DLR Group

Practice: Architecture, engineering, planning and interiors

Founded: 1900

Leadership: Dale Hallock, Bryce Pearsall, James Roubal, managing principals, and Jonathan Pettit, senior principal

DLR Group: Mukilteo Police Station

"Hands down, the largest challenge we all face hinges on the current economic downturn," said Jon Pettit, senior principal at the DLR Group, "along with the tendency of companies to delay or cancel building plans and the difficulty that public agencies face in passing bonds for facilities construction. Our primary goal is to continue using our multi-disciplined and multi-market structure to weather the current and projected dry spell."

The Omaha-based architecture and engineering firm works in corporate, education, justice, retail and sports markets. In addition to offices in Seattle and Portland, the firm has 15 offices in the Midwest, Southwest, Florida and Hawaii. The current total staff size is 545, down from 583 last year, and gross fees are also down slightly to $80 million.

"In a waning economy (or perhaps it's more accurate to say a 'waned' economy forecast to flatline this next year), those companies that do need additional facilities will most likely focus on cost-effective renovation and adaptive-reuse projects rather than building new," said Pettit. "Companies are beginning to understand that life-cycle cost savings can yield a positive, long-term return on investment in green building."

The DLR Group was awarded Portland General Electric's Earth Advantage Award for sustainable design at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Ore., the first such award given to a state facility in Oregon.

Other current projects include the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence, the new headquarters for Seattle School District; Hazen High School addition and renovation for the Renton School District; the Mukilteo Police Station; and Velocity Center, a technology incubator building in Huntington, W.V.