KPFF has grown from a staff size of 156 in 1998 to 168 people, a seven percent increase. During the last fiscal year billings were $13.6 million, a 30 percent increase over the previous year.

The firm offers consulting services for structural and civil engineering, including waterfront, bridge, and transportation and seismic design.

Principal and vice president Ralph Iboshi noted that over the last several years, the private sector has been extremely active. But he noted some leveling out lately, while the public sector has been increasing.

"As pioneers in base isolation, we continue to expand our expertise in seismic design," said Iboshi. "Many local industries must continue to operate during a seismic event, such as transportation and high technology businesses."

One client, Safeco, requires the use of base isolation, a structural design innovation that allows the base of a building to move independently of the rest, to keep data centers fully operational following a seismic event. Currently under construction, the Safeco Data Center is expected to be completed in 2001.

Much of the firm's work comes from transportation-oriented development and includes clients like the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Port of Seattle. KPFF is currently providing on-call civil engineering and construction support services for WSDOT maintenance facilities, and recently completed the SR520 floating bridge strengthening.

The recent Endangered Species Act has increased the level of uncertainty in the environmental permit process, and KPFF is playing a consulting role in handling this uncertainty, according to principal Dave Seman.

KPFF is providing more extensive management services directly to public clients who are experiencing shortages in management personnel, said principal Rick Johnson. Public agencies are using various project delivery systems such as design-build to meet staff challenges.