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PB continues the trend of going global

PB continues the trend of going global


By Staff | August 11, 2010
This article first appeared in the 200107 issue of BD+C.

Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. spread its wings this year by acquiring PPK Environment & Infrastructure Pty. Ltd., a Sydney, Australia-based civil engineering and environmental consulting firm, furthering its most recent objective — and the overall industry trend — of creating a greater global sphere of influence.

"The [building] owners are increasingly looking for firms that are active all over the world," says Robert Prieto, PB's chairman of the board. "The owners themselves are changing, their needs are changing, and firms like ourselves have the right global footprint to provide them with the services they need.

"The firm down the street who has never been to Shanghai? Well, we have an office in Shanghai," says Pietro. "Our strength since we [expanded] out of New York City has been that we were going to be local so that we would become part of that community and therefore part of whatever big project happened in that community."

The emerging global client base has led PB to become increasingly involved in tying together various building services, something Pietro calls "life-cycle physicality program management." The management approach means PB is involved in building projects from the initial strategic planning and designing to construction completion and post-occupancy, when the owner may need to expand his facilities or accommodate a change in the company mission. The engineer would "stay with the owner as if on the owner's staff, and would bring with him the experience" of being there from the beginning.

According to Pietro, the advantage is that clients no longer have to bring engineers "up to speed." Instead, the consultants will have been there, recommending strategies from day one.

In the next year, PB hopes to look for meaningful acquisitions in the building market, bringing new skills to the firm and expanding its size. According to Pietro, today's growth in the building sector, its second largest practice area, will allow PB to take advantage of the market in the future. With 3,000 of its 9,000 total employees working outside the United States, PB stands to make an imprint worldwide. Pietro says, "Global is a state of mind. It's about how you think about yourself, how your clients think about you and how you relate to them."

