Coughlin Porter Lundeen

Practice: Structural and civil engineering

Founded: 1994

Leadership: Jim Coughlin, Steve Porter and Terry Lundeen, principals

Buffalo Design: Monroe Library interior

Coughlin Porter Lundeen has been working on fewer multi-family and office projects in the last two years, according to principal Jim Coughlin. The work load has been very volatile, with more projects than usual put on hold. At the same time, medical and laboratory work has mounted up. Schools and higher education have held strong in the weak market. In these areas, sustainabiliy is a much higher concern. "It's always considered," he said, "even if they don't try to go for an accreditation."

The structural engineering firm has kept a steady workforce of 60, with gross fees of $9 million per year, building on strength in the area of renovation and restoration.

Now, according to Coughlin, biotech is hot, with new development in the South Lake Union area. And geographic diversity has paid off. The firm is now at work on small build-to-suit office buildings in Portland and Eugene, Ore.

Projects include 1616 Eastlake, a four-story, 276,000-square-foot laboratory project with NBBJ; Pacific Lutheran Center for Learning and Technology in Tacoma, a new facility with classrooms, faculty offices and a large atrium, with ZGF; renovations at Northshore Junior High in Bothell, with Mahlum; and renoivations at Madison Middle School in West Seattle with Bassetti.