SEATTLE—In an effort to expand its reach within Seattle and the US, international property and construction consultant Rider Levett Bucknall merged with Seattle-based cost estimating and construction management firm, the Robinson Company. This merger allows client expansion in the fields of nonprofit, schools and the public sector, says Julian Anderson, president of Rider Levett Bucknall North America.

“This merger isn't simply about increasing the scale of Rider Levett Bucknall. It is a strategic extension of our current Seattle office, which expands our reach in the cost consulting and project management world within the robust local market,” said Anderson. “The merger opens new avenues for business in the public sector, schools and not-for-profit clients while complementing our proven core competencies.”

The Robinson Company is operating as RLB | Robinson as of January 1, 2019.

“Since 1985, we have provided construction management services throughout the Northwest for projects ranging from $500,000 to over $50 million,” said Kirk Robinson, founder of the Robinson Company. “Merging with Rider Levett Bucknall is an expansion of our services in the Seattle market which will ultimately benefit the local construction industry. This is a great opportunity for us to expand our services and depth of knowledge, and we are excited to be able to provide this wider range of services to our very loyal clients.”

Seattle's crane index, a semiannual report by Rider Levett Bucknall that counts construction cranes in the city, showed that Seattle had more cranes than any other city in the United States as of mid-year 2018. That number had crept to 65 at that time, according to Curbed.

“Despite a slight decrease in the number of cranes from the previous count, Seattle still shows strong signs of activity, especially in the South Lake Union and Capitol Hill districts. Mixed use is far and away the busiest sector, followed by residential work,” Anderson tells GlobeSt.com. “The forecast for the first half of 2019 is positive, as several major projects are slated to start construction, including renovations to Key Arena and an addition to the Washington State Convention Center.”

Seattle is a unique blend of traditional corporations, older industrial businesses and modern technology firms. The city has a diverse inventory of office and retail space within the central business district, industrial manufacturing and distribution to the south around the Port of Seattle, and multifamily developments throughout the larger incorporated city, according to data by Colliers International. Its population is approximately 687,000.

Instant Insights /

Crane Count Down but Activity Up in South Lake Union, Capitol Hill

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