1 (1) $331.50 BE&K Inc.
2000 International Park Drive
Birmingham, AL 35243
(205) 972-6000
www.bek.com
As the largest grossing engineering firm for 2000, BE&K spread its wings this past year and acquired two engineering firms,Industra E&C of Portland, Ore., and MEI of Houston. Recent projects include a $440 million automotive manufacturing facility for Honda in the firm's home state, as well as the Opryland Hotel in Orlando, Fla., costing $250 million. T.C. Kennedy, Chmn.; T. Michael Goodrich, Pres., CEO.
2 (—) $161.16 Fluor Corp.
One Enterprise Drive
Aliso Viejo, CA 92698
(949) 349-2000
www.fluor.com
With 41 percent of its revenues derived from projects outside the United States, Fluor Corp. completed buildings around the globe in 2000, including the Silterra Wafer Tech building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the Suncor Millennium project in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada. Domestic projects include the Pfizer Solid Dosage building in New London, Conn. Philip J. Carrol, Jr., CEO; Alan L. Boeckmann, COO.
3 (3) $135.00 Washington Group
1500 W. 3rd St.
Cleveland, OH 44113-1408
(216) 523-8668
www.wgint.com
Washington Group was formed in July 2000 following the acquisition by Morrison Knudsen Corp. of Raytheon Engineers & Constructors. With 38,000 employees, the Washington Group works in more than 40 countries worldwide. The firm provides engineering, construction and program management services to the environmental, industrial, governmental and transportation markets. Dennis R. Washington, Chrmn., CEO; Stephen G. Hanks, Pres.
4 (4) $91.39 Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc.
One Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10119
(212) 465-5000
www.pbworld.com
Firm offers a full range of engineering services encompassing the transportation, power, environmental and building sectors (see profile above), with revenues of $1.16 billion. Recent domestic projects include the Cincinnati Reds ballpark; the Warren Technical Facility for General Motors in Warren, Mich.; and the Cintas facility in Perrysburg, Ohio. Thomas J. O'Neill, Pres., CEO; Robert Prieto, Chmn.; Joel H. Bennett, Sr. VP.
5 (8) $62.19 R.G. Vanderweil Engineers Inc.
274 Summer St.
Boston, MA 02210-1123
(617) 423-7423
www.vanderweil.com
A revamping of the management last year left the firm with a newly appointed CEO as well as new regional managers. Total revenues for 2000 were $71.8 million. The firm's recent projects include the Discovery Cove at Sea World in Orlando, Fla., and the World Trade Center, East Tower, Boston. A staff of 560 includes 98 registered engineers, including both mechanical and electrical disciplines. Garen H. Demirchien, Pres.; Paul J. Banks, CEO.
6 (7) $57.88 Syska & Hennessy
11 West 42nd St.
New York, NY 10036
(212) 921-2300
www.syska.com
In the last year, Syska & Hennessy moved majority ownership and control to the firm's management. Total revenues for the year 2000 equal $88.6 million. Recent projects include facilities for Nortel in Billerica, Mass., and the Manhattan Civil Court in New York City. Firm has a total staff of 615, including 169 registered engineers. Design/build accounted for 20 percent of work. John F. Hennessy III, Chmn.; Andrew P. Watson, Pres., COO.
7 (37) $51.00 Gage-Babcock & Associates Inc.
3975 Fair Ridge Drive, No. 310
North Fairfax, VA 22033-2924
(703) 934-6440
www.gage-babcock.com
Total revenues were $85 million last year, with an increase in retrofit projects. Emphasis for the company includes fire-protection, life-safety and security engineering. The firm currently has six major U.S. offices. With more than 30 registered engineers, Gage-Babcock has 76 employees. Thomas W. Jaeger, Pres.; Alfred J. Longhitano, VP, Treas.; Douglas J. Rollman, VP Bus. Dev.
8 (12) $38.00 Flack + Kurtz Inc.
475 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10017
(212) 532-9600
www.flackandkurtz.com
Flack + Kurtz Consulting Engineers was acquired by the London-based WSP Group, forming Flack + Kurtz Inc. Firm designs M/E/P for telecommunications, data, audiovisual, security and lighting systems with services ranging from planning to construction administration. Recent projects include Safeco Field in Seattle, with 46,000 seats and a retractable roof, and Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Norman D. Kurtz, Pres.; Alan Zlotkowski, Sr.VP; Alan Traugott, VP.
8 (10) $38.00 KPFF Consulting Engineers
1201 Third Ave., Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 622-5822
www.kpff.com
KPFF completed 3,400 projects last year, continuing its growth. Projects included the Imunex Headquarters in Seattle. Thirteen percent of the company's buildings are reconstruction projects, while 22 percent are federal, state and local government buildings. Seventy percent of its total 2000 billings were for structural engineering projects, while the other 30 percent were civil engineering projects. David I. Thomas , Chmn.; Jeff Asher, Pres.
10 (—) $31.36 Arup
955 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 864-2987
www.arup.com
More than 6,000 people worldwide and 447 in the United States make up the staff of this multinational engineering firm, of which London-based Ove Arup Partnership is the parent. Among U.S. projects are the $28 million historic renovation of Tweed Courthouse in New York City, the $30 million Austin Museum of Art in Texas, and renovation of the General Motors Proving Ground in Warren, Mich. Tony Fitzpatrick, Chmn., Americas Division; Raymond Crane, Prin.
11 (15) $28.50 BR+A/Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engrs.
1320 Soldiers Field Road
Boston, MA 02135
(617) 254-0016
www.brplusa.com
BR+A provides fully integrated mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-protection engineering services, as well as telecommunication/data engineering and building commissioning for health-care, research, academic and corporate clients nationwide. Recent projects include a 715,000-sq.-ft. research building on the University of Michigan's campus and the University of Maryland's Dental School. Eugene M. Bard, Pres.; Arjun B. Rao, VP.
12 (13) $25.94 Affiliated Engineers Inc.
625 N. Segoe Road, P.O. Box 5039
Madison, WI 53705-0039
(608) 238-2616
www.aeieng.com
Firm serves markets including research facilities, development facilities, health care, data centers, utility infrastructure and commercial office buildings. Total revenues were $28.2 million. Recent projects include the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C.; three data centers for Sprint in various domestic locations; and a 1 million-sq.-ft. research center for Immunex in Seattle. John S. Nelson, CEO; Steve Frei, Prin.
