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January 30, 2017

Lord Aeck Sargent Appoints New Michigan Director, Transforms Historic Beer Hall for Ann Arbor Office

Michigan Office of Leading Architecture and Planning Firm Looks to Future with Promotions and Renovated Office

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — January 30, 2017 – Lord Aeck Sargent has promoted historic preservation expert Rob Yallop, LEED AP, CDT to direct its Ann Arbor office. The leading architecture, design and planning firm has six offices that focus on responsive design, technical expertise and sustainable practices.

Its design staff represents a broad range of expertise including registered architects, preservation planners, interior designers, urban designers, material specialists, land planners, cost estimators, building performance analysts and zoning specialists. Yallop, who has worked in the Ann Arbor office since 2003 and with Lord Aeck Sargent since 1998, has more than 20 years of architectural experience. The LEED-accredited professional specializes in historic preservation, having overseen the restoration, rehabilitation and documentation of significant historic buildings and properties across the nation from Detroit to San Juan.

“As a valuable member of the Lord Aeck Sargent team for decades, Rob brings local expertise and years of invaluable experience to the Ann Arbor office,” said Joe Greco, President of Lord Aeck Sargent. “He is an industry leader in historic preservation, so we are excited to see him guide the firm to greater opportunities for growth. I am confident that he will be an exemplary leader and contribute to the continued excellence of Lord Aeck Sargent in Ann Arbor.”

Lord Aeck Sargent is also pleased to welcome its newest senior designer, Adriaan Van Velden, to the Ann Arbor team. Van Velden’s career includes a range of higher education and mixed-use experience in Michigan.

Jim Nicolow, Michigan Principal and Director of Sustainability noted, “We’re really excited to have Adriaan join Lord Aeck Sargent.  His collaborative style and unique approach to responsive design make him a perfect fit for the firm and we look forward to the expanded capabilities his design expertise brings to our Michigan team.”

The Ann Arbor office is housed in a transformed German beer hall, which exemplifies Lord Aeck Sargent’s skill in adapting historic facilities through responsive design. Built in 1888 by German immigrants, it is centrally located and immersed in the vibrant downtown community, a deliberate consideration of the late Terry Sargent, Lord Aeck Sargent Founding Principal.

Preserving the character of the past, Lord Aeck Sargent modernized the second floor beer hall to give it new life and incorporate distinct design elements emblematic of the firm’s design approach. Surviving architectural elements reflect the history of the building, like the stained-glass windows announcing the name of the building “Schwaben Halle.”

The office itself is indicative of the direction of the Ann Arbor office, as it builds on a strong foundation and looks to the future with new leadership and an exciting office space and culture.

“When renovating existing buildings like the beer hall, our approach is to honor the work of a predecessor and to celebrate what is unique or exceptional about the existing architecture, yet boldly introduce new and modern elements. Our team recently reconfigured and refreshed the office space to further foster communication and design collaboration among staff,” said Yallop.

Yallop’s extensive work with the National Park Service and General Services Administration as well as the office’s recent and current projects in higher education, housing and mixed-use, and sustainable design are among Lord Aeck Sargent’s exciting and innovative portfolio in Michigan and nationally.

Yallop’s and Van Velden’s head shots, as well as high resolution images of the office and case studies of recent and current projects, are available by request. Yallop and other Lord Aeck Sargent staff frequently speak at conferences and lectures and are available for interview, guest columns and contributing case studies. For more information about the firm, recent projects and team members, visit lordaecksargent.com.

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About Lord Aeck Sargent

Lord Aeck Sargent is an award-winning architectural and urban planning firm serving clients in academic, historic preservation, science and technology, interiors, arts and cultural, multi-family housing and mixed-use, and urban design and planning markets. The firm’s experts in these practice areas, who have deep regional and national experience and relationships, collaborate across six offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Lexington, Kentucky; and Washington, D.C. The firm has received American Institute of Architects’ National Honor Award and has been in Engineering News-Record Magazine’s Top 500 Design Firms list 10 times. Lord Aeck Sargent is No. 88 on ENR’s Top 100 Green Design Firms list, and has been named a Top Green Design firm by multiple publications 16 times. For more information, visit the firm at www.lordaecksargent.com.