Integrus Architecture

Leadership: Larry Hurlbert, CEO; Jerry Winkler, president

Year founded: 1953

2002 revenues: $8.5 million

Projected 2003 revenues: Just over $10 million

Largest current projects: Eastside Catholic and White River high schools, expansion of Spokane Convention Center Exhibition Hall, two U.S. embassies

Integrus Architecture’s golden anniversary year has been, well, golden.

As the private sector slowed down, Integrus actually has been getting busier thanks to its focus on large-scale institutional projects. This represents about 80 percent of the firm’s work. “We’re really all about trying to do facilities that are long-term assets to the community,” said Larry Hurlbert, chief executive officer of the 64-staff firm with offices in Seattle and Spokane.

It’s a long way from Washington state to Conakry, Guinea, and Bamako, Mali — two African capitals where Integrus is applying its knowledge of facility security to design U.S. embassies. Surprisingly, the projects do not require much international travel. The State Department is the client so most meetings are in Washington, D.C.

Integrus is particularly busy on the education front.

The firm has begun designing Eastside Catholic’s new campus, an approximately $40 million, master-planned project that ultimately could total 200,000 square feet on the Sammamish Plateau.

Construction of the $45 million White River High School in Buckley is almost done. Integrus designed the school to meet the district’s new career-based curriculum.

Integrus also is designing two middle schools in Eugene, Ore., as well as buildings for Wenatchee Valley College, Walla Walla Community College and Washington State University Spokane’s College of Nursing.

School construction is based on population growth. “There’s kind of a bubble going through now that we’re responding to,” Hurlbert said.

One possible regulatory change Hurlbert is monitoring is the state moving away from the low-bid model on contracts. He’s part of an industry trade group working with lawmakers on the issue.

Hurlbert sees a strengthening of the market overall and the public sector in particular. “Education will continue strongly in the next five-plus years,” he said. Plus, new cities are being formed, which will result in work on municipal buildings.