HDR, CUH2A Complete Merger
30 Jun 2008
The world’s most comprehensive science and technology (S+T) design firm has been formed today through the merger of HDR Architecture and CUH2A.
The combination of one of the world’s leading healthcare design firms (HDR) with the world’s largest S+T design firm (CUH2A) brings together expertise across the entire spectrum of the rapidly converging fields of life sciences, physical sciences and healthcare. The company creates sustainable facilities that help the world’s best researchers to discover cures for insidious diseases, the finest healthcare providers to deliver medical solutions to enrich people’s lives and the most prestigious government agencies to defend communities against bio-threats. The newly expanded firm becomes particularly well-suited for the emerging field of translational research.
Company executives signed documents to finalize the legal and financial arrangements on June 25th, three weeks after the companies announced their intention to merge. The combined science and technology practices of HDR and CUH2A will operate under the leadership of Scott Butler, former president of CUH2A. The S+T focused practice will serve clients via more than 40 worldwide offices, including locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, India and the Middle East.
“The merger of HDR and CUH2A is tangible new evidence of the big move afoot in the healthcare arena to integrate research with patient care,” said Steve Westfall, president of Tradeline, Inc., which provides resources for facilities planning and management for clients in the healthcare and S+T markets. “Here you see two internationally prominent design firms combining their respective strengths in research and healthcare to specifically address this escalating integration challenge with focus and force.”
If science and healthcare are going to succeed at bettering the human condition globally, practical applications must emerge from the scientific discoveries that often start at “the bench” with scientists studying disease at a molecular or cellular level. From there, work progresses to the clinical level, or the patient's “bedside.” Moving forward, HDR and CUH2A wield even more expansive expertise that stands to quicken the pace of those breakthroughs by designing spaces that foster collaboration, spark innovation and maintain the high level of safety required with these complex structures.
“Collaboration across multiple disciplines inspires the biggest scientific breakthroughs,” said Butler, who now heads the merged S+T practice of HDR and CUH2A. “Immediate benefits from the merger are possible in, among other areas, nanotechnology and academic medical centers. The world of science is changing – we’re ahead of the wave and adeptly suited to meet the evolving needs of our academic, government and corporate clients.”
In regard to unifying the companies’ complementary talents, Merle Bachman, president of HDR Architecture noted, “We are committed to being the leader in the science and technology market sector,” Bachman said. “When the leading healthcare design firm combines with the world’s top science and technology design firm, it creates enormous potential for a multitude of facilities. As a merged company, HDR and CUH2A have each immediately accelerated their strategic development as firms by at least 10 years.”
Concluded Butler, “Wherever you are in the world, we’re nearby. Whatever science or technology you practice, we will deliver world-renowned expertise. The combined resources are amazing and there are so many possibilities.”
About the merged S+T practice of HDR and CUH2A:
CUH2A, the world’s largest science and technology design firm, and HDR Architecture, one of the world’s leading healthcare design firms, joined forces in June 2008 with CUH2A retaining its brand identity as CUH2A, a division of HDR Architecture. HDR and CUH2A now form the world’s most comprehensive science and technology design firm, specializing in integrated laboratory programming, planning, architecture and engineering for the most advanced science and technology facilities in the world.
Together, HDR and CUH2A have designed more than 200 million square feet of research/development and healthcare spaces for academic, corporate and government clients worldwide from more than 40 offices including Princeton, Bethesda, Atlanta, Alexandria, Dallas, New York, San Francisco, Pasadena, Phoenix, London and Dubai. Among its many prestigious clients are Arizona State University, Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins University, the Mayo Clinic, Merck, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Pfizer, Proctor & Gamble, Purdue University, the University of Colorado, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Veteran’s Administration.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.
Ellen Randall
HDR CUH2A
609.791.7249
erandall@cuh2a.com
Katie Sosnowchik
HDR, Inc.
402.926.7080
katie.sosnowchik@hdrinc.com