Rider Levett Bucknall is a global professional practice with over 2000 people operating from more than 60 offices serving countries across Americas, Asia, Oceania, Europe, Middle East and Africa in the property and construction industry.
Rider Levett Bucknall was formerly known as Levett & Bailey in Hong Kong and China. The practice was founded in Hong Kong in 1962 and was renamed Rider Levett Bucknall in June 2007 following formation of a global practice with Rider Hunt in Australia and Bucknall Austin in the UK.
The practice specializes in all aspects of quantity surveying and provides a wide range of comprehensive professional services to its clients including cost estimating and cost management, production of bills of quantities and tender and contract documents, financial administration of building contracts, project management and dispute resolution.
Over the years, Rider Levett Bucknall has established a renowned reputation among its clients and in the construction industry for its capability and professionalism.
The estimating and cost research department of the practice maintains a large and comprehensive library of current and historical cost data and unit rates compiled using information derived from the many projects handled by the practice. This cost data bank is essential for accurate estimating and effective cost negotiations with contractors. The cost research unit is also responsible for compiling a "Tender Price Index" of the Hong Kong construction industry which has been widely used since 1969.
The practice maintains a strong emphasis on quantity surveying services for mechanical and electrical installations. A specialised division comprising a balance of quantity surveyors and M&E engineers was established in 1982 which enabled the practice to provide full quantity surveying services for the complete construction process including building services.
The practice was a pioneer in establishing the quantity surveying profession in Hong Kong and mainland China, in the training and development of Chinese quantity surveyors and in the development of estimating, cost research and cost consultancy.
Rider Levett Bucknall has the longest and most extensive experience of working in mainland China of any firm in the quantity surveying profession, dating back to 1979 when it was appointed by the PRC Government for the Jinling Hotel in Nanjing which was the first modern high rise hotel in mainland China. Since that time its surveying activities have been extended to all parts of China. Projects include hotels, embassy buildings, university buildings, conference and trade centres and commercial, industrial and residential developments.