AE Works Ltd. (AE Works), an award-winning building design and consulting firm is excited to announce that WTW Architects, a national leader in higher education design, has joined the firm. This move brings together over 100 talented professionals. The acquisition is effective as of March 15, 2024.
AE Works is a top-ranked firm on the Architectural Record Top 300 that has delivered a diverse range of projects for leading commercial clients, research institutions, hospitals, and public agencies throughout the region and country. The addition of WTW Architects expands AE Works’ design leadership and presence in Pennsylvania and nationally.
Founded in Pittsburgh in 1959, WTW Architects has earned a reputation as a design leader in higher education, commercial, and healthcare projects. WTW Architects has worked on over 140 different college and university campuses to enhance student living and learning. This work includes significant projects at the University of North Dakota, Texas A&M, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Penn State, University of Vermont, and Towson University.
AE Works Acquires WTW Architects
AE Works’ Founder, President & CEO, Michael Cherock, PE, shares, “We are excited to have WTW Architects join AE Works. WTW’s design leadership in delivering higher education facilities is now combined with our track record of work nationwide for leading businesses, research institutions, hospitals, and public agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institutes of Health, CDC. This move is a key part of our strategic firm vision to diversify our experience regionally and nationwide.”
In its 16 plus years of being in business, AE Works has been on the Inc. 5000’s fastest growing companies list seven times—which puts them in the top 0.1% of all companies in the country. AE Works has grown consistently beyond its start-up years and has proven to be resilient throughout the recent pandemic and other industry challenges like the Great Recession. This move furthers the firm’s resilience and commitment to deliver excellence to clients with national reach, diverse market expertise, and wide range of building design and consulting services.
“We are excited to join a leading firm headquartered in our hometown of Pittsburgh. AE Works is focused on making building projects a better value for clients,” adds Larry Payne, AIA, President & CEO of WTW Architects. “Together, we will be able to do that better than ever. This is about providing clients and partners with the best value possible from an architecture firm and providing our staff more opportunities. United by tradition and innovation, I know we’ll continue to impact the architecture landscape in Pennsylvania and beyond.”
This strategic move isn't just about combining resources; it's about values, a strong vision for the future, and providing a great place to work for staff. Larry Payne has been appointed as Managing Principal and will serve on the AE Works’ firm management council. In collaboration with Michael Cherock and the leadership team, he will play a pivotal role in driving the growth and impact of the firm, both locally and on a broader scale.
AE Works and WTW Architects are jointly developing an integration strategy, aiming to synergize their strengths and further cement AE Works' position as an industry leader.
About AE Works
A top-ranked building design and consulting firm on the Architectural Record Top 300, AE Works has delivered over $1 billion of building projects for a diverse range of leading businesses, research institutions, hospitals, and public agencies. Leveraging the power of diverse services delivered by one team, AE Works makes building projects a better value. The firm is a certified B Corp, underscoring the company’s commitment to making a positive impact on employees, communities, and the environment. Services include architecture, interior design, engineering, and planning + project services. AE Works is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with additional offices in State College, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. Learn more at aeworks.com
About WTW Architects
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, WTW Architects is an architecture, interior design, and planning firm with over sixty-five years of distinguished design experience. This experience is marked by over 50 recent awards across higher education, commercial, healthcare, and mixed-use development sectors. Renowned for its leadership in higher education facility design, WTW brings an impressive portfolio on over 140 college and university campuses, including the University of North Dakota, The University of Pittsburgh, The Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Miami. WTW is recognized nationwide as a thought leader in the programming, planning, and design of student life projects. The firm's impact extends to iconic Pittsburgh landmarks such as Acrisure Stadium, Fifth Avenue Place, and the University of Pittsburgh William Pitt Union. Learn more at wtwarchitects.com
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 19, 2023
World’s first prefab operating room with fully automated disinfection technology opens in New York
The first prefabricated operating room in the world with fully automated disinfection technology opened recently at the University of Rochester Medicine Orthopedics Surgery Center in Henrietta, N.Y. The facility, developed in a former Sears store, features a system designed by Synergy Med, called Clean Cube, that had never been applied to an operating space before. The components of the Clean Cube operating room were custom premanufactured and then shipped to the site to be assembled.
Performing Arts Centers | Jul 18, 2023
Perelman Performing Arts Center will soon open at Ground Zero
In September, New York City will open a new performing arts center in Lower Manhattan, two decades after the master plan for Ground Zero called for a cultural component there. At a cost of $500 million, including $130 million donated by former mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, the Perelman Performing Arts Center (dubbed PAC NYC) is a 138-foot-tall cube-shaped building that glows at night.
Codes and Standards | Jul 17, 2023
Outdated federal rainfall analysis impacting infrastructure projects, flood insurance
Severe rainstorms, sometimes described as “atmospheric rivers” or “torrential thunderstorms,” are making the concept of a “1-in-100-year flood event” obsolete, according to a report from First Street Foundation, an organization focused on weather risk research.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 13, 2023
Walkable neighborhoods encourage stronger sense of community
Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to interact with their neighbors and have a stronger sense of community than people who live in car-dependent communities, according to a report by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego.
Sustainability | Jul 13, 2023
Deep green retrofits: Updating old buildings to new sustainability standards
HOK’s David Weatherhead and Atenor’s Eoin Conroy discuss the challenges and opportunities of refurbishing old buildings to meet modern-day sustainability standards.
Contractors | Jul 13, 2023
Construction input prices remain unchanged in June, inflation slowing
Construction input prices remained unchanged in June compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices were also unchanged for the month.
Government Buildings | Jul 13, 2023
The recently opened U.S. Embassy in Ankara reflects U.S. values while honoring Turkish architecture
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has recently opened the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. The design by Ennead Architects aims to balance transparency and openness with security, according to a press statement. The design also seeks both to honor Turkey’s architectural traditions and to meet OBO’s goals of sustainability, resiliency, and stewardship.
Affordable Housing | Jul 12, 2023
Navigating homelessness with modular building solutions
San Francisco-based architect Chuck Bloszies, FAIA, SE, LEED AP, discusses his firm's designs for Navigation Centers, temporary housing for the homeless in northern California.
Sponsored | Fire and Life Safety | Jul 12, 2023
Fire safety considerations for cantilevered buildings [AIA course]
Bold cantilevered designs are prevalent today, as developers and architects strive to maximize space, views, and natural light in buildings. Cantilevered structures, however, present a host of challenges for building teams, according to José R. Rivera, PE, Associate Principal and Director of Plumbing and Fire Protection with Lilker.
Building Owners | Jul 12, 2023
Building movement: When is it a problem?
As buildings age, their structural conditions can deteriorate, causing damage and safety concerns. In order to mitigate this, it’s important to engage in the regular inspection and condition assessment of buildings for diagnosis.