People/firms

URS Corp., New York, has hired Michael J. Burton, former Executive Deputy Commissioner for the New York City Department of Design and Construction, as senior vice president and regional manager.

Homeland security and environmental risk scientist Laurel H. Pye has joined AMEC Construction Management, New York. Pye will operate out of AMEC's Denver office, addressing security issues of the firm's transportation, energy, manufacturing and water resources clients.

The newly formed corporate real estate association CoreNet Global has named Peggy Binzel to be CEO.

John Hall, formerly with The DeWolff Partnership Architects, has joined Cannon Design, Buffalo, N.Y., as a principal.

William Sebring, a partner with Altoon+ Porter Architects, Los Angeles, has transferred to the firm's European office in Amsterdam.

Architect Clarke Caton Hintz, Trenton, N.J., has named three new partners: John D.S. Hatch, George Hibbs and Brian Slaugh.

Contractor George B.H. Macomber Co., Boston, has named John Henderson president and corporate director.

A/E The Thomas Group, Ithaca, N.Y., has merged with Pasadena, Calif.-based architect Tetra Tech Inc.

TSH Architects, Foster City, Calif., has changed its name to Vitae Architecture, Planning and Interiors.

KKE Architects, Minneapolis, has opened new offices in Dallas and Newport Beach, Calif.

TKDA, an E/A firm based in St. Paul, Minn., has opened an office in the Chicago suburb of Aurora, Ill.

Atlanta-based construction management firm Hanscomb has recommended that its stockholders accept a $28.75 million acquisition offer from W.S. Atkins, a provider of technology-based consultancy and support services for the construction industry. Headquartered in Epsom, United Kingdom, Atkins is traded on the London Stock Exchange. In the U.S., Hanscomb will merge with Atkins Hanscomb Faithful & Gould. That company, together with Atkins Benham, an Oklahoma City-based A/E firm purchased by Atkins in January 2000, will be units of Atkins North America.