IBI Group Inc. is a Canadian-based international professional services company consulting in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, landscape architecture, transportation, and technology. Founded in 1974 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, IBI Group provides professional consulting services around the world. Since 2011 it has been ranked as one of the largest architecture or architecture/engineering firms in the world: in 2011 it ranked 4th or 6th ; in 2016 it was ranked as the 8th largest architecture firm by BD Online; and in 2016 its United States operations were ranked by Archdaily as the 13th largest architecture firm in the USA. As of 2016, it has over 2,400 employees and more than 60 offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In 2016 its operations in Canada accounted for 60% of its workload, its US operations 20%, and the UK operations 15%.
History
The IBI Group was founded in Toronto by nine partners to provide professional planning and design services for urban development and transportation projects. The firm merged with Robbie/Young + Wright Architects Inc. to become Robbie Young + Wright / IBI Group Architects, with noted Toronto architect Rod Robbie as chairman emeritus. In 2004 the firm became a publicly owned entity through the formation of the IBI Income Fund. In 2010 the Fund was converted to a corporation, IBI Group Inc. The firm's name was derived from the last initials of its two founding principals, Neal Irwin and Phil Beinhaker. The firm has rebranded itself, stating the IBI stands for "Intelligence, Buildings, and Infrastructure."
Major acquisitions
Since 2000 the firm has expanded through mergers and acquisitions of consulting firms in multiple locations. Some have been folded into the IBI Group brand and others have maintained a distinct identity. The major acquisitions below are listed in chronological order.
Vancouver office
The Vancouver, BC office expanded through the 2005 merger of Hancock Bruckner, Eng + Wright; Lawrence Doyle Architects; and Young + Wright Architects.
Grey-Noble & Grey-Noble
In 2005 the Newmarket, Ontario-based architectural firm of Grey-Noble & Grey-Noble was acquired.
Thomas Blurock Architects
In 2006 the Costa Mesa, California-based educational project-focused firm of Thomas Blurock Architects, Inc. was acquired and incorporated.
Page+Steele
In 2008 the Toronto-based firm of Page+Steele Inc., Architects was acquired and operates as Page+Steele/IBI Group.
Gruzen Samton Architects
In 2009 the New York City-based firm of Gruzen Samton Architects, Planners & Interior Designers LLP was acquired. The firm was founded in 1936 and operates as IBI Group.
Stevens Group Architects
In 2009 the Toronto-based firm of Stevens Group Architects Inc. was acquired.
In 2011, the Quebec-based firm of Cardinal Hardy merged with Beinhaker Architecte, and became known as Cardinal Hardy Beinhaker Architecte. Groupe Cardinal Hardy Inc. merged into the IBI Group. Three years later, in late 2014, it was sold to Montreal-based Lemay.
Carol R. Johnson Associates, Inc.
In 2011 the Boston-based landscape architecture firm Carol R. Johnson Associates, Inc. was acquired.
Bay Architects
In 2011 the Houston, Texas-based firm of Bay Architects Inc. was acquired.
Taylor Young
In 2012, Taylor Young, a United Kingdom-based architectural and master-planning practice headquartered in Cheshire and with offices in Liverpool and London, was acquired.''
M-E Companies
In 2012, M-E Companies Inc., an Ohio-based engineering firm with offices in Westerville, Cincinnati, and Canton was acquired.
Aspyr
IBI acquired the British Columbia-based Aspyr Engineering on the 3rd of September 2019.
Projects
The following are a selection of notable projects:
