Immunex campus

In a changing economy, it is diversification that keeps KPFF Consulting Engineers going strong, according to Ralph Iboshi, vice president and principal of the civil and structural engineering firm.

“We do a balance of public work as well as private work. That keeps us reasonably busy,” he said. Estimated gross fees increased from $11 million last year to $18 million this year for all of the firm’s Seattle offices, and the total number of employees increased from 177 to 197.

An increase in the amount of available office space has slowed down the market for commercial office building, Iboshi said. However, other private firms, such as Immunex, have their eye on the long-term. “I think the biotech area is emerging ... and I think that will continue to grow,” he said.

Development of the Immunex campus in Seattle continues to be a major project for KPFF. The firm is working on the structural engineering for the buildings, as well as civil work and site development. Calling on a more artistic approach, the firm is also involved in the design of a “helix” bridge for the campus. The spiraling pedestrian bridge crosses railroad tracks from the campus to Elliott Avenue.

KPFF continues to offer engineering services on the campus of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, as well as for some of Bentall’s commercial office buildings in Bellevue.

The firm has also been involved with seismic studies and design in the wake of the Feb. 28th earthquake in the Puget Sound region. “We did a lot of remedial work and investigations,” he said.

Like many area firms, KPFF did not go unaffected by the events of Sept. 11 “We had one of our employees help out at the World Trade Center (site) as a structural engineer with the FEMA emergency response team,” Iboshi said.

The effects of terrorist activities have meant a slow down in airport projects. “I think, in the airport market, we’ve definitely seen projects either stop or be put on hold,” Iboshi said. “That definitely has affected airport work.”

Overall, however, Iboshi said he is optimistic for the engineering market in the year to come.