Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership

Practice: Architecture, urban design and planning, interiors

Founded: 1988

Leadership: Ev Ruffcorn, design partner, Dan Huberty, managing partner, Seattle office

"Because of our geographic diversity and the variety of market sectors we serve, the size of the firm has remained relatively constant over the past year," said Brad Hinthorne, marketing director for Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership in the Seattle office.

Portland-based ZGF is among the 10 largest architecture firms in the country.

"The Seattle office currently employs 85 people, a slight decrease from the 90-person staff in 2001. The 385-person architecture, planning and urban design firm has offices in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Major markets include light-rail systems, museums, libraries, academic facilities, airports, mixed-use projects, housing, research facilities and hospitals.

"Due to the present economic circumstance, particularly in Seattle, the number of opportunities from which we are selecting is lower than in recent years," he said. "However, we continue to see modest growth across the firm and remain optimistic about opportunities in the coming months."

Present trends include working collaboratively not only with owners, contractors and consultants, but also with other architecture firms, he said.

"We will continue to focus on sustainable design strategies and consider alternative delivery methods across the continuum of project types," said Hinthorne.

This year's projects include the replacement of the Denver Children's Hospital; the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines; the U.S. Consulate New Office Building in Cape Town, South Africa; and the new Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science at University of California, Davis.

Projects in design include a new Public Health Sciences building for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Issaquah Highlands campus for Microsoft. And completed projects in the past year include the IDX Tower for Hines; Everett Station for the city of Everett; Millennium Tower for Martin Smith Development Co.; the Safeco Redmond Campus; and projects for academic clients.



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