Announcements & News

ai Design Group Wins Babson Capital's New Charlotte Headquarters Project at 300 South Tryon

ai DESIGN GROUP WINS BABSON CAPITAL’S NEW CHARLOTTE HEADQUARTERS PROJECT AT 300 SOUTH TRYON
–Anchor Tenant of New High-Rise Office Building Long-Time Client of Firm–

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June  15, 2015) – Charlotte-based architecture and interiors firm ai Design Group today announced it has been selected to oversee all aspects of interior design for Babson Capital Management’s new Charlotte headquarters that will span the top eight floors of 300 South Tryon.  The first high-rise office building to break ground in the Center City since 2007, 300 South Tryon is expected to be completed in summer 2017. 

To read the full press release, please click here.

Kimley-Horn Named ENR Southeast's Design Firm of the Year

The entrepreneurial "enterprise within an enterprise" approach that Cary, N.C.-based Kimley-Horn first implemented more than 40 years ago is proving to be a perfect fit for today's business environment. Built around the idea of "practice builders"—specialists in various design disciplines who are given greater freedom to cultivate their own niche markets and service areas—the concept is contributing to the firm's growing share of the current market's crop of increasingly complex projects. It is winning over owners who demand a higher level of engagement and innovation from their design consultants.

Please click here to read the full article.

Terracon Celebrates 50th Anniversary and 17 Years in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Terracon, a leading provider of environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials consulting engineering services, is honored to be celebrating its 50th anniversary this month.

Founded on April 22, 1965, Terracon traces its roots to a small engineering firm in Iowa. The firm has expanded into a nationwide operation with more than 150 offices and 3,400 employees.

Terracon's Charlotte office was established in 1998 and has grown through several acquisitions. In 2002, Terracon purchased Titan Atlantic Group, Inc. In 2009, it acquired Wright Padgett Christopher, Inc., and in 2011 it purchased Stafford Consulting Engineers. Today the office has 30 employees with a staff of engineers, scientists, and technicians.

Please click here to read the full press release.
 

Kimley-Horn Named to FORTUNE's 2015 100 Best Companies to Work For

Kimley-Horn was recently recognized as one of FORTUNE's 100 Best Companies to Work For. This marks their 8th appearance on the list—this year, they rank #25.

Read why they were named a great place to work.

Firms Complete Merger To Create Elliott Davis Decosimo

Elliott Davis and Decosimo are pleased to announce that the merger between the two firms is complete, effective January 1, 2015. The combined firm, Elliott Davis Decosimo, is one of the top accounting, tax and consulting services firms in the U.S. with total annual revenues of $120 million and more than 800 professionals and specialists in 17 offices across seven states – Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia – and the Cayman Islands.

Hometrust Bank Hires Sallie Jarosz SVP, Commercial Real Estate Relationship Manager, Charlotte

HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: HTBI), the holding company for HomeTrust Bank, N.A. (the "Bank"), announced today that the Bank has hired Sallie Jarosz as SVP, Commercial Real Estate Relationships Manager in the bank's Charlotte metro market. Jarosz reports to Jeff Mylton, Market President. The Bank entered the Charlotte, N.C. market with the acquisition of Bank of Commerce on July 31, 2014. The systems conversion and the branding of the current Queens Road office to HomeTrust Bank is scheduled for February 17, 2015.

To read the full press release, please click here.

ai Design Group Becomes Member Of One Global Design Network

Charlotte-based ai Design Group, an architecture and interior design firm, has become a member of ONE Global Design, an international network of architectural and interior design firms. ai Design Group joins 16 other independently owned and operated corporate architectural and interiors firms across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, each considered best in class in their markets. 

To read the full press release, please click here.

An Interview With Steve Forbes At Crew Network Convention

Click here for a brief interview with Steve Forbes, who shared some of his economic predictions at the 2014 CREW Network Convention. Interviews with featured speakers Katty Kay and Ken Rosen are also available on CREW Network's YouTube channel.

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.

Office Environments Acquires Modular Designs

Charlotte, NC (August 13, 2014) – Office Environments, Inc. (OE), a Charlotte based commercial furniture dealer, today announced that they have expanded their organization with the acquisition of Modular Designs, a flooring provider also based in Charlotte.

“Both companies have experienced several years of growth and will benefit from the increased market share that will be achieved. The purchase of Modular Designs broadens the products and services we offer our clients and positions us for continued growth in the region,” says Barry Bale, Executive Vice President of Office Environments.  “This merger will improve our ability to be a single source interiors provider to our clients, and bring additional value to them.”

Modular Designs, which will be renamed to Modular Designs, an Office Environments Company, is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Office Environments and will begin the integration immediately.  In addition, they will relocate their office, showroom and warehouse to the OE campus on Granite Street.  The move will take place later this year.  “Throughout the transition, clients will continue to receive the same high quality products and services they have come to expect,” stated Bale.

Charles Hollar, Modular Designs Co-founder & President, will continue to manage this new division of Office Environments. His wealth of knowledge, experience and passion for a great customer experience will be a perfect match for the OE team.  “We are a full service commercial and residential flooring provider offering high quality products, services, commercial carpet maintenance and cleaning as well as carpet reclamation.  Since 2002 our clients have relied on us for a broad range of flooring needs and I look forward to the additional benefits they will receive as we become part of the Office Environments organization,” says Hollar. 

About Office Environments Incorporated

Office Environments specializes in workplace consultation, contract furniture sales and services.  They have served Charlotte based businesses for 30 years, and are the largest Steelcase dealer in the Southeast.  They create custom workplace solutions for both large and small clients in the Corporate, Healthcare, Education and Government markets.  For more information visit http://www.office-environments.com