More than a trend, green design is an institution in the tri-state area. Universities, hospitals and other institutional clients are the main drivers of local large-scale sustainable projects. Fortunately for design firms, many of those sectors held up relatively well during the downturn as private clients retreated from development plans or were held back by limited financing.
Still, 2010 wasn't without struggles. This year's Top 20 Green Design Firms list, based on green project revenue earned in 2010, tallied a combined $254 million in fees from green projects—a more than 17% drop from the $307 million collected by the top 20 firms in 2009. HDR had reported $77.5 million in fees from green design work on last year's list—more revenue than the top two firms on this year's list combined.
Health-care and education projects dominate the roster of the largest green projects to break ground last year among the largest green design firms. In some cases, it's a combination of both sectors. Construction started last year on the $180-million Princeton University Neuroscience & Psychology Complex, designed by Davis Brody Bond Aedas, New York. The $139-million Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, N.J., which was designed by HDR, also got under way in 2010.
Other green education project starts among our top green firms include the $132-million Montclair State University Student Housing project in Montclair, N.J., a $70-million renovation of Stocking Hall at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and the $68-million Hunters Point South Middle and High School in Queens, N.Y.
Some very large private-sector projects also made their mark on the 2010 list, including the $2-billion 3 World Trade Center in lower Manhattan and the $400-million Canon North America Headquarters in Melville, N.Y.
| Rank 2010 | Company/Location | Largest Green Project To Break Ground Location Project Value ($ Mil.) | Regional Revenue ($Mil) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davis Brody Bond Aedas New York, N.Y. | Princeton University Neuroscience & Psychology Complex Princeton, N.J. 180.00 | 30.13 |
| 2 | AECOM New York, N.Y. | World Trade Center #3 New York, N.Y. Not Available | 30.00 |
| 3 | Gensler New York, N.Y. | Proskauer New York, N.Y. Not Available | 27.90 |
| 4 | Perkins+Will New York, N.Y. | NYC Dept. of Design and Construction, NY Police Academy College Point, Queens, N.Y. 656.00 | 23.87 |
| 5 | FXFOWLE Architects New York, N.Y. | Hunters Point South Middle and High School Queens, N.Y. 67.72 | 19.55 |
| 6 | Perkins Eastman New York, N.Y. | Village Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing New York, N.Y. 44.00 | 15.34 |
| 7 | Syska Hennessy Group New York, N.Y. | Confidential Client Not Available 80.00 | 13.51 |
| 8 | EwingCole Philadelphia, PA | United States Military Academy Preparatory School West Point, N.Y. 103.70 | 11.70 |
| 9 | STV New York, N.Y. | United States Military Academy Preparatory School West Point, N.Y. 103.70 | 10.40 |
| 10 | The S/L/A/M Collaborative Syracuse, N.Y. | United Illuminating Co. Headquarters Complex Orange, Conn. 85.00 | 9.87 |
| 11 | HDR New York, N.Y. | Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Camden, N.J. 139.00 | 8.66 |
| 12 | Robert A.M. Stern Architects New York, N.Y. | Not Available | 8.36 |
| 13 | Paulus Sokolowski & Sartor Warren, N.J. | Montclair State University Student Housing Montclair, N.J. 132.00 | 7.43 |
| 14 | Dattner Architects New York, N.Y. | Via Verde Bronx, N.Y. 99.00 | 6.50 |
| 15 | Stantec New York, N.Y. | North Shore University Hospital Obstetrics [Expansion/Reno] Manhasset, N.Y. 35.00 | 5.57 |
| 16 | Bergmann Associates Rochester, N.Y. | Hudson Avenue Fire Station Rochester, N.Y. 4.50 | 5.40 |
| 17 | H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture New York, N.Y. | Signature Theater Center New York, N.Y. 5.00 | 5.15 |
| 18 | AKF Group New York, N.Y. | Ocean County Community College Toms River, N.J. 25.00 | 5.00 |
| 18 | M/E Engineering Rochester, N.Y. | Cornell University - Stocking Hall Renovation Ithaca, N.Y. 70.00 | 5.00 |
| 18 | Robert Silman Associates New York, N.Y. | Via Verde Bronx, N.Y. 99.00 | 5.00 |
| 21 | HO K New York, N.Y. | Canon North America Headquarters Melville, N.Y. 400.00 | 4.50 |
