In a deal announced this morning, Houston-based healthcare and S+T design specialist FKP has merged with design giant CannonDesign (#8 on BD+C’s Giants 300 Top 100 Architecture/Engineering Firms ranking). The merger forms a 19-office, 960-employee practice that produced more than $220 million in combined design revenue in 2016.
Led by CEO Diane R.K. Osan, FAIA, ACHA, FKP is an internationally recognized design firm with offices in Houston, Dallas, and Columbus. Known for its expertise in pediatric healthcare, the firm has designed children’s facilities throughout the U.S., including Nemours’ A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care in Philadelphia, and numerous projects for Texas Children’s Hospital.
“CannonDesign’s five-year strategic framework focuses on proactive strategies for strengthening our client partnerships through personal and firm growth by office expansions, new hires, and mergers,” said CannonDesign’s CEO Brad Lukanic, AIA, in a statement. “Today’s merger with FKP intentionally increases CannonDesign’s commitment to total health solutions with a focus on children’s health, while advancing our design impact, being a top-tier employer, and taking a stronghold in key geographic areas like Texas and Ohio.”
Reflecting on the shared benefits of the merger, Osan notes the opportunity to profoundly impact community health. “In order to effectively improve the conditions of our communities, we have to start by addressing the needs of children. Not just healthcare for children, but education, research, recreation, nutrition and that list goes on. All of these factors are critical in setting the path for a child’s future, and our firms’ combined expertise will allow us to address these factors and set children and communities up for success.”
Osan will assume the role as leader of CannonDesign’s Pediatric Health Practice. Looking beyond the traditional definition of healthcare, she will lead the practice in exploring ways to support the health and wellbeing of children across numerous environmental settings. She’ll also be joining the firm’s board of directors.
“Both of our firms have solid foundations,” added Lukanic. “Now we can expand in key areas to further serve our clients and create partnerships to evolve our design practice.”
Going forward, FKP will conduct business as FKP | CannonDesign.
Related Stories
| May 25, 2011
Low Impact Development: Managing Stormwater Runoff
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES HSW/SD learning units by studying this article and successfully passing the online exam.
| May 25, 2011
Register today for BD+C’s June 8th webinar on restoration and reconstruction projects
Based on new and award-winning building projects, this webinar presents our “expert faculty” to examine the key issues affecting project owners, designers and contractors in case studies ranging from gut renovations and adaptive reuses to restorations and retrofits.
| May 25, 2011
Hotel offers water beds on a grand scale
A semi-submerged resort hotel is the newest project from Giancarlo Zema, a Rome-based architect known for his organic maritime designs. The hotel spans one kilometer and has both land and sea portions.
| May 25, 2011
Smithsonian building $45 million green lab
Thanks to a $45 million federal appropriation to the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Md., has broken ground on what is expected to be one of the most energy-efficient laboratories in the country. The 69,000-sf lab is targeting LEED Gold and is expected to use 37% less energy and emit 37% less carbon dioxide than a similar building.
| May 25, 2011
World’s tallest building now available in smaller size
Emaar Properties teamed up with LEGO to create a miniature version of the Burj Khalifa as part of the LEGO Architecture series. Currently, the LEGO Burj Khalifa is available only in Dubai, but come June 1, 2011, it will be available worldwide.
