop hurting ourselves and sell our hours for the true Page the private sector. “With the huge decline in the fed-
value we bring to our clients. Unfortunately, engineer- eral market, I would not be surprised to see big firms
ing firms are signing up for that additional risk without in that market start moving into the private sector,
additional fees to compensate for it,” says the execu- where we are focused,” says Chris Vincze, CEO of
tive, who asked not to be identified. TRC Cos. Brown and Caldwell’s Goehring admits his
Contractors also are taking advantage of design firm’s presence in the private sector is growing. “The


exp globAl Inc. changed its

#59 name from Trow Global on April 4.
It acquired last year's No. 157 Teng
Afilliated Cos. and No. 198, X-nth.
oVerVieW

4 POWER
5 hazaRDOus WastE
6 WatER
top 20 market share: 79.49 % top 20 market share: 84.38 % top 20 market share: 72.28 %
rank rank rank
2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010

1 3 BLaCk & vEatCh 1 2 aECOm tEChNOLOGy CORP. 1 1 tEtRa tECh iNC.
2 5 saRGENt & LuNDy LLC 2 1 uRs CORP. 2 4 Ch2m hiLL
3 2 BEChtEL 3 3 aRCaDis/maLCOLm PiRNiE/RtkL 3 2 mWh GLOBaL
4 6 aECOm tEChNOLOGy CORP. 4 4 tEtRa tECh iNC. 4 3 aECOm tEChNOLOGy CORP.
5 1 thE shaW GROuP iNC. 5 5 Ch2m hiLL 5 5 uRs CORP.
6 8 BuRNs & mCDONNELL 6 8 BEChtEL 6 7 hDR
7 9 fLuOR CORP. 7 9 PaRsONs 7 6 BLaCk & vEatCh
8 12 amEC 8 7 thE shaW GROuP iNC. 8 8 CDm
9 7 Ch2m hiLL 9 11 CONEstOGa-ROvERs & assOC. 9 16 aRCaDis/maLCOLm PiRNiE/RtkL
10 10 tEtRa tECh iNC. 10 12 fLuOR CORP. 10 10 LOuis BERGER GROuP
11 ** JaCOBs 11 14 WEstON sOLutiONs iNC. 11 ** PaRsONs BRiNCkERhOff iNC.
12 4 uRs CORP. 12 16 staNtEC iNC. 12 11 JaCOBs
13 13 PaRsONs BRiNCkERhOff iNC. 13 13 tRC COs. iNC. 13 ** amEC
14 17 kiEWit CORP. 14 17 thE kLEiNfELDER GROuP iNC. 14 12 staNtEC iNC.
15 15 WORLEyPaRsONs GROuP iNC. 15 15 CDm 15 13 miChaEL BakER CORP..
16 11 zaChRy hOLDiNGs 16 18 maCtEC iNC. 16 ** kBR
17 16 POWER ENGiNEERs iNC. 17 ** amEC 17 15 CaROLLO ENGiNEERs iNC.
18 18 hDR 18 19 GEOsyNtEC CONsuLtaNts 18 9 PaRsONs
19 19 ENERCON sERviCEs iNC. 19 ** BROWN aND CaLDWELL 19 19 BROWN aND CaLDWELL
20 ** kBR 20 20 JaCOBs 20 ** hazEN aND saWyER PC

private side has always been about 30% to 33% of our Congess over the deficit and the budget.
business, but it now has pushed above that level.” The soft market in the building sector is leading to
rethinking existing facilities. “Our strongest market is
Where Is the Money? in existing buildings, in adaptive re-use, renovation
The general building markets have taken their lumps and rehabilitation,” says Bell. He says the building
during the recession as developer financing dried up stock in many regions is so overbuilt that owners are
to a trickle. Project financing has eased a little, but not “In 2011, I desperately looking for new uses.
by much. “Domestic conventional financing is very project 88% Spikes in energy prices have opened up a secondary
of our gross
conservative, with lenders looking for a lot of equity revenues will
market of energy retrofits. “Anything to do with en-
before financing a project,” says Perkins. “There is a originate in ergy efficiency is hot right now, whether it is in energy
lot of money on the sidelines from banks, insurance Asia.” conservation on new projects or in retrofits,” says Bell,
companies and pension funds that want to invest, but Paul Steelman, noting an increasing emphasis on the building’s skin.
you have to show that the project makes sense.” CEO, “That is where a lot of a building’s systems converge.
To go forward, building projects must show clear Paul Steelman This is where an integration between the designer and
evidence of a return on investment. “[Clients] are look- Associates the contractor can provide a more integrated approach
ing for metrics that support their decision-making to energy savings,” he says.
about particular project or designs. They are looking However, many firms say clients are interested in
for scientific proof that the money will promote their results, not in appearances. “You have to be able to
strategic mission,” says Elizabeth Meek, principal at demonstrate that the retrofits will give a return on
Sasaki Associates. investment within two years to make an impact on the
Roehling of SmithGroup agrees. “The market is market,” says Dvorak.
getting better slowly, incrementally,” he says. However, Increasing emphasis on the provable value of sus-
he cautions that public-sector building work, which tainable design has boosted the market for green
buoyed many firms in the general building market, may building, but it may have an impact on how sustain-
be in for a big correction, citing the current debate in ability is measured. “I don’t think sustainable design


