HDR Architecture, one of the world’s leading healthcare design firms, and CUH2A, the world’s largest science and technology (S+T) design firm, have announced their intent to merge to create the most comprehensive S+T design firm in the world. The merged company will assemble the deepest pool of design expertise across the entire spectrum of the rapidly converging fields of life sciences research, physical sciences research and healthcare.
The combined companies will employ nearly 1,700 architecture, engineering and planning (AEP) staff in more than 40 locations worldwide. With complementary portfolios across the academic, government and corporate S+T market sectors, HDR and CUH2A will deliver integrated AEP services to an extensive array of specialty areas including biomedical research and development, academic research, biocontainment, nanotechnology, vivaria, clean rooms and forensics. The merged business practices will have unsurpassed knowledge and perspective in the emerging field of translational research with its “bench to bedside” facilities that combine research with clinical care.
“CUH2A’s science and technology portfolio provides immediate growth and diversity to HDR’s practice, while allowing us to penetrate even further into the healthcare markets in the Northeastern and Southeastern U.S. as well as the Middle East and other critical global locations,” noted HDR Architecture President Merle Bachman. “Merging our shared commitments to innovation and integrated project delivery will broaden our reach in a global landscape flattened by faster communication, shared knowledge and accelerated client expectations.”
Echoing Bachman’s sentiments, CUH2A President Scott Butler added, “HDR adds internationally recognized specialization in areas that round out our S+T practice, and its extensive network of offices establish a platform to deliver our combined expertise around the world.”
Reflecting on the R&D industry, Butler said, “The world of science is changing. Our clients are crossing global boundaries and working across disciplines to create the big breakthroughs in research. The CUH2A and HDR alliance puts us in the best position to enable these trends. We will bring together unmatched knowledge in every area of science research for every part of the world.”
The merger allows each company access to previously impenetrable markets and regions. As a result, HDR and CUH2A will each fast forward their company’s strategic development by at least 10 years and will enable the combined company to focus further on the shared vision of bettering the human condition globally. The two companies create sustainable facilities that help the world’s best researchers to discover cures for insidious diseases, the best healthcare providers to deliver medical solutions to enrich people’s lives, and the most prestigious government agencies to defend communities against bio-threats.
The union is expected to be completed by the end of June 2008. Once the deal is completed, the science and technology groups of each company will merge into one business unit. Executives from HDR and CUH2A will form an integrated management team for the combined science and technology unit, which will be led by CUH2A’s President Scott Butler.
About HDR
HDR Architecture is an operating company within HDR, Inc. with approximately 1,300 employees. The parent company, HDR, Inc. is an employee-owned architectural, engineering and consulting firm that excels at the design and management of complex projects. Approximately 7,000 professionals, in more than 160 locations worldwide, pool their strengths to provide solutions beyond the scope of traditional A/E/C firms. Well-known as an innovator in building design for science and technology research, HDR is also ranked as the No. 1 healthcare design firm by Modern Healthcare magazine in 2008, marking an unprecedented fifth consecutive year in the top spot. HDR was also named a “Best AEC Firm to Work For” by Building Design & Construction magazine in 2008.
About CUH2A
With more than 400 employees, CUH2A architects, engineers and planners design the most advanced science and technology facilities in the world. Since its founding in 1962, CUH2A has designed over 60 million square feet of research and development space. The firm serves academic, corporate and government clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Dubai, London, New York, Princeton, San Francisco and Washington, DC.
