The construction process is becoming more complex, as project scope, risk mitigation, project delivery methods and teaming approaches have expanded well beyond the old days of design-bid-build. This new reality has owners increasingly turning to third-party professional service firms to explain their options and make sure their plans are executed.
The market for professional services remains strong, as can be seen in the results of the ENR Top 100 Construction Management-for-Fee and Program Management Firms list. Revenue for the CM-PM group was up 3.3%, to $23.41 billion, in 2016, up from $22.66 billion in 2015. Domestic revenue from CM-PM work rose only 0.1%, to $16.63 billion. However, CM-PM revenue from projects and programs abroad rose sharply by 12.3%, to $6.78 billion, in 2016.