ai Design Group Moves Into Second Decade of Business With New Offices and New Look, Doherty Becomes Partner
For Immediate Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 20, 2014) — After more than a decade on The Green, architectural and interiors firm ai Design Group has moved down the street to its new home on the top floor of 330. S. Tryon, often referred to as the Chamber Building. The 11-year-old company has also re-branded and promoted long-time employee Ryan Doherty to Associate Principal.
New Partner
Doherty, who joined the firm in 2003, specializes in automotive retail design and manages the firm’s extensive work for client, AAA. A registered architect and LEED-accredited professional, he holds a B.A. in Architecture Design from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Architecture from UNC Charlotte. Professional affiliations include the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), American Institute of Architects (AIA) and United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
“The office move was the perfect time to think about our next generation of leadership,” said Wes Jones, a founding principal of ai Design Group. “Ryan has been with us since the beginning so it’s been very rewarding to watch his talent develop and now welcome him as a partner in the firm.”
New Look
With new officescame the opportunity to update the brand so a new aiDG logo and website have been developed. The original logo of muted yellows and greys has been replaced with a more vibrant orange circle that communicates the firm’s energy, openness and collaborative spirit. The new website, launched this week, can be found at www.aidginc.com.
New Office
The new office also gave ai Design Group the opportunity to practice what they preach when it comes to workplace interiors. With a portfolio that includes recent headquarters designs for companies such as MetLife, AREVA and Sonic Automotive, they were well prepared.
“For the past 10 years, we’ve called 500 South College Street home, but we simply outgrew that space,” said Kim Marks, the principal who leads aiDG’s Interiors group. “The process of finding and designing our new office was a reminder of what clients experience and allowed us to incorporate the latest in technology, flexible work space and sustainability.”
The whole aiDG team got involved in the design for the new office, and sustainability was a big focus. “From designating recycling centers and replacing paper products with dishes in the breakroom to repurposing light fixtures and using reclaimed wood, the new space is very green,” added Marks.
Founded in 2003 with three principals and nine employees, ai Design Group has grown to nearly 40 employees and is steadily rising in the ranks of the Charlotte Business Journal’s Top 25 List of Architectural Firms. With community involvement at the core of its business model, the firm’s staff actively participates in The Charlotte Chamber, Rotary Club of Charlotte, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) , USGBC, NAIOP and CoreNet Global, to name a few.