A record 519 architecture, engineering, and construction firms reported data for BD+C’s 2022 Giants 400 Report. The data offers a fascinating view of the overall health of the U.S. AEC industry, including revenue rankings across 25-plus building sectors, specialty categories, and industry disciplines.
Beyond the revenue numbers, the Giants survey asks firms to detail an innovation their team developed during the past year that has greatly impacted their firm’s operations or projects. While only a little more than half of the participating firms responded to this request, the 278 innovation entries, when analyzed in aggregate, foretell emerging and expanding trends across the AEC industry. Here are four to note:
1. Firms address burnout and brain health. HKS and McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) are among the growing number of firms implementing formal cognitive health initiatives to help address staff burnout and improve employee health and well-being. MPS last year introduced 31 staff health initiatives, including incorporating “brain breaks” and meditation sessions into the workday, making healthy snacks freely available, and hosting virtual seminars on staying financially fit.
2. Regenerative design > sustainability. Four design firms—Cuningham, HDR, HOK, and Little—mentioned moving their teams, clients, and projects beyond the “do less harm” mentality of sustainability to a “restore the earth” mindset with regenerative design. Cuningham’s regenerative strategies include in-house measures like monitoring carbon emissions to reduce or offset them, developing a climate action plan, and working on justice, equity, and diversity. Its project design strategies include reusing building infrastructure where possible and pursuing net-zero performance.
ALSO SEE:
- 2022 Architecture Giants Trends Report: What’s new at 173 architecture firms
- 2022 Engineering Giants Trends Report: U.S. engineering firms cash in on a volatile, expanding market
- 2022 Construction Giants Trends Report: U.S. construction firms lean on technology to manage growth and weather the pandemic
3. Finally! Some work-life balance. The COVID-19 pandemic forced AEC firms to get serious about work-life balance. Nearly a dozen firms mentioned shifting to a permanent hybrid schedule. Others are expanding their benefits package with work-life balance in mind. Pittsburg-based IKM Architecture introduced unlimited PTO last year. The firm also moved from a structured, eight-hour workday Monday-Friday, to a 40-hour work week Sunday-Saturday.
4. Robotics move beyond pilot testing. DPR Construction, HITT Contracting, Swinerton, and Turner Construction all report more formalized initiatives utilizing robotics on jobsites. HITT is using Boston Dynamics’ Spot and Hilti’s Jaibot for repetitive tasks such as drilling anchors. Swinerton last year became the first construction company with fully trained in-house operators for Dusty Robotics, and was an early adopter of that supplier’s FieldPrinter on projects in California, Texas, and Virginia. Turner is using robotics for drywall finishing, perform layout, and overhead drilling.
2022 GIANTS 400 - AEC DISCIPLINE RANKINGS
A. Top 180 Architecture Firms
B. Top 110 Architecture/Engineering (AE) Firms
C. Top 80 Engineering Firms
D. Top 45 Engineering/Architecture (EA) Firms
E. Top 200 Contractors
F. Top 90 Construction Management Firms
See more 2022 Giants 400 Rankings
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
Top 115 Architecture Engineering Firms for 2023
Stantec, HDR, Page, HOK, and Arcadis North America top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
2023 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
A record 552 AEC firms submitted data for BD+C's 2023 Giants 400 Report. The final report includes 137 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
Top 175 Architecture Firms for 2023
Gensler, HKS, Perkins&Will, Corgan, and Perkins Eastman top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 9, 2023
New Giants 400 download: Get the complete at-a-glance 2022 Giants 400 rankings in Excel
See how your architecture, engineering, or construction firm stacks up against the nation's AEC Giants. For more than 45 years, the editors of Building Design+Construction have surveyed the largest AEC firms in the U.S./Canada to create the annual Giants 400 report. This year, a record 519 firms participated in the Giants 400 report. The final report includes 137 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Reconstruction Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. building reconstruction and renovation sector
Gensler, Stantec, IPS, Alfa Tech, STO Building Group, and Turner Construction top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest reconstruction sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Transit Facility Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. transit facility sector
Walsh Group, Skanska USA, HDR, Perkins and Will, and AECOM top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest transit facility sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Telecommunications Facility Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. telecommunications facility sector
AECOM, Alfa Tech, Kraus-Anderson, and Stantec head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest telecommunications facility sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Religious Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. religious facility construction sector
HOK, Parkhill, KPFF, Shawmut Design and Construction, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest religious facility sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Justice Facility Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. justice facility/public safety sector
Stantec, DLR Group, Turner Construction, STO Building Group, AECOM, and Dewberry top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms for justice facility/public safety buildings work, including correctional facilities, fire stations, jails, police stations, and prisons, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Parking Structure Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. parking structure sector
Choate Parking Consultants, Walker Consultants, Kimley-Horn, PCL, and Balfour Beatty top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest parking structure sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