JAcobs acquired the mining and
the top 500 design firms #03 metals practice of Norway’s Aker
Solutions in 2010, giving it a major
presence in that growing market.
oVerVieW

the top 20 by sector
7 sEWER / WastEWatER
8 maNufaCtuRiNG
9 tELECOmmuNiCatiONs
top 20 market share: 68.41% top 20 market share: 86.46 % top 20 market share: 81.93 %
rank rank rank
2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010

1 1 Ch2m hiLL 1 1 JaCOBs 1 1 BLaCk & vEatCh
2 2 aECOm tEChNOLOGy CORP. 2 3 uRs CORP. 2 6 JaCOBs
3 3 mWh GLOBaL 3 2 Ch2m hiLL 3 3 PaRsONs
4 7 uRs CORP. 4 4 tEtRa tECh iNC. 4 4 BEChtEL
5 4 CDm 5 7 maCtEC iNC. 5 5 syska hENNEssy GROuP
6 5 aRCaDis/maLCOLm PiRNiE/RtkL 6 9 GhafaRi assOCiatEs LLC 6 ** mORRisON hERshfiELD
7 6 hDR 7 5 CDi ENGiNEERiNG sOLutiONs 7 7 kCi tEChNOLOGiEs iNC.
8 8 BLaCk & vEatCh 8 8 BuREau vERitas 8 ** ExP GLOBaL iNC.
9 9 tEtRa tECh iNC. 9 6 fOth COs. 9 10 CORGaN assOCiatEs iNC.
10 10 BROWN aND CaLDWELL 10 ** iPs - iNtEGRatED PROJECt sERviCEs 10 15 GPD GROuP
11 11 LOuis BERGER GROuP 11 12 ssOE GROuP 11 ** uRs CORP.
12 12 hazEN aND saWyER PC 12 11 thE DENNis ENGiNEERiNG GROuP LLC 12 ** CDi ENGiNEERiNG sOLutiONs
13 14 sCs ENGiNEERs 13 14 Gza GEOENviRONmENtaL iNC. 13 ** aRCaDis/maLCOLm PiRNiE/RtkL
14 13 CaROLLO ENGiNEERs iNC. 14 17 miDDOuGh iNC. 14 16 tECtONiC ENGiNEERiNG & suRvEyiNG
15 15 GREELEy aND haNsEN LLC 15 16 REyNOLDs smith aND hiLLs iNC. 15 19 miChELs CORP.
16 20 PaRsONs 16 ** BRPh aRChitECts-ENGiNEERs iNC. 16 2 fLuOR CORP.
17 ** amEC 17 20 BuRNs & mCDONNELL 17 ** POWER ENGiNEERs iNC.
18 18 staNtEC iNC. 18 ** GOLDER assOCiatEs iNC. 18 17 tERRaCON CONsuLtaNts iNC.
19 17 JaCOBs 19 18 Cha 19 ** kLiNGstuBBiNs
20 ** iNsitufORm tEChNOLOGiEs iNC. 20 ** CDm 20 ** EsD (ENviRONmENtaL systEms DEsiGN iNC.)

