C Firms (by Number, Percentage of LEED-APs)

2007

Dec

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Coordination. Integration. Beyond the bells and whistles of sexy, but expensive, green design features such as green roofs or geothermal heating and cooling systems, sustainable construction is about a truly collaborative effort between owners, designers, and contractors. While the former are certainly more likely to earn a project on the local paper’s front page, educated project teams that have green experience are an imperative in executing a successful green project.

Fortunately, an increasing number of A/E/C firms are earning their green stripes, both by repeatedly participating on multiple green projects with similar stakeholders, as well as providing their staff with sustainable education through certification programs. For example, 42,000 A/E/C professionals have now earned USGBC’s LEED Accredited Professional designation, up from 25,000 at the close of 2006. Back in July, BD+C ranked the top 50 A/E/C firms by number of LEED-APs, compiling its list from the 348 largest firms in the country. While we’d be the first to agree that statistics only tell part of the story, the following five firms topped BD+C’s list; you’ll recognize several names from a number of posts here at gbNYC.

By Number #1: Perkins+Will (753 of 1,236 total staff) #2: Gensler (575 of 2,480) #3: HOK (456 of 2,153) #4: Stantec (277 of 5,977) #5: Turner (260 of N/A) By Percentage

#1: Mithun (69.5%, 137 of 197) #2: Perkins+Will (60.9%, 753 of 1,236) #3: LPA (59.2%, 126 of 213) #4: CUH2A (43.5%, 161 of 370) #5: Gould Evans Associates (40.5%, 83 of 205)

The 2007 BD+C Green Building White Paper also notes that the percentage of LEED-APs responding to its surveys that form the basis for the White Paper has increased from 4 percent in 2003 - the first year the magazine published a green building White Paper - to 17 percent this year. Experience and collaboration are unquestionably two of the most critical components to the long-term success of green construction practices, and the commitment of each of these nine firms to sustainable design will continue to be an important resource for the design, construction, and real estate industries.