Cities & Places

Creating the human habitat

Crowd of business people on their way from work. They are unrecognisable. Long exposure shot.

We create the places that people live and work, where discoveries are made, products are manufactured, and our most important national assets are housed. We design and construct the places where our travel journeys begin and end, where the next generation learns, and where our neighbors are cared for and cured.

We draw on talented teammates focused on strategic planning, architecture, design, interiors, engineering, program and construction management, natural sciences and the arts to deliver best-in-class buildings and bring vibrant communities to life. Our global portfolio of clients includes governments, commercial developers, health and education institutions, and industrial clients across a broad range of public and private sectors. In addition to more traditional services, our expertise spans all aspects of specialty consulting to include asset management, economics, digital infrastructure and life sciences. 

It’s a bold remit, a great challenge and a big responsibility – but we're made for this. We’re creating the human habitat.

  • 5 K+

    teammates creating exceptional spaces around the world

  • # 1

    in data centers, healthcare, Top 500 design firms, and in government offices (Engineering News-Record)

  • 15 K+

    educational facilities worked in, including roughly 1 in 8 schools across the U.S.

  • 68 %

    of the world population projected to live in urban areas, according to the United Nations

What we do

We integrate data, technology, mobility and connectivity to improve economic and social equity and the resiliency of cities and communities. From sustainable infrastructure and inclusive placemaking solutions, to reimagined health systems transforming future models of care, we help governments, cities, communities and private-sector clients rethink how they deliver a better life for future generations.

  • Looking down into the sun-filled atrium at the Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital

    Buildings

    Our work transcends aesthetics, shaping the fabric of our communities by creating spaces that inspire, connect, and thrive, enhancing well-being, driving progress, and building resilient, vibrant community assets.

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    Cities

    Transforming urban landscapes, we deliver urban strategy, planning, design and development services – seamlessly blending the renewal of built and natural environments with sustainable economic growth and socio-cultural advancement.

  • Online doctor telemedicine, future technology trend patient consult doctor get prescription and medicine by online internet mobile tablet augmented reality, hospital health care science background

    Health

    Empowering our clients, we reimagine strategies to build and sustain thriving, resilient health systems. Our innovative approaches enhance personal well-being, drive societal progress, and boost economic vitality.

  • Al Wasl dome

    Sports & Entertainment

    From the pitch to the field to the main stage, our impressive portfolio in sports and entertainment spans the globe. We create world-class sports and entertainment venues that inspire, entertain and bring communities together – making every event a landmark occasion. 

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Explore our projects

We're reimagining approaches to create the human habitat, allowing cities and places to keep boldly moving forward.

Meet some of our team

Read more about the talent who make it happen every day.

Read our latest news

From new project wins and milestones to reports, podcasts and industry insights, discover what we’re up to.

From our newsroom

Our insights

  • Beyond Carbon A holistic approach to net zero cities

    Pioneering a Net Zero City with Expo City Dubai 

    Expo City Dubai is taking bold action to create a resilient, low-carbon city that enhance the quality of life for residents and protects the environment. Explore this real-world example of how sustainable urban living can be achieved.

  • Biomimicry paper_front cover

    Biomimicry from Sustainability to Regeneration

    After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature already has solutions to our most pressing challenges. Discover how biomimicry — the innovation and design practice that learns from nature — can transform the built environment into a showcase for a regenerative world.

  • Investing in Sustainable Buildings

    Investing in Sustainable Buildings

    Reducing carbon emissions while scaling up our cities to meet the demands of urban growth has implications for how we design, construct, operate and maintain buildings. Find out why “going green” needs to be at the top of your priority list and the solutions that will get you there. 

  • Blurred image of city

    Future City Making: Embracing Complexity

    Cities are at an opportune moment to respond to complexity and unlock total value while providing the best opportunities for a successful future. Taking a place-based approach and partnering with communities to co-design and oversee the projects being built in their places creates an opportunity to capture this total value.

  • Beyond Carbon: A holistic approach to net zero cities

    Beyond Carbon: A Holistic Approach to Net Zero Cities

    The paper outlines how embracing a more holistic, programatic approach to decarbonization and investing in local carbon reduction and removal projects could help cities accelerate their transition to net zero and deliver co-benefits that address other challenges.

  • Transit Oriented Development

    Transit-Oriented Development: Responding to Today’s Urban Challenges

    This paper explores how mass transit infrastructure investments and a transit-oriented development approach can address these challenges and deliver enhanced economic and social outcomes for communities.

  • Before & Beyond the Build

    Before & Beyond the Build: A Blueprint for Creating Social Value through Infrastructure Investments

    Jacobs, in collaboration with Simetrica-Jacobs, released a thought leadership paper that explores how infrastructure investments can contribute to addressing critical societal issues and how infrastructure could be planned, delivered/built and operated to generate enduring social value at scale and help overcome entrenched social issues in our communities.

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In the media

World Economic Forum: How 'ghost' airports can bring new life to our cities (Steve Zoegall)

Engineering News-Record: Shifting Priorities for Future Cities: Three Short-Term Catalysts for Long-Term Rewards (Steve Zoegall)

The CityAge Podcast: The Natural City (Monte Wilson)

The Built Environment Marketing Show: Smart Cities, Branding & Digital (Dr. Rick Robinson)

DesignIntelligence: Radical Integration (Gary Lapera)