has lost any momentum,” says Perkins. publicly funded projects may begin to dry up. “I heard
But it has lost some its luster, due in part to the cost that only two states are not currently dealing with def-
certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s icits,” says Yarossi. That kind of atmosphere is not con-
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design stan- ducive to a robust public market.
dards. “LEED did a great job in setting the standards The biggest question for infrastructure firms is
for green building, but now owners are looking at whether federal funding bills will be passed. “With all
other standards to use to measure sustainability,” says “Acquisition the dialogue in D.C., we are afraid that the focus will
Perkins. prices have be on spending only what comes in,” says Keen of
finally come
Several designers say they are surprised to see that down from
HDR. “All these continuing funding resolutions have
LEED is losing some of its appeal. “I am really sur- previous had a devastating effect on infrastructure. No one can
prised that there is not as much demand of LEED highs, with make long-term plans, so public agencies are focusing
certification on the commercial side except for Class multiples now on basic operations and maintenance,” says Giorgio.
A buildings,” says Cryer. in the single No one seems to be willing to predict whether there
digits.”
“LEED and sustainability are still the price of entry will be a transportation reauthorization bill this year.
for major building projects,” says Roehling. However, Craig Martin , Some firms are concerned whether any major funding
Jacobs CEO
he says sustainable design now is moving beyond bill will be passed this year. “I am not confident that
LEED and focusing on net-zero buildings. “That is major bills will be passed in the current political situ-
the next threshold.” ation,” says Martin. “We as an industry have to provide
a united front to make sure the funding is there to
Lack of Funding Takes Its Toll preserve our aging infrastructure,” says Yarossi.
During the beginning of the recession, boosts in fed- Many firms working in the public sector worry that
eral and state funding for infrastructure helped soften many public agencies tend to have an inefficient mind-
the blow for many construction firms. But, with the set. They tend to be very conservative and decide by
budget and deficit debates in Washington and increas- consensus, rather than acting decisively, says one de-
ing budget squeezes at the state and local levels, purely signer. The shortage of funding has many public agen-


the top 500 design firms oVerVieW

the top 50 designers in international markets
rank rank rank
2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2009

1 1 aECOm tEChNOLOGy CORP. 18 18 PaRsONs 35 32 hDR
2 3 JaCOBs 19 23 mustaNG ENGiNEERiNG 36 25 staNLEy CONsuLtaNts iNC.
3 2 fLuOR CORP. 20 20 hOk 37 37 haLCROW iNC.
4 4 amEC 21 24 GENsLER 38 31 CONEstOGa-ROvERs & assOC.
5 5 kBR 22 ** aRCaDis/maLCOLm PiRNiE/RtkL 39 46 WatG
6 6 BEChtEL 23 30 hatCh mOtt maCDONaLD 40 44 CaLLisON
7 11 uRs CORP. 24 21 skiDmORE OWiNGs & mERRiLL LLP 41 50 RafaEL viNOLy aRChitECts PC
8 7 Ch2m hiLL 25 51 fuGRO (usa) iNC. 42 38 BuRNs aND ROE GROuP iNC.
9 10 PaRsONs BRiNCkERhOff iNC. 26 27 kOhN PEDERsEN fOx assOCiatEs PC 43 39 POPuLOus
10 8 LOuis BERGER GROuP 27 22 CDi ENGiNEERiNG sOLutiONs 44 48 BELt COLLiNs
11 9 CB&i 28 29 t.y. LiN iNtERNatiONaL 45 47 ECOLOGy & ENviRONmENt iNC.
12 12 thE shaW GROuP iNC. 29 26 PERkiNs+WiLL 46 42 CaNNON DEsiGN
13 13 mWh GLOBaL 30 28 CDm 47 45 saRGENt & LuNDy LLC
14 17 WORLEyPaRsONs GROuP iNC. 31 ** mORRisON hERshfiELD 48 43 WiLBuR smith assOCiatEs iNC.
15 15 BLaCk & vEatCh 32 33 ENviRON hOLDiNGs iNC. 49 40 aRuP
16 19 tEtRa tECh iNC. 33 36 iNsitufORm tEChNOLOGiEs iNC. 50 ** vERsaR iNC.
17 14 mCDERmOtt iNtERNatiONaL iNC. 34 ** iNGENium iNtERNatiONaL iNC.

