Posted on October 7, 2026
Arcadis is planning to sell most of its architecture business and cut 1,000 full-time staff from its wider business as part of a restructure following a failed takeover bid by WSP.
The consultant said it is “actively changing its portfolio” by concentrating investment in sectors and markets where “structural demand is strongest”.
Arcadis is currently ranked as the world’s third biggest employer of architects, with 1,781 architects on its payroll out of a total headcount of around 34,000, according to this year’s WA100 list of the world’s biggest practices.
It said its “rightsizing” strategy will see mid-single digit revenue growth and increase its operating EBITDA margin by around 100 basis points to approximately 14.5% by 2027-2029.
Arcadis unveiled plans for the restructure shortly after WSP formally abandoned its intended takeover of the firm.
WSP said it had been “unable to engage” with Arcadis after having two bids that valued the consultant at around £3.8bn turned down over the summer.
Sectors which Arcadis said it now wants to focus on under a reset include transportation and energy and water, which account for a combined 53% of net revenues. It is targeting net revenue growth of mid to high single digits for transportation and high single digits for energy and water.
The firm is also seeking high single digit growth in high-growth sectors such as industrial manufacturing and technology, which account for 21% of revenues. The sector includes data centres, life sciences and semiconductor manufacturing.
