The news came as Arup unveiled pre-tax profit in excess of £15m for the year to 31 March 2000, compared with £14.6m for the same period to 31 March 1999.
Turnover reached £275m in 2000, compared with £266m in 1999.
This included a 37.5% jump in US turnover from £24m in 1999 to £33m in 2000. European turnover grew 23.5% from £17m in 1999 to £21m in 2000.
Emmerson expects overall turnover to reach £315m this year.
Arup opened five offices last year: in Houston and Detroit in the USA, Amsterdam and Milan in Europe and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
It also launched Integration, a web-based extranet system that offers project managers communication, collaboration and management.
Announcing the results, Emmerson said Arup would continue with its plan to extend its services by either acquiring or merging with specialist practices.
He said he was particularly interested in firms offering skills needed at the early stages of a project, such as financial advice, planning and project management.
The firm has already announced a strategic partnership with management consultant Rossmore Dempsey & Company.
Arup also has long-term plans to open more offices. These are likely to include its first base in South America and further offices in Asia.
Emmerson predicted that these international bases would help Arup to benefit further from multinational clients' seeking to form global alliances with their consultants.
He went on to say that the industry's recruitment problems were not restricted to the UK and were likely to spread around the world. Arup is currently looking to set up a masters course in building services engineering at an undisclosed university in a bid to combat the UK skills crisis.