cies rethinking their approach to their capital assets.
“We are doing a series of roundtable discussions with
public utilities on economic realities, and we are find-
ing many moving toward a more private-sector busi-
ness model in planning,” says McCarthy.
Some designers are applying private-sector pro-
cesses to public agencies. “We understand government
agencies’ needs and show them solutions drawn from
the private sector,” says McGinty. But that’s not a one-
size-fits-all solution, she notes, saying, “You can’t sell
a cash-strapped utility with a Fortune 500 approach.”

hot markets | By gary J. tulacz Alternative Financing

sun, sand and silicon Thus, many designers are looking to alternative fund-
ing approaches. “The debates currently occurring in
Interest in solar power is plants producing at least 3,000 Washington, D.C., and many state capitols is not
increasing, spurred in part by metric tons a year,” says Bob whether to build and maintain our infrastructure re-
international demand for Giorgio, CDI’s president. China’s
sources but how to fund these necessary programs,”
alternative energy and a recent goal is to produce 10 GW of solar
increase in the price of oil. As a power by 2015. “We are working says Tony Bartolomeo, CEO of Pennoni Associates.
result, there is more demand for on polysilicon plants in China,” He says the public-private partnerships and innovative
the chemical vital to photovoltaic Giorgio says, adding that building technology will have to be relied on to “do more with
solar panels: polycrystalline polysilicon plants generally costs limited resources.”
silicon, or polysilicon. $500 million and up. German-
Dionisio agrees that private financing is needed and
Polysilicon is not a new. It serves based Wacker Chemie AG broke
as the base for most integrated ground on a $1.5-billion polysilicon beneficial to the building and maintenance of the na-
circuits. Now, many design firms, plant in Charleston, Tenn., on April tion’s infrastructure. “What most people don’t realize
including CDI Engineering 8. The plant is designed to is that the New York City subway system and most of
Solutions, see demand for produce 15,000 metric tons of Los Angeles’ early infrastructure was built by private
polysilicon growing exponentially. polysilicon a year.
companies. We need to revisit that approach.” He says
“China has announced that it is “I would estimate the market will
committed to solar power and is grow by 20% to 30% a year for the
most of the resistance to private financing is political,
aP WideWorld

supplying low-interest loans to next several years, and we plan to but the recession is changing that. “You are now seeing
companies willing to build silicon grow with it,” Giorgio says.  governors and state legislatures exploring public-



