Top Design Firms for 2009

Leaders adapt as markets change and action shifts between segments

Midwest Construction’s 2009 ranking of the 80 top Midwest design firms includes 18 companies that weren’t on last year’s list. Who’s new? Who repeated? Who moved up or down? Check out the Top Design Firm lists to find out.

By Mike Larson

Midwest Construction’s 2009 list of 80 top Midwestern design firms, ranked by revenue from calendar year 2008, includes 62 companies returning from last year’s list, plus 18 newcomers.

All of the firms have offices in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, or Wisconsin, and the reported revenue reflects only work done in those states.

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Although it doesn’t show on the list, 40 of the 62 returning firms reported revenue higher than they did last year. Twenty companies reported revenue that was lower, and two reported the same revenue both years.

Repeating in the top spot is AECOM with regional revenue of $161.5 million.

In second is HNTB at $110.8 million. “The I-94 reconstruction [in southeastern Wisconsin] and the I-70 Mississippi River Bridge between Illinois and Missouri were two of our larger projects during 2008,” says Keith Hinkebein, vice president. “One of the exciting trends ahead is the development of high-speed rail. HNTB is a recognized leader in the development of rail infrastructure and is working with state and city leaders to implement this important part of our transportation future.”

Ranking third and four are CH2M Hill at $88.6 million and BSA LifeStructures at $67.9 million.

Sitting fifth, at $56.6 million, is last year’s second-ranked company, Flad Architects. Principal Peggy Robbins says, “We’re seeing private industry teaming with universities to build new research facilities. We’re also seeing changes in the healthcare market. For example, we’ve just completed Wisconsin’s first stand-alone emergency room. It serves an area that’s half an hour from the nearest hospital.” Robbins says Flad now does all new projects using BIM and that nearly all of the company’s professionals are LEED certified.

Newcomer American Structurepoint Inc. ranks sixth at $54.3 million. President and principal owner Rick Conner says that 2008 was his company’s best year, but that 2009 will probably be down 5% to 8%.
Diversification is helping his company broaden the range of services it offers to customers. One example is information technology services. Says Conner, “We have a skilled IT department to support our needs. When customers asked us to help plan their networks, we realized that IT expertise was another service we could offer clients.”

In seventh is KJWW at $50.9 million. Some of its larger projects were in higher-education and healthcare facilities, including a hospital with one of the country’s larger lake-coupled geothermal heating systems. President Paul van Dyne expects the healthcare sector to decline in the near term as hospitals put projects on hold because of the economy. Van Dyne says KJWW has been using BIM for structural systems and is now using it for mechanical systems too.

The charts on the following pages show the top design firms overall, plus those who lead in each state and in selected types of design work.