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March 12, 2004

Lord, Aeck & Sargent Opens North Carolina Office

Office Will Provide Architectural Firm Faster Access to Projects Across the State, and Allow Expansion of Science Studio Business, Penetration of Additional Markets

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 12, 2004 – Lord, Aeck & Sargent, an Atlanta-based architectural firm, announced it is opening a branch office here, allowing the firm to respond more effectively to its North Carolina-based clients and construction teams, expand its work for statewide clients in scientific markets, and penetrate historic preservation, academic, arts and cultural markets throughout the state.

Lord, Aeck & Sargent’s Science Studio already has a sizeable client base in North Carolina. Studio architects program, plan and design life sciences, biotech and interdisciplinary science research laboratories as well as science teaching facilities in the higher education sector. They also design public health facilities as well as bio-containment and diagnostic testing laboratories for the government sector; and cGMP, research and development, and engineering labs for the private sector.

“Over the past decade, Lord, Aeck & Sargent architects have worked for North Carolina colleges and universities such as UNC Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Duke University and Davidson College, and in association with other architectural and engineering firms, they have worked with Meredith College, NC State (North Carolina State University) and East Carolina University,” said Larry Lord, FAIA, principal and director of the firm’s Science Studio.

“Our work has now reached a critical mass such that the time is perfect for us to expand and provide enhanced service to our clients. The new office also will provide us a platform to increase our work in the government and corporate sectors, where we currently have clients in and around Research Triangle Park,” Lord added.

Utilizing Expertise to Penetrate Additional Markets in North Carolina

Tony Aeck, FAIA, managing principal, noted that the new branch office also will serve as a springboard for the firm to utilize its full range of expertise in additional markets including the historic preservation, academic, arts and cultural niches.

“We expect our extensive experience in restoration, rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of national and state historic places, sites and landmarks, as well as the design of classroom buildings, dormitories, museums and performing arts centers, to serve us well in North Carolina,” Aeck said.

As just a few examples of work in each of these areas, Aeck pointed to the firm’s 10-year ongoing restoration of the Georgia State Capitol Building, and its design of the residential student housing village at North Carolina’s Brevard College and the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts at Brenau University. The firm also recently completed renovation of the High Museum of Art’s Richard Meier-designed building in Atlanta and is working in collaboration with the Renzo Piano Building Workshop on the High Museum expansion.

The North Carolina branch office will be headed by Scott O’Brien, an architect with 12 years of experience, nine of them with Lord, Aeck & Sargent’s Atlanta office. O’Brien has worked on a number of North Carolina projects and will continue to serve as the firm’s on-site project manager for the 340,000-square-foot Genetic Medicine Building at UNC Chapel Hill, and on other new projects. The firm also has hired Doug Kopek as a construction contract administrator, and Kristalynn Offhaus, IIDA, an interior designer, has transferred to the office from Atlanta headquarters. Plans are to hire and/or transfer from Atlanta additional staff over the coming months.

The new branch office, which will be ready for occupancy in early May, is located at: 1414 Raleigh Rd., Suite 225, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27517. Until then, the office is located in temporary quarters in nearby Durham, N.C. Effective immediately, O’Brien (sobrien@lasarchitect.com) can be reached by phone at 919-593-5539.

About Lord, Aeck & Sargent

Founded in 1942, Lord, Aeck & Sargent is an award-winning architectural firm serving clients in scientific, academic, historic preservation, arts and cultural markets. The firm’s core values are responsive design, technological expertise and exceptional service.

Lord, Aeck & Sargent is headquartered in Atlanta and has branch offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For more information, visit the firm at www.lordaecksargent.com.

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(NOTE TO EDITORS: See accompanying Lord, Aeck & Sargent North Carolina projects list, and Scott O’Brien bio and photo.)