This year, for ENR Northwest’s selection of the “Firm of the Year,” we looked at both design firms and contractors. We started by reviewing information submitted via our annual Top Design Firms and Top Contractors surveys. In each of our surveys, we ask respondents if they’d like to be considered for “Firm of the Year,” and to provide some information making the case why they might deserve such recognition.

After looking at several possible nominees from both surveys, ENR Northwest narrowed the nominees down to one design firm and a contractor. The next step was to submit the nominees to a group of ENR editors from across the country, who then voted.

With that vote complete, ENR Northwest can now announce that Portland, Ore.-based Fortis Construction is the 2019 Northwest Firm of the Year.

First, Fortis caught our eye with its significant revenue growth. In last year’s Northwest Top Contractors ranking, the contractor reported $229.2 million in revenue from Oregon, Washington and Alaska, enough to rank 10th overall. This year, the contractor reported $668.6 million in Northwest revenue, vaulting up the ranking considerably.

Fortis also reported accolades for several recent projects. Its Oregon Zoo Education Center project (pictured above) was recently named an AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Award winner, its Autodesk Headquarters was named the region’s “Office Redevelopment of the Year, and the Portland State University Stott Center and Viking Pavilion was honored with an AIA Architecture Award. Additionally, Blain Grover, a senior project manager for Fortis, was named the Design-Build Industry of America (DBIA) Industry Professional Distinguished Leader of the Year.

ENR Northwest will publish a feature story on Fortis Construction in its upcoming June print edition.