Rider Hunt Extends Reach by Forming New Global Practice with UK and Asia Firms.

Combined Entity Offers Most Advanced Techniques for Green Building Initiatives

PHOENIX -- Rider Hunt, one of the world's foremost professional property and construction consulting firms, has joined forces with Levett & Bailey in Asia and the UK-based Bucknall Austin to create a new global practice. The combined group will consist of 1,800 professionals serving clients in four broad geographic regions: Oceania, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Asia and the Americas.

The new entity represents a fusion of resources, intellectual property and service delivery methods to better serve construction, engineering and development professionals around the globe. As one of the largest global practices, services will include cost consulting, project management and advisory.

"This new global practice is comprised of three organizations that are the recognized and established leaders in their respective regions," said Julian Anderson, president of Rider Hunt. "Our clients will benefit from not only the industry's collection of top talent, but also the knowledge transfer and pooling of industry-specific intellectual property and practices across the world."

Global Green Building Expertise Benefits Clients Locally

The new practice will harness the more than 220 years of company experience across four continents, including industry-leading techniques for sustainable building practices. Two offerings, relifing and four dimensional cost modeling, will help socially responsible organizations take a leadership role in managing the potentially harmful impact of waste, carbon emissions, and energy efficiencies on the global environment.

For example, clients outside the Americas will benefit from Rider Hunt's relifing program, which helps building owners capture the remaining value and extend the life of their buildings after years of service. The methodology, sometimes implemented as a "Building Life Extension Study," is now a requirement for Arizona state buildings of a certain size. Relifing 80 buildings in Arizona has resulted in a more environmentally friendly approach to development needs that has also saved the taxpayers $26 million over a six-month period. As a result, The American Legislative Exchange Council has adopted Rider Hunt's relifing as "model" legislation for all 50 states.

Clients will likewise benefit from the Bucknall Austin development of a Four Dimensional Cost Modeling System, which helps to predetermine and manage carbon outputs for buildings. The system facilitates rapid 'what if' scenarios to establish bottom line impacts for capital costs, including the modeling of energy, CO2 and capital allowances. The system looks within the structure of the building and identifies solutions over a period of time to make the existing asset more environmentally friendly. For example, the model found that installing a steam recirculation system within an existing munition facility in South Wales would result in reheating from 90 degrees Celsius instead of 40 degrees Celsius. This small initial investment had the triple benefit of massively cutting the energy bill, in turn reducing the carbon cap levy and reducing CO2 emissions.

"These initiatives are but a few examples of how our combined talent and expertise can provide lasting value for our clients through clarity of strategy, superior service, and the ability to be forward looking," added Anderson. "This state of mind is part of all that we do, and every interaction we have with our clients, regardless of where in the world they turn to us for help."

About Rider Hunt

Rider Hunt is known throughout the world for providing independent, unbiased expert advice on all matters relating to the management of the cost and time of construction. Utilizing its many years of experience and professionally trained employees, and by selectively choosing its clients, Rider Hunt continues to firmly establish itself as one of the major players in the construction industry, on a national, international and local level. For more information on Rider Hunt's services visit www.riderhunt.com.