the top 100 pure designers
FIRM FIRM FIRM
RAnk TYpe RAnk TYpe RAnk TYpe
1 eA aECOm tEChNOLOGy CORP. 36 A NBBJ 71 Ae h.W. LOChNER iNC.
2 eA PaRsONs BRiNCkERhOff iNC. 37 Ae CaNNON DEsiGN 72 epL RBf CONsuLtiNG
3 eA aRCaDis/maLCOLm PiRNiE/RtkL 38 Ae hks iNC. 73 e mORRisON hERshfiELD
4 eAp LOuis BERGER GROuP 39 e ENERCON sERviCEs iNC. 74 eA GuLf iNtERstatE ENGiNEERiNG CO.
5 eA hNtB COs. 40 e atC assOCiatEs iNC. 75 A POPuLOus
6 e WORLEyPaRsONs GROuP iNC. 41 Ae smithGROuP iNC. 76 e WOODaRD & CuRRaN
7 e mustaNG ENGiNEERiNG 42 e WiLBuR smith assOCiatEs iNC. 77 e ECs
8 A GENsLER 43 e GREENmaN-PEDERsEN iNC. 78 Aep kLiNGstuBBiNs
9 eAL staNtEC iNC. 44 e WsP usa 79 e haLCROW iNC.
10 Ge fuGRO (usa) iNC. 45 e GEOsyNtEC CONsuLtaNts 80 e kPff CONsuLtiNG ENGiNEERs
11 eA saRGENt & LuNDy LLC 46 e hazEN aND saWyER PC 81 e LaNGaN ENG’G aND ENviRON. sERviCEs iNC.
12 e CDi ENGiNEERiNG sOLutiONs 47 Ae LEO a DaLy 82 e syska hENNEssy GROuP
13 Ae hOk 48 e CaROLLO ENGiNEERs iNC. 83 e vOLkERt iNC.
14 eA miChaEL BakER CORP.. 49 eNV ECOLOGy & ENviRONmENt iNC. 84 eA thORNtON tOmasEtti iNC.
15 eA maCtEC iNC. 50 eA REyNOLDs smith aND hiLLs iNC. 85 eA DLz CORP.
16 A PERkiNs+WiLL 51 e vaNassE haNGEN BRustLiN iNC. (vhB) 86 A CaLLisON
17 eNV CaRDNO usa iNC. 52 e kCi tEChNOLOGiEs iNC. 87 eA Wiss, JaNNEy, ELstNER assOCiatEs iNC.
18 e uNivERsaLPEGasus iNtERNatiONaL iNC 53 A zGf aRChitECts LLP 88 e affiLiatED ENGiNEERs iNC.
19 eA stv GROuP iNC. 54 eA ssOE GROuP 89 e vERsaR iNC.
20 e tRC COs. iNC. 55 e Cha 90 A hmC aRChitECts
21 e tERRaCON CONsuLtaNts iNC. 56 Ae hammEL GREEN aND aBRahamsON iNC. (hGa) 91 eA GhafaRi assOCiatEs LLC
22 e hatCh mOtt maCDONaLD 57 eA DaviD EvaNs aND assOCiatEs iNC. 92 Ae GREsham, smith aND PaRtNERs
23 e kimLEy-hORN aND assOCiatEs iNC. 58 A kOhN PEDERsEN fOx assOCiatEs PC 93 e WhitmaN, REquaRDt & assOCiatEs LLP
24 e thE kLEiNfELDER GROuP iNC. 59 e BuRNs aND ROE GROuP iNC. 94 eC amBitECh ENGiNEERiNG CORP.
25 eA GaNNEtt fLEmiNG 60 eA mERRiCk & CO. 95 e simPsON GumPERtz & hEGER iNC.
26 eA DEWBERRy 61 eAp WOOLPERt iNC. 96 eA shORt ELLiOtt hENDRiCksON iNC.
27 e BROWN aND CaLDWELL 62 e PENNONi assOCiatEs iNC. 97 Ae PaGEsOuthERLaNDPaGE
28 Ae skiDmORE OWiNGs & mERRiLL LLP 63 e mOffatt & NiChOL 98 e Gai CONsuLtaNts iNC.
29 e BuREau vERitas 64 Ae DLR GROuP 99 eA BuRGEss & NiPLE iNC.
30 eNV ENviRON hOLDiNGs iNC. 65 e RummEL kLEPPER & kahL LLP 100 eA C&s COs.
31 e aRuP 66 eA JOhNsON, miRmiRaN & thOmPsON iNC.
key to tyPe oF FirM
32 eA t.y. LiN iNtERNatiONaL 67 e s&mE iNC.
a architect, E engineer, EC engineer-contractor
33 eA tRaNsystEms CORP. 68 A PERkiNs EastmaN aE architect-engineer, Ea engineer-architect
34 e staNLEy CONsuLtaNts iNC. 69 eA miDDOuGh iNC. ENv environmental, GE geotechnical engineer
L landscape architect, P planner and O other.
35 e ExP GLOBaL iNC. 70 Ae RafaEL viNOLy aRChitECts PC other combinations are possible. Firms classified themselves.

private partnerships enabling legislation,” he says. Many firms have worked to help their public cus-
Yarossi points out that reliance on purely public on the tomers with alternative financing. For example, Par-
funding to answer the nation’s infrastructure needs is Web sons Corp. is in the process of setting up an alternative
a problem. “There has to be a recognition that there financing consultancy, Parsons Enterprises, which will
are a variety of alternative funding sources available to examine its options to provide equity financing on its
finance infrastructure,” he says. He notes that the deal own toward select projects (see page 62). On April 7,
flow has not been very high in the U.S., but he remains For archived it named Dean Harwood, formerly vice president, as
optimistic. “Public agencies are taking a more busi- Top Lists from president of the new group.
2003 to the
ness-like approach to their capital programs.” The environmental markets have felt the strain, as
present see
Martin agrees. “We are not seeing a breakthrough enr.com/ well. “A lot of the work we are seeing is regulatory-
Photo Courtesy enViron

on public-private partnerships, just a few projects here toplists. driven,” says Goehring, which creates its own chal-
and there,” he says. “Private financing is not the answer lenges. He says wastewater technologies are scram-
to our infrastructure need. It is just one element of the bling to keep up with regulatory demands. “The easy
overall answer.” stuff has already been completed. We are now in a


