The companies on Crain’s list of largest architectural firms in West Michigan experienced a nearly 17% median growth in annual billings from 2022 to 2023, defying nationwide softness in the industry.  

Across the country, contractual agreements to begin new projects declined for eight months of 2023, despite an increase in inquiries into new architectural projects, according to the American Institute of Architects.  

That decline can be attributed to several factors.

“Post-COVID, the cost of construction has really skyrocketed,” said Tod Stevens, president of the Grand Rapids chapter of the AIA. “For the last few years, most architects have been struggling to bring projects in at a normal kind of cost per square foot.”

“There are a lot of people that are busy right now, so that doesn’t help with cost, either. There are limited resources. The other reason I think it’s slowing down a little bit is because it is a political year, and many people are waiting to see the results of that,” said Stevens, who also serves as a principal and the higher education practice leader at Progressive Companies.

Progressive topped the list of West Michigan’s largest architectural firms with 2023 annual gross billings of $61.1 million, up from $48.2 million in 2022. The firm’s major projects include Grand Action 2.0’s proposed soccer stadium and Acrisure Amphitheater, as well as a redesign of Calder Plaza.

TowerPinkster came in at No. 2 on the list of West Michigan’s largest architectural firms, with $43.9 million in 2023 gross annual billings. Rounding out the top three is Seven Generation Architecture + Engineering with $30.72 million in 2023 gross annual billings.

Collectively, the 20 firms on our list employed more than 200 licensed architects in West Michigan last year.

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