A quick rundown of architecture and A/E firm innovations this year:
• Adrian Smith+Gordon Gill Architecture Implemented VR into its standard design and visualization plan; using Grasshopper and Dynamo to create more robust Revit-to-Rhino interoperability.
• Architects Hawaii Limited Created the AHL Wahine Collaborative, a forum where female employees can share “talk stories” to create a “workplace of trust for women.”
• Architecture Design Collaborative Perfected the firm’s on-site communication and collaboration tool, Mobile Design Studio.
• Array Architects Delivering data-based support to healthcare systems for real estate and construction decision making.
• Ashley McGraw Architects  Shifted energy modeling responsibility from dedicated modelers to multiple designers on staff.
• Ballinger Conducting research on the benefits of “convergent environments” at academic labs the firm has designed; most recently, Rutgers University Institute for Food, Nutrition & Health.
TOP ARCHITECTURE FIRMS
2015 Architecture Revenue ($)
1. Gensler $1,180,550,000
2. Perkins+Will $484,240,000
3. HKS   $363,803,828
4. Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates* $224,000,000
5. Perkins Eastman $195,000,000
6. Corgan $160,100,000
7. NBBJ $154,000,000
8. ZGF Architects $153,846,347
9. Populous $137,885,943
10. HMC Architects $71,204,368Â
TOPÂ ARCHITECTURE/
ENGINEERING FIRMS2015 Arch/Eng Revenue ($)
1. Stantec $579,413,704
2. HOK $450,824,000
3. CallisonRTKL $405,559,000
4. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill $352,332,272
5. HDR $314,800,000
6. SmithGroupJJR $222,085,339
7. CannonDesign $218,000,000
8. DLR Group $158,000,000
9. EYP $149,595,604
10. HGA   $142,750,000
ARCHITECTURE GIANTS SPONSORED BY:
• BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers  Implementing its “Bridge” design concept to link K-12 schools to surrounding communities via facilities like adult learning centers.
• Bergmann Associates  Got FAA exemption to fly drones for aerial data collection.
• CannonDesign Pushing its Design-Led Construction approach to bring architecture, engineering, and construction under one roof through the life of the project.
• Carrier Johnson + CULTURE Hiring architects and designers from China, Mexico, and Iran; helping them obtain H-1B visas.
• Clark Nexsen Producing videos with a mix of real and rendered content for enhanced client presentations.
• Convergence Design Designing indoor competitive sports venues for tourism and economic development.
• Cuningham Group Partnering with the University of Minnesota, the College of Education, and a local school district on multi-year research to assess three retrofitted open learning studios designed by the firm.
• DGA planning | architecture | interiors Developed reconfigurable ophthalmology clinic for buildout of Verily HQ (formerly Google Life Sciences) and new ORs for Stanford Healthcare that use 4K surgical capture for orthopedic procedures.
• Diamond Schmitt Architects  Created “ecoMetrics” interactive visual database of energy simulation models for >40 LEED projects vs. multiple energy benchmarking systems.
• Ewing Cole  “Client Feedback Tool” monitors client perceptions during design via short email surveys; has cut client-identified problems by 83%.
• GBBN Architects  Conducting research on “psychosocial triggers to wellness,” using a case study of a GBBN project in China.
• Gensler Drove firm-wide innovation with an expanded internal research grant program supporting over 170 cutting-edge innovation topics across Gensler’s global platform. Implemented VR/AR and Mixed Reality into standard design and visualization processes firm-wide.
• GreenbergFarrow  Migrating email, project files, marketing, HR, and accounting processes to the cloud.
• GRW  Implemented strategic marketing plan based on niche markets, greater use of BIM.
• Highland Associates   Putting greater focus on design-build projects.
• HMC Architects Completed firmwide rewrite of its mission statement.
• HOK AIA 2030 Commitment on track to achieve 80% improvement over CBECS 2030 baseline by 2021.
• Jencen Architecture  Updating its website (www.jencen.com) with news, blog.
• Kirksey Architecture  Expanded ownership to 26 vice presidents.
• KSQ Design Created KSQU to encourage mentorship between senior staff and young professionals in leadership skills, etc.
• Legat Architects  Developed West Loop Innovation Lab as part of Chicago Artists Month; assisted ACUPCC university clients with climate action planning via Second Nature.
• Lord Aeck Sargent Adding manufacturer product information to the firm’s Material Transparency Initiative.
• LPA, Inc. Developed firmwide sustainable scorecard for all projects to benchmark projects against the firm’s goals and similar project types. Also created project report card, which reviews projects on their sustainability quotient and other metrics.
• Margulies Perruzzi Architects Promoted Jason B. Costello, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP, to Partner to head new healthcare studio.
