INDIANAPOLIS — March 2011 — RATIO Architects, Inc. with studios in Indianapolis and Champaign, Ill., recently announced it has merged with prominent Raleigh, N.C., firm Cherry Huffman Architects. Principals of both firms are calling the business transaction a merger of equals given the firms’ expertise and their similar design philosophies. Louis Cherry, FAIA, LEED AP, principal of Cherry Huffman, has been named the sixth RATIO principal.
“We know the time is right for this merger and our continued national expansion,” says RATIO’s Founding
Principal and President Bill Browne, FAIA, LEED AP. “As the economy shows signs of rebounding, we are anticipating increased client needs at the national level. Providing geographic reach and breadth of talented work teams is a win for our clients as we eye larger and more complex projects.”
RATIO principals became aware of Cherry Huffman about two years ago. “We’ve worked in the North Carolina market and completed various projects for Duke University, observing many of the architectural teams in the area along the way. Simply stated, we are impressed with Louis Cherry’s leadership and his creative and innovative team. Our design philosophies, work cultures and styles are very similar,” says Browne.
RATIO and Cherry Huffman are privately held firms, and terms of the transaction will not be publicly disclosed.
About RATIO’s Growth Strategy
The merger with Cherry Huffman is the next step in RATIO’s strategy to grow to national design firm status. In 2004, RATIO completed a merger with a Champaign, IL-based architecture firm, bolstering the firm’s life sciences and higher education work. The expansion to the southeast with a fully functional studio allows RATIO’s leadership to offer regional businesses its strong experience and expertise in the landscape architecture, urban design and planning disciplines. RATIO will integrate work teams regardless of geographic and studio boundaries, a model that provides complementary skill sets that benefit the client and project.
Similar Firm Cultures and Design Approach
RATIO and Cherry Huffman have similar contextual design philosophies, which means team members bring their collective intellect together to design projects that reflect their environment and blend into the existing fabric of the community. Employees at both firms embrace the concept of sustainability.
RATIO and Cherry Huffman also are committed to the communities where they work and live, giving time, treasure and talent to various community projects. The Cherry Huffman team will continue to support various nonprofit organizations and needs in the Raleigh community.
About RATIO Architects, Inc.
RATIO is an award-winning design and planning firm currently with studios in Indianapolis, Ind., and Champaign, Ill., offering services in architecture, preservation, interior design, landscape architecture, urban design and planning, and graphic design. Founded in 1982, its collaborative studios combine professionals from all architectural disciplines to work on higher education, community, life science, workplace, lifestyle and cultural projects.
To date RATIO has completed work in more than 20 U.S. states. The design firm has managed and completed a variety of projects with Duke University as well as several high-profile projects: Engineering II Building, Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO; The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Welcome Center, Dinosphere, Dale Chihuly Fireworks of GlassExhibit and Parking Garage / Indianapolis, IN; NCAA Hall of Champions and Headquarters Expansion / Indianapolis, IN; Simon Property Group Corporate Headquarters / Indianapolis, IN.
About Cherry Huffman Architects
Cherry Huffman Architects is one of the most respected firms in North Carolina. In 2009 the firm received the American Institute of Architects North Carolina Chapter Firm of the Year Award, presented to a team that has established presence in the state and consistently produced quality architecture with a verifiable level of client satisfaction for a period of 10 years.
The firm has completed architectural and interior design projects for various municipal clients at city, county and state levels; public and private K-12 schools; university; public libraries; select residential projects; and various private sector projects that build long-term relationships and improve the community. Cherry Huffman’s leadership has helped shape a more sustainable region in North Carolina. Key projects completed include: Broughton High School / Raleigh; Burning Coal Theatre Company / Raleigh; Cameron Village Library / Raleigh; Kraft Family YMCA / Apex; McSwain Education Center at the Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University / Raleigh; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship / Raleigh; and Wake County Human Services Center / Raleigh.
Related Stories
| Feb 10, 2014
Ball State to host Geothermal Conference on design, drilling and equipment - April 10, 2014
To best serve the industry, Ball State University has organized a single day conference in which participants will be able to exchange technical notes, develop understandings and share experiences with design, drilling, and equipment issues related to geothermal ground source heat pump technology.
| Feb 7, 2014
DOE, Autodesk team to overhaul the EnergyPlus simulation program
The update will allow a larger ecosystem of developers to contribute updates to the code in order to improve performance and decrease the time required to run energy model simulations.
| Feb 7, 2014
Meet the new Fellows: AIA elevates 143 to College of Fellows
The AIA College of Fellows is an honor awarded to members who have made significant contributions to the architectural profession.
| Feb 7, 2014
Bernards announces executive leadership realignment
Changes reflect long-term growth plans as builder enters its fifth decade.
| Feb 7, 2014
Zaha Hadid's 'white crystal' petroleum research center taking shape in the desert [slideshow]
Like a crystalline form still in the state of expansion, the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center will rise from the desert in dramatic fashion, with a network of bright-white, six-sided cells combining to form an angular, shell-like façade.
| Feb 6, 2014
First look: Gensler ups the ante on airport design with new SFO boarding area
The new terminal features a yoga room, award-winning arts program, and an interactive play area for kids.
| Feb 6, 2014
End of the open workplace?
If you’ve been following news about workplace design in the popular media, you might believe that the open workplace has run its course. While there’s no shortage of bad open-plan workplaces, there are two big flaws with the now common claim that openness is bad.
| Feb 6, 2014
New Hampshire metal building awes visitors
Visitors to the Keene Family YMCA in New Hampshire are often surprised by what they encounter. Liz Coppola calls it the “wow factor.” “Literally, there’s jaw dropping,” says Coppola, director of financial and program development for the Keene Family YMCA.
| Feb 5, 2014
M&A activity down in 2013 among architecture, engineering firms: Report
In 2013, consultant Morrissey Goodale observed 168 sales of U.S.-based architecture and engineering (“A/E”) firms – down nearly 7% from the record 180 sales of U.S.-based A/E firms in 2012.
| Feb 5, 2014
BIA Opens Entries for 25th Annual Brick in Architecture Awards
Entries open on February 10 for the Brick Industry Association's (BIA) Brick in Architecture Awards. Celebrating its silver anniversary, BIA's annual honors spotlight outstanding, innovative and sustainable architecture that incorporates clay brick products as the predominant exterior building or paving material.