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
| Sep 21, 2010
New BOMA-Kingsley Report Shows Compression in Utilities and Total Operating Expenses
A new report from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and Kingsley Associates shows that property professionals are trimming building operating expenses to stay competitive in today’s challenging marketplace. The report, which analyzes data from BOMA International’s 2010 Experience Exchange Report® (EER), revealed a $0.09 (1.1 percent) decrease in total operating expenses for U.S. private-sector buildings during 2009.
| Sep 21, 2010
Forecast: Existing buildings to earn 50% of green building certifications
A new report from Pike Research forecasts that by 2020, nearly half the green building certifications will be for existing buildings—accounting for 25 billion sf. The study, “Green Building Certification Programs,” analyzed current market and regulatory conditions related to green building certification programs, and found that green building remain robust during the recession and that certifications for existing buildings are an increasing area of focus.
| Sep 21, 2010
Middough Inc. Celebrates its 60th Anniversary
Middough Inc., a top ranking U.S. architectural, engineering and management services company, announces the celebration of its 60th anniversary, says President and CEO, Ronald R. Ledin, PE.
| Sep 16, 2010
Gehry’s Santa Monica Place gets a wave of changes
Omniplan, in association with Jerde Partnership, created an updated design for Santa Monica Place, a shopping mall designed by Frank Gehry in 1980.
| Sep 16, 2010
Green recreation/wellness center targets physical, environmental health
The 151,000-sf recreation and wellness center at California State University’s Sacramento campus, called the WELL (for “wellness, education, leisure, lifestyle”), has a fitness center, café, indoor track, gymnasium, racquetball courts, educational and counseling space, the largest rock climbing wall in the CSU system.
| Sep 13, 2010
Community college police, parking structure targets LEED Platinum
The San Diego Community College District's $1.555 billion construction program continues with groundbreaking for a 6,000-sf police substation and an 828-space, four-story parking structure at San Diego Miramar College.
| Sep 13, 2010
Campus housing fosters community connection
A 600,000-sf complex on the University of Washington's Seattle campus will include four residence halls for 1,650 students and a 100-seat cafe, 8,000-sf grocery store, and conference center with 200-seat auditorium for both student and community use.
| Sep 13, 2010
Second Time Around
A Building Team preserves the historic facade of a Broadway theater en route to creating the first green playhouse on the Great White Way.