Our heritage - Global Annual Report 26

Region: GLOBAL

CONSTRUCTION COST CALCULATOR

We are proud of our 240-year heritage

Our journey from a single office in 18th century Britain to a global practice spanning multiple continents today is shaped by changing markets, new technologies, shifting client needs, and the growing complexity of the built environment.

We can trace our history to back to 1785 when architect Henry Cooper opened a practice in Reading, England, that would help define a new profession.

At a time when buildings were constructed by hand, regulation was limited and costs were difficult to predict, Cooper introduced a more systematic approach to understanding and managing construction costs. Though he may have described himself simply as a ‘measurer’, his work laid the foundations of quantity surveying as it is known today.

RLB has delivered world-famous landmarks

Some of the world’s most iconic buildings including Sydney Opera House, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong Palace Museum.

Ambitious engineering projects

By the end of the 18th century, Henry Cooper and Sons had established a presence in London, contributing to some of the most ambitious engineering projects of the Industrial Revolution.

Over the decades that followed, the practice evolved through new partnerships and generations of leadership, leaving its mark on schools, hospitals, civic buildings and infrastructure that supported growing communities.

In 1895, the London practice passed to John Rider Hunt, becoming J. Rider Hunt and Co, and later Rider Hunt and Partners. The firm continued to expand in scale and influence. New offices opened across the United Kingdom, and the practice contributed to public buildings that shaped daily life in many towns and cities.

RLB has delivered sustainable places to live and work

Many hundreds of public and civic buildings, tens of thousands of homes and hotel rooms, and millions of sq ft of commercial space across five continents in just the last decade alone.

Period of international expansion

The middle of the 20th century marked a period of international expansion. In 1949, Rider Hunt and Partners opened its first overseas office in Melbourne, Australia, during a period of rapid construction and urban growth. From there, offices were established across Australia and New Zealand, and the firm became involved in some of the most important and iconic projects of the era, including the Sydney Opera House.

Growth was matched with innovation. The practice developed proprietary estimating software, launched publications to share industry insight, and steadily broadened its service offering in response to client needs.

RLB has delivered sporting legacies

World-class sports stadiums, such as Hill Dickinson Stadium (Everton FC) and Mercedez-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia), and venues for the 2012 London and 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Landmark developments

Parallel stories unfolded in other parts of the world. In Hong Kong and across Asia, Levett & Bailey built a reputation for excellence, becoming one of the first quantity surveying firms to operate in mainland China and contributing to landmark developments throughout the region.

In the United Kingdom, Bucknall Austin grew from a small Birmingham office into a respected multidisciplinary practice, known for its people-first culture and progressive approach to the role of the quantity surveyor.

In 2007, these three firms — Rider Hunt, Levett & Bailey and Bucknall Austin — came together to form the Rider Levett Bucknall Global Practice. United by shared values, complementary strengths and a common ambition, the newly formed network adopted a single brand and a global outlook while preserving the independence and local expertise of its member firms.

RLB has delivered new heights in construction

More than 100 tall tower developments including the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world.

Investment in technology

RLB has continued to grow across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and Oceania, supported by a global board and a shared commitment to quality, collaboration and professional integrity. New offices, alliances and affiliates have extended the practice’s reach, while investment in technology, research and knowledge sharing has ensured we have remained relevant in a changing world.

As expectations around sustainability, resilience and long-term value continue to rise, RLB’s role is expanding beyond cost and delivery to broader questions of performance, risk, and social and environmental impact. Our advice increasingly supports clients to navigate complexity, manage uncertainty and make decisions that stand the test of time.

While the scale and scope of the practice have grown, our professional standards have endured. The global company values that guide us today – Truth, Trust, Together and Tomorrow – represent principles that we have always followed since 1785.