HnTb cos. topped the $1 billion

#17 mark by a mere $60,000 in 2010,
joining 16 other $1-billion-dollar U.S.
design firms on the list this year.
oVerVieW

position of determining how to improve existing tech- Roehling of SmithGroup. “We weren’t the first design
nologies and validating new technologies to meet cli- firm in, but we are pursuing projects selectively. Smith-
ents’ needs,” he says. Group now is working on a 428,000-sq-meter research
Goehring thinks design firms have a new challenge: and development center for Chinese automotive giant
making sure the public understands the need for fund- FAW in Changchun.
ing infrastructure projects in a tough economy. “Once India also is a major target for design firms. “We
you get beyond federally funded programs, you have are helping the Indian Dept. of Environment & For-
to be able to make the case to the ratepayers.” ests design an approach to remediation and hazardous-
waste handling,” says McGinty of Weston Solutions.
Greener Pastures
The recession in the U.S. has more design firms look-
ing abroad. One of the questions on the ENR online
survey form was whether designers anticipated increas-
ing their international presence in the next three years.
Of the 426 Top 500 firms responding to this question,
nearly two-thirds, or 66.0%, said yes.
Of that group seeking international growth, Asia
was the destination of choice, with 165 firms, or 63.2%,
saying they believed that region would be their focus.
Other regions gaining attention from Top 500 firms
were the Middle East (51.3%), Canada (42.1%) and
Latin America (37.9%). Only 25.3% of companies said
they are looking at Europe.
The interest in international work is a natural reac-
tion to slow domestic markets. “Recessions always re-
sult in designers shifting their priorities to interna-
tional work,” says Perkins of Perkins Eastman. During innovation | By gary J. tulacz
the recession of the 1970s, for example, firms turned
toward the Middle East, while in the 1980s, they
environ’s VoC Biotreat
looked to Europe. Then, early in this decade, attention Groundwater and airborne volatile bioplant equipment and avoids the
turned to Asia, he notes. “Among international design- organic compound emissions are additional costs of carbon
ers, if they were doing 15% of their business abroad in regulated by myriad rules from the incinerators and the filtration
2007, they are probably doing 30% now,” he says. U.S. Environmental Protection process. Further, there are minimal
The Middle East has continued to be strong for the Agency. Industrial owners CO2 emissions with the new
complying with EPA rules generally proprietary process, Adams says.
most part, except for some markets. “We have seen
treat airborne emissions by using EPA has approved Environ’s
some disruptions in the Middle East market from po- activated carbon filters and VOC BioTreat as an alternative
litical unrest, but that is mostly localized,” says burning the residue. Waterborne control device for VOCs, and the
Dionisio of AECOM. “The markets in most of the emissions are frequently treated process has been installed
region are strong. For example, we just won a major through biotreatment with successfully at the Marathon Oil
organisms. refinery in Garyville, La. (above).
light-rail program management contract in Qatar.”
Why not consolidate the The American Academy of
Paul Steelman, CEO of Paul Steelman Associates , approach, says Carl Adams, global Environmental Engineers awarded
says the most desirable international region for U.S. leader for industrial wastewater VOC BioTreat its Grand Prize for
firms is Asia. This area is where the firm’s market is treatment at ENVIRON Interna- Research on March 3, 2011.
going to be over the next two years, he notes, saying, tional. “Why have two processes “Every major plant that has a
to treat one problem?” he asks. bioplant can use this system,” so
“In 2011, I project that 88% of our gross revenues will
ENVIRON launched its VOC VOC BioTreat is not expensive to
originate from Asia.” BioTreat™ process in 2010, which design and install and the
The biggest targets for design firms are China and pipes biodegradable airborne operating costs are minimal
India. “The growth rates in India and China and the VOCs into the biotreatment plant compared with the old system,
demand that they are creating is part of the upside of treating waterborne VOCs. says Tom Vetrano, SVP of Environ.
“Clients have always had Since VOC emission control is
Photo Courtesy enViron

the international market,” says Martin. The more that
biotreatment plants to treat the an issue at most refinery, chemical
India and China grow and prosper, the more their water. You just let the bacteria eat and pharmaceutical plants and
firms lose their cost competitiveness, he says. the VOCs,” says Adams. The new steel mills, this innovative process
“China is a market that never slowed down,” says Environ process uses existing could be a real game-changer. 



