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
Concrete | Jul 26, 2022
Consortium to set standards and create markets for low-carbon concrete
A consortium of construction firms, property developers, and building engineers have pledged to drive down the carbon emissions of concrete.
Green | Jul 26, 2022
Climate tech startup BlocPower looks to electrify, decarbonize the nation's buildings
The New York-based climate technology company electrifies and decarbonizes buildings—more than 1,200 of them so far.
Education Facilities | Jul 26, 2022
Malibu High School gets a new building that balances environment with education
In Malibu, Calif., a city known for beaches, surf, and sun, HMC Architects wanted to give Malibu High School a new building that harmonizes environment and education.
| Jul 26, 2022
Better design with a “brain break”
During the design process, there aren’t necessarily opportunities to implement “brain breaks,” brief moments to take a purposeful pause from the task at hand and refocus before returning to work.
Building Team | Jul 25, 2022
First Ismaili Center in the U.S. combines Islamic design with Texas influences
Construction has begun on the first Ismaili Center in the U.S. in Houston.
Codes and Standards | Jul 22, 2022
Office developers aim for zero carbon without offsets
As companies reassess their office needs in the wake of the pandemic, a new arms race to deliver net zero carbon space without the need for offsets is taking place in London, according to a recent Bloomberg report.
Codes and Standards | Jul 22, 2022
Hurricane-resistant construction may be greatly undervalued
New research led by an MIT graduate student at the school’s Concrete Sustainability Hub suggests that the value of buildings constructed to resist wind damage in hurricanes may be significantly underestimated.
School Construction | Jul 22, 2022
School integrating conventional medicine with holistic principles blends building and landscape
Design of the new Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville, Ark., aims to blend the building and landscape, creating connections with the surrounding woodlands and the Ozark Mountains.
Market Data | Jul 21, 2022
Architecture Billings Index continues to stabilize but remains healthy
Architecture firms reported increasing demand for design services in June, according to a new report today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Market Data | Jul 21, 2022
Despite deteriorating economic conditions, nonresidential construction spending projected to increase through 2023
Construction spending on buildings is projected to increase just over nine percent this year and another six percent in 2023, according to a new report from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
