Partners: network

Anthony Callison, James Francis Dunn, Barden G. Erickson, Howard Fitzpatrick, John C. Gish, Martin L. Hill, John Frank Jastrem, Keith Mark Pegorsch, James P. Rothwell, Paula Stafford

Active 1974 - 2014

Firm Notes

This firm was known at the beginning as Callison Partnership, Ltd. Tel: (206) 623-4646 (2007).

The Recession of 2008 had a significant impact on Callison, as it did for most firms in Seattle, WA. Between 2008 and 2010 capital dried up for building projects within Seattle and most cities in the US. An article in the Seattle Times.com, announcing the appointment of James Rothwell as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), stated: "Rothwell whose credits including [sic] leading the Seattle-based firm's work in the Middle East, takes over at a time when domestic construction has shriveled and work in the developing world has become increasingly important but highly competitive. He said the firm had net revenue of roughly $90 million in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, a sharp drop from its peak of $120 million two years earlier. The mix has changed, too: Callison got 60 percent of its revenue from the international market and 40 percent in the U.S. this past year, while 'three years ago that would have been flipped the other way around,' Rothwell said. Overseas, demand remains strong but competing firms from the U.S. and United Kingdom have flooded into the scene, he said. Where clients 'were standing in line' waiting for a globally recognized architectural firm to take their project, 'it's the exact opposite now,' he said. The competitive climate has driven down fees in international markets, he said. He said Callison is fortunate that in China--'probably the flushest market in work right now'--the firm has been active for more than 15 years and has a well-known track record." (See Seattle Times.com, "Jim Rothwell named CEO at Callison," published 09/30/2010, accessed 09/16/2019.) In 2010, Callison had nine offices around the world, with 800 employees.

It later became known as "Callison, LLC."

In 2011, Callison underwent several changes in leadership. Rothwell stepped down as CEO, and both the Chairman of the Board, Robert J. Tindall, AIA, and Executive Vice President Steven E. Epple, AIA, severed ties with the firm. John Jastrem, since 2006 CEO at Viad Corporation's subsidiary, Exhibitgroup/Giltspur, was named Chairman and CEO of Callison. According to a news release of 01/11/2011: "Jastrem, 55, has served on Callison’s Holdings Board (Callison Architecture Holding, LLC, and Subsidiaries) since 2006 and as its executive chairman since August 2010. Private equity firm Blue Point Capital invested in Callison in August 2006 and formed the Callison Holdings Board as an operating partner to support expansion of services and resources to clients and to facilitate international initiatives." (See Business Wire.com, "Callison Appoints New Chairman and CEO," published 01/11/2011, accessed 09/16/2019.)

ARCADIS NV, a design-engineering-management conglomerate based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, purchased the Seattle-based Callison in 08/2014. A 2014 Callison press release said of the firm engulfing it: "ARCADIS is based in the Netherlands, employs 22,000 people, operates over 300 offices globally and generates €2.5 billion in revenue annually. Callison is a global leader in Retail Design and Mixed-use Centers, with 11 offices on three continents. The company provides comprehensive services for top retail brands, developers and corporate clients globally." (See Cision PRNewswire.com. "Callison Announces Acquisition by ARCADIS," published 08/21/2014, accessed 05/04/2023.)

ARCADIS merged this new division with its Baltimore-based RTKL (purchased in 07/2007), to form "CallisonRTKL" in 10/2015. The headquarters of CallisonRTKL switched from Seattle to Baltimore at this time. A Callison press release described the company in 2014: "Founded in 1975, Callison is a global architecture firm in Retail, Mixed-use, Residential, Hospitality, Mission Critical, Healthcare and Corporate Interiors markets worldwide. With 11 offices and more than 1,000 employees, Callison is one of the largest design firms based in the United States." (See Cision PRNewswire.com. "Callison Announces Acquisition by ARCADIS," published 08/21/2014, accessed 05/04/2023.)

PCAD id: 1667