13 (16) $23.81 Walter P. Moore and Associates Inc.
3131 Eastside, Second Floor
Houston, TX 77098-1919
(713) 630-7300
www.walterpmoore.com
Total revenues were $25.6 million in 2000. Structural design firm specializes in large facilities, including arenas, stadiums, convention centers, themed entertainment, airports and parking facilities. Current projects include DFW Terminal D and Parking Garage in Dallas, George Bush Intercontinental Airport's International Terminal Expansion in Houston and the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn. Raymond F. Messer, Pres.; Lawrence G. Griffis, Sr. Prin.
14 (18) $22.28 RJA Inc.
549 W. Randolph, Fifth Floor
Chicago, IL 60661-2208
(312) 831-4752
www.rjagroup.com
In the past year, RJA has grown to 17 offices in the United States, while Fire Protection Management (FPM), an affiliate, has grown to seven offices. Firm provides full line of fire-protection and security engineering consulting services, construction management services and educational programs on fire-protection topics to the commercial, institutional and industrial marketplace. Martin H. Reiss, Pres., CEO; Steven W. Moran, VP.
15 (19) $21.77 Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.
297 Broadway
Arlington, MA 02474
(781) 643-2000
www.sgh.com
Structural design firm investigates and retrofits buildings and structures of all types, designing structural elements and assemblies, building envelope systems and mechanical structures. Current projects include a $10 million Yale School of Medicine building, the repair and rehabilitation of the historic roof of the New York State Capitol Building and additional new construction on the campus of Princeton University. Glen R. Bell, CEO; Thomas A. Schwartz, Pres.
16 (11) $21.55 Burns and Roe Group Inc.
800 Kinderkamack Road
Oradell, NJ 07649
(201) 986-4335
www.roe.com
Providing services to government and commercial clients in the power, process, infrastructure and federal services market, Burns and Roe has a staff of 1,700, including 171 registered engineers. Total revenues in 2000 were $143.6 million. Major projects in the last year include several power plants as well as an accelerator facility for the production of tritium for the U.S. Department of Energy in South Carolina. K. Keith Roe, Chmn., CEO; Robert J. Hemler, COO.
17 (20) $21.22 Tilden Lobnitz Cooper
1717 S. Orange Ave., Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 841-9050
www.tlc-engineers.com
An M/E/P, structural, electronic systems and aquatics engineering firm, Tilden Lobnitz Cooper specializes in health care, education, corporate commercial development, governmental facilities and aviation. With reorganized management, the firm has a staff of 230. Current projects include the expansion of major airports in Orlando and Tampa, Fla. and the Mall of the Millennia in metro Orlando, Fla. John Douglas Benz, CEO; Winston Gardner, COO.
18 (31) $21.00 Glumac International
320 S.W. Washington St., Suite 200
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 227-5280
www.glumac.com
Five offices were combined into one in the past year for this engineering firm. Emphasis rests in commercial, health care, higher education, data centers, laboratories and retail buildings. Current projects include the 160,000-sq.-ft. Student Recreation Center at Washington State University; the 28-story FoxTower in Portland, Ore.; and the 250,000-sq.-ft., five-story CNF headquarters in Portland. Steven Straus, Pres.; Rick Thomas, CFO.
19 (—) $20.62 Clark, Richardson & Biskup Consulting Engrs.
7410 NW Tiffany Springs Parkway, Suite 100
Kansas City, MO 64153
(816) 880-9800
www.crbusa.com
20 (28) $18.30 DLB Associates
1001 Wickapecko Drive
Wanamessa, NJ 07712
(732) 774-2000
www.dlbassociates.com
21 (26) $17.20 KJWW Engineering Consultants, P.C.
623 26th Avenue
Rock Island, IL 61201-5290
(309) 788-0673
www.kjww.com
22 (23) $16.59 Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire Inc.
1301 Fifth Ave., Suite 3200
Seattle, WA 98101-2699
(206) 292-1200
www.skilling.com
23 (22) $16.41 Sebesta Blomberg & Associates
2381 Rosegate, P.O. Box 131750
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 634-0775
www.sebesta.com
24 (25) $15.93 Sparling Inc.
720 Olive Way, Suite 1100
Seattle, WA 98101-1853
(206) 667-0510
www.sparling.com
25 (32) $15.80 Henderson Engineers Inc
11627 W. 79th Street
Lenexa, KS 66214
(913) 492-3377
www.hei-kc.com
26 (21) $15.40 Fru-Con Construction Corp.
15933 Clayton Rd., P.O. Box 100
Ballwin, MO 63022-0100
(636) 391-6700
www.frucon.com
27 (27) $14.58 Weidlinger Associates Inc.
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014-3656
(212) 367-3000
www.wai.com
28 (—) $14.47 Shooshanian Engineering Inc.
88 Black Falcon Ave., Suite 210
Boston, MA 02210-2414
(617) 210-1600
www.shooshanian.com
29 (24) $14.14 Brinjac Engineering Inc.
114 N Second St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1401
(717) 233-4502
www.brinjac.com
30 (36) $13.68 Bala Consulting Engineers Inc.
259 E. Lancaster Ave.
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 649-8000
www.bala.com
31 (29) $13.19 Newcomb & Boyd
One Northside 75
Atlanta, GA 30318-7761
(404) 352-3930
www.newcomb-boyd.com
32 (30) $13.00 Michaud, Cooley, Erickson
333 S. 7th St., Suite 1200
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 339-4941
www.michaudcooley.com
33 (33) $11.85 Heapy Engineering LLC
200 S. Keowee St.
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 224-0861
www.heapy.com
34 (34) $11.17 H.F. Lenz Co.
1407 Scalp Ave.
Johnstown, PA 15904-3329
(814) 269-9300
www.hflenz.com
35 (35) $8.13 The RMH Group Inc.
12600 W. Colfax Ave., Suite A-400
Lakewood, CO 80215
(303) 239-0909
www.rmhgroup.com
36 (—) $7.90 James Posey Associates Inc.
3112 Timanus Lane
Baltimore, MD 21244-2871
(410) 265-6100
www.jposey.com
37 (—) $7.35 Bridgers & Paxton Consulting Engineers Inc.
4600-C Montgomery Blvd., N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 883-4111
www.bpce.com
38 (—) $6.74 Goetting & Associates Inc. Consulting Engineers
12042 Blanco Road Suite 200
San Antonio, TX 78216-2440
(210) 530-7000
www.goetting.com
39 (38) $6.21 Dufresne-Henry Inc.
Precision Park, Box 29
North Springfield, VT 05150
(802) 886-2261
www.d-hinc.com
40 (—) $6.01 Zak-Heideman Companies Inc.
13545 Barrett Parkway Drive, Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63021
(314) 822-5242
www.zhco.com

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