Vancouver-based Busby Perkins+Will, a leading green architecture firm, has joined forces with Ottawa and Hamilton-based Vermeulen Hind Architects, a health care architectural firm, and Shore Tilbe Perkins+Will, which specializes in civic and recreation architecture.
The merger creates Perkins+Will Canada, a firm the principals hope will become one of the leading interdisciplinary design practices in the nation.
“The addition of Vermeulen Hind supports the Perkins+Will strategy to grow by targeted merger, creating a larger pool of expertise and talent in key practices that complement our existing strengths,” said Peter Busby, managing director, Vancouver.
“The establishment of Perkins+Will Canada translates into greater access to the Canadian and international marketplace, while maintaining our commitment to the local communities where we operate.”
“Now is the right time to solidify the Perkins+Will brand in Canada," said D’Arcy Arthurs, managing director, Ontario. “Not only does the Vermeulen Hind merger expand our Ontario market with highly regarded health care experience, something we’ve been anticipating for some time, but it gives us a strategic foundation to build a broader presence across the country and across specialties.”
Founded in 1992, Vermeulen Hind provides a depth of experience in designing specialized health care facilities, including cancer centres. The firm’s portfolio ranges from smaller, adaptive re-use and restoration projects to larger, multi-phase institutional projects. Vermeulen Hind, along with Perkins+Will’s current Toronto office, will comprise the Ontario practice of Perkins+Will Canada.
“Each Perkins+Will Canada office shares a common philosophy of design excellence, and combining the knowledge, expertise and resources of our legacy firms will result in one of the strongest and most innovative architecture practices in North America,” said Fred Vermeulen, health care market sector leader, Ontario.
“By collaborating with our colleagues across Perkins+Will, we will be able to strengthen our offering and better meet the growing needs of our diverse client base.”
Established in 1984 by Peter Busby, Busby Perkins+Will has one of the largest portfolios of green projects in Canada. The firm also researches, educates, and is heavily involved in the development of public policy and sustainability guidelines.
Previous projects include: VanDusen Botanical Garden visitor centre, Simon Fraser University’s arts and social sciences complex and Canada Line stations.