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Environ, Inc. to Merge With HarleyEllis; Will Become One of Chicago's
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01/16/2005
<b>Environ Expands Capabilities in Healthcare, Laboratory Design and Strategic Planning </b> <p> Environ, Inc. will become one of Chicago's largest architecture and design firms when it merges with the Midwest firm of Harley Ellis headquartered in Detroit, effective Jan. 1, 2003. <p>The merger was announced jointly by Environ President John H. Nelson and Harley Ellis President Dennis M. King. <p>The merger brings together a comprehensive combination of facilities services including strategic planning and management, architecture,engineering, landscape architecture, construction consulting, design-build, interior design, asset management, technology and real estate services. <p>Demand is growing for full service facilities planning and management due to several major trends including the integration of new technology, changing workforce demographics, increasing social responsibility, emphasis on productivity and aging infrastructures. <p>HarleyEllis is at the forefront of redefining traditional architecture services. The combined firms will staff more than 350 architects, designers, planners, engineers and facilities managers, as well as experts in real estate, law, equipment planning, quality management, finance and information technology in offices in Detroit, Chicago and Cincinnati. Combined annual revenue is expected to exceed $75 million. The merged companies will operate under the name HarleyEllis and in Chicago, as Environ HarleyEllis. King will remain corporate chairman and Nelson will continue as corporate executive of the Chicago office. <p>For Environ, the merger is an opportunity to further penetrate Chicago's healthcare, research laboratory and automotive/industrial markets, all HarleyEllis specialties, as well as the growing market for urban innovation centers. The firm will continue to provide the same level of highly personalized client service. <p>"HarleyEllis is at the forefront of laboratory planning and design for the university, corporate, law enforcement and healthcare communities," Nelson said. "The merger is an opportunity for Environ to expand our capabilities in these areas, to add a wealth of new services and, at the same time, strengthen our Midwest reach." <p>HarleyEllis is recognized for its strategic and creative approaches to design, and as a leader in architecture and engineering trends such as "sustainable (green) design," "safety design," "infrastructure renewal" and "campus management." The Chicago location will provide closer proximity to HarleyEllis customers throughout the Midwest as well as entree into the growing senior living market, an Environ specialty. <p>"More companies demand not only innovative design, but solutions for optimizing facility functionality and performance," King said. "Our role has expanded from architects and engineers to strategists and planners who understand business problems and can envision creative business solutions. This merger enables us to further expand our expertise as well as our geographic reach." <p> HarleyEllis and Environ share many traits including a commitment to solutions-based functional design and strong dedication to highly personalized customer service. (HarleyEllis executives have trained extensively at the Disney Institute and follow these approaches in their quality initiatives.) HarleyEllis already does work in Chicago, and Environ has done work in the Detroit market. Each firm's chief executive is a seasoned professional with more than 30 years of design industry experience. <p>"Environ has played a role in many local community projects from senior housing to recreational facilities for inner city kids," said Alice Sinkevitch, executive director of the American Institute of Architects Chicago. <p>"This merger allows Environ to expand its role into other market areas." HarleyEllis, founded in 1908, is based in suburban Detroit. The firm also operates Spectrum Strategies, a strategic planning and asset management firm, and has an affiliate architecture and engineering office in Los Angeles. Client industries include science and research, healthcare, corporate, higher education, government and automotive and industrial. Environ, founded in 1980, was among the 25 largest architectural firms in Chicago. Client industries include corporate interiors, government, hospitality, senior living an upscale residential.