• Mascari Warner Architects  Provides clients and prospects with visioning, key words, and inspirational/architectural images as part of the firm’s Concept Driven Design program.
• MEIS Architects New offices in Los Angeles and New York; next up: London.
• Moody Nolan Pushing use of 3D animation and virtual environment technology.
• MV+A Architects Created digital newsletter, Design Brief; 909 subscribers.
• NewStudio Architecture Converted entire office to BIM for all project phases.
• Payette  Using parametric modeling and custom-designed solar shading analysis software for energy modeling directly into the BIM model and assembly fabrication.
• Perkins+Will  Expanded its Energy Lab to conduct research with academics and other outside experts in 10 areas. More info: http://Researchlabs.perkinswill.com.
• Robert A.M. Stern Architects Launched new website: www.ramsa.com.
• Sargenti Architects Revamping client on-boarding process to give clients greater role in selecting architectural team leaders.
• SchraderGroup architecture Senior staff teaching younger staff how to put buildings together; younger staff teaching senior staff how to use BIM, other software.
• Shepley Bulfinch Successful rollout of VR technology capabilities to selected healthcare and university clients.
• Sherlock, Smith & Adams Launched new website: www.ssainc.com.
• SmithGroupJJR Elected a new, three-member management team: Mike Medici, Russell Sykes, and Troy Thompson.
• Ted Moudis Associates   Added staff to the firm’s Workplace Strategies team.
• TEG Architects Using VR during design development to elicit client feedback.
• TK Architects International  Formed partnership with Bardan Cinema to design cinemas in Latin America, the Caribbean.
• Tsoi/Kobus & Associates  More use of Oculus VR and 360 video tours for clients.
• Vocon Helping clients reevaluate their real estate portfolios to optimize space utilization and provide workplace design features that attract and retain talent.
• Ware Malcomb  Provided WELL Building Standard services (Gold level) to Vesta, a provider of industrial/distribution facilities, for the firm’s new corporate HQ in Mexico City.
• Westlake Reed Leskosky Patent application pending for transitioning solar electrical to low-voltage LEDs and outlets directly.
• Wright Heerema Architects  Using Web-based software to organize and store project documents, give project members immediate access to current docs.
RETURN TO THE GIANTS 300 LANDING PAGE
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Aug 6, 2015
GREEN BUILDING GIANTS: Green building movement hits a new plateau, but the underlying problems remain
Today, the green building movement is all about eliminating toxic substances in building materials and systems and, for manufacturers, issuing environmental and health product declarations. Whether these efforts will lead to healthier products and building environments remains an open question.
Giants 400 | Aug 6, 2015
BIM GIANTS: Robotic reality capture, gaming systems, virtual reality—AEC Giants continue tech frenzy
Given their size, AEC Giants possess the resources and scale to research and test the bevy of software and hardware solutions on the market. Some have created internal innovation labs and fabrication shops to tinker with emerging technologies and create custom software tools. Others have formed R&D teams to test tech tools on the job site.
Giants 400 | Aug 6, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 75 Healthcare Construction Firms
Turner, McCarthy, and Skanska top Building Design+Construction's 2015 ranking of the largest healthcare contractors and construction management firms in the U.S.
Giants 400 | Aug 6, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 80 Healthcare Engineering Firms
AECOM, Jacobs, and Burns & McDonnell top Building Design+Construction's 2015 ranking of the largest healthcare engineering and engineering/architecture firms in the U.S.Â
Giants 400 | Aug 6, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 115 Healthcare Architecture Firms
HDR, Stantec, and Perkins+Will top Building Design+Construction's 2015 ranking of the largest healthcare architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.Â
Giants 400 | Aug 6, 2015
HEALTHCARE AEC GIANTS: Hospital and medical office construction facing a slow but steady recovery
Construction of hospitals and medical offices is expected to shake off its lethargy in 2015 and recover modestly over the next several years, according to BD+C's 2015 Giants 300 report.
Giants 400 | Aug 6, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 75 Construction Management Firms
Jacobs, AECOM, and Hill International head Building Design+Construction's 2015 ranking of the largest construction management and project management firms in the United States.Â
Giants 400 | Aug 6, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 100 Contractors
Turner Construction and Whiting-Turner Contracting top Building Design+Construction's 2015 ranking of the largest contractors in the United States.Â
Giants 400 | Aug 5, 2015
CONSTRUCTION GIANTS: Economists hedge their bets on prospects for nonresidential construction
Leading economists expect spending for nonresidential construction to rise in 2015 by somewhere in the 6.4–7.7% range, and remain strong in 2016, according to BD+C's 2015 Giants 300 report.
Giants 400 | Aug 5, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 85 Office Sector Construction Firms
Turner, Structure Tone, and Gilbane top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest office sector contractors and construction management firms.Â