Perkins & Will Inc. held its ranking as the fifth-largest architecture firm in the country last year, though its revenue dipped slightly, bucking the broader industry up-trend.With 2013 revenue of $356.4 million, Perkins & Will was the top Chicago-based firm on an annual list of the 300 largest U.S. architecture firms compiled by trade publication Architectural Record.Six Chicago-area firms were among the top 100 largest firms on the list, which ranks the firms by revenue. Of those six, revenue rose at four of the firms as slow-but-steady economic growth boosted demand for architectural services.

Perkins & Will is known for Chicago projects including the Rush University Medical Center on the Near West Side and William Jones College Preparatory High School in the South Loop. Though revenue inched lower last year, 2014 is looking up.

Commercial real estate developments like apartments, retail and hotel have reemerged from the depths after the recession, said Ted Strand, a principal at Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates Inc. The firm has designed several new buildings downtown, including the forthcoming Loews hotel and Related Midwest LLC's new apartment tower at 500 N. Lake Shore Drive.

Architectural Record found that:

  • Perkins & Will saw revenue hit $356.4 million last year, a 1.1 percent decline from 2012.
  • Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP pushed revenue up to $228.4 million last year, an 8.7 percent gain over 2012.
  • VOA Associates Inc.'s revenue last year hit $55.6 million, up 19.4 percent from 2012.
  • Solomon Cordwell Buenz reported the biggest year-over-year gain — 76.8 percent — to $54.9 million last year.
  • Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill Architecture's revenues last year totaled $31.4 million, down 3.9 percent from the prior year.
  • Oak Brook-based FGM Architects Inc. earned $23.5 million last year, up 25 percent from 2012.

FGM now has about 100 employees, up from 70 to 75 at its low point several years ago, Mr. Ochoa said.

The biggest U.S. architecture firm by revenue last year was San Francisco-based Gensler, with more than $883 million, according to Architectural Record.

The publication's rankings are based on firmwide revenue from architectural work, excluding engineering projects, for example.