ARCHITECTURE GIANTS: Innovations from 51 top design firms

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 $71,204,368

SEE FULL LIST

TOP ARCHITECTURE/
ENGINEERING FIRMS

2015 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

SEE FULL LIST

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.