sTAnTec acquired 10 firms in 2010,
the top 500 design firms #25 including last year’s No. 85, Burt Hill,
No. 318, WilsonMiller and No. 485,
eCO:LOGIC engineering.
oVerVieW

Weston is helping to plan sustainable cities in India
that aim for zero-net energy and water use, she says.
One country that has gained a lot of attention re-
cently is Vietnam. For example, Paul Steelman Associ-
ates is designing a new $2-billion park in Vietnam
called Happyland Theme Park as well as Happyland
Central, an associated retail complex, about 20 miles
from Ho Ch Minh City.
Perkins recently completed a master plan for the
city of Hanoi. “You are seeing a lot of Japanese and
Korean firms investing in Vietnam,” he says. The
country is becoming a major focus for development top 500 up close | By debra K. rubin
because it has a large, prosperous, literate population
and a stable government, he says.
Some designers worry about the impact of future
Water firm oK With midsize
Midsize design firms with revenue internal stress about money went
potential economic crises on the industry. “With all
between $100 million and $250 away,” Deis says. Carollo will
the talk about the deficit and inflation, the current million are often thought of as broaden its ownership—now at
situation is beginning to look a little like the recession being the industry’s most only 8% of staff—however, its
of the 1970s,” says Cryer of PageSoutherlandPage. endangered species as well as its board will remain in-house, Deis
“We went through a period of inflation and spiking oil prime buyout targets. But Walnut adds. Carollo’s growth is flat but
Creek, Calif.-based water-waste- profitable, and backlog is up 20%.
prices that caused us all to struggle even after the reces-
water firm Carollo Engineers Inc. “Water-related work is all we do,
sion ended. I hope we do not see that again.” thinks it will do just fine. and we’ve worked hard to make
As the market continues to struggle, design firms “We’ve stayed true to the goal of technical innovation what
continue to fight to prosper. Firms are innovating, internal ownership, and we’re not distinguishes us,” says Executive
exploring new markets and expanding through acqui- tempted by big-dollar numbers,” Vice President B. Narayanan,
says Gary Deis, CEO since 2002. noting unique approaches at a
sitions. The successful firms are not standing still. “If
Carollo has $168.5 million in 2010 Denver project (above). “We value
you continue to do traditional things in a traditional revenue and 650 employees. After this culture. It’s a big part of what
way, you will have a hard time growing in the market,” market conditions forced the firm motivates us to stay independent
Grumski of SAIC concludes.  to re-examine its valuation, “our and employee-owned.” 

how to use the tables
companies are ranked according to GeneraL BuiLDinG as a category poWer comprises thermal and hydroelectric
revenue for design services performed in includes commercial buildings, offices, powerplants, waste-to-energy plants,
2009 in $ millions (*). those with subsidiaries stores, educational facilities, government transmission lines, substations, cogeneration
are indicated by (†). for information on buildings, hospitals, medical facilities, plants, etc.
subsidiaries and where each firm worked hotels, apartments, housing, etc.
seWeraGe/soLiD Waste includes
outside of the U.s., see www.enr.com.
haZarDous Waste includes sanitary and storm sewers, treatment plants,
**firms not ranked last year. some markets
chemical and nuclear waste treatment, pumping plants, incinerators, industrial
may not add up to 100% due to omission of
asbestos and lead abatement, etc. waste facilities, etc.
“other” miscellaneous market category and
rounding. nA-not available. inDustriaL process comprises pulp teLecommunications comprises
and paper mills, steel mills, nonferrous metal transmission lines and cabling, towers
Key to type oF Firm
refineries, pharmaceutical plants, chemical and antennae, data centers, etc.
a architect, e engineer
plants, food and other processing plants, etc.
ec engineer-contractor transportation includes airports,
ae architect-engineer manuFacturinG includes auto, bridges, roads, canals, locks, dredging,
ea engineer-architect electronic assembly, textile plants, etc. marine facilities, piers, railroads,
env environmental tunnels, etc.
petroLeum includes refineries,
Ge geotechnical engineer
petrochemical plants, offshore facilities, Water suppLy includes dams, reservoirs,
L landscape architect
Photo Courtesy Carollo

pipelines, etc. transmission pipelines, distribution mains,
p planner and o other
irrigation canals, desalination and potability
other combinations are possible.
treatment plants, pumping stations, etc.
firms classified themselves.



2011 Top 500 Design Firms

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