ONE Global Design, a network of corporate architecture and design firms in the United States, Mexico and Canada, recently met in Washington, DC to review the first half of 2015, share best practices and national perspectives, and set a path to continue the momentum for the remainder of the year.
 
DC-based Fox Architects hosted the meeting and led a tour of group members through Washington to showcase current local projects. Fox then hosted a dinner and lecture at their studios. One highlight from the meeting was the significant amount of business the ONE Global members were working on with each other. In the first six months of 2015, 12 member firms (more than 70%) collaborated on 39 projects totaling $1.8 million in fees for clients including American Bar Association, Aon, Centro, and Universal Technical Institute. In addition, all 18 ONE Global Design member firms reported increased activity in their regions.
 
“We’re firing on all cylinders right now,” said Norm Liedtke, CEO of Meyer, an architecture and interior design firm in Philadelphia and a co-founder of ONE Global Design. “Corporate clients are not getting the priority service from the large national firms. They see value in our model and we are excited to continue to expand and grow.”
 
Barry Ludlow, partner at Design Republic, said, “I’m continuously impressed with the high quality of design and execution each firm brings when working together for a client’s project.”
 
Twenty-two managing partners and 15 additional senior professionals from the 18 member firms attended the ONE Global Design annual meeting. “There is camaraderie and trust among our members. A 100-percent turnout and multiple attendees shows their commitment to the ONE Global Design vision,” said Jennifer Treter, President of Hendrick in Atlanta and a member of the ONE Global Design Executive Committee.
 
According to ONE Global Design Executive Committee member and Executive Vice President of Meyer Suzanne Nicholson, “The sessions were intense and lively, and included topics on Best practices; Building trends across the US, Canada and Mexico; and The impact of wellness infiltrating all aspects of design.”
 
Liedtke also announced that JPC Architects of Seattle, another best-in-class firm, recently joined the network becoming the 18th independent architecture and design firm to become part of ONE Global Design, and enabling the network to expand into the Northwestern part of the country.
 
The ONE Global Design network allows corporate clients to work with an architecture firm that is familiar with their brand, vision, and company culture in partnership with a firm that understands the community where their project is located. Recent collaborative projects among member firms include Centro; the Addison Group; Coyote; Universal Technical Institute; and Braintree.
 
“Our unique model enables ONE Global Design member firms to offer clients global perspective with a local, personal touch,” said Executive Committee member Eric Ibsen, Chief Design Officer with FME Architecture + Design in San Francisco. “It’s a formula created in response to requests from our local corporate clients.”
 
Historically, national and international corporations with a need for architectural and interior design services in different cities had two options: Hire different small firms in each market and oversee multiple individual projects, or go with one large firm with the resources but limited local insight, talent and accountability. ONE Global Design created a new solution for corporate clients who retain architectural and interiors services and have a need for multiple projects across several markets – the unique opportunity to tap into the knowledge, experience, and local expertise of 18 firms each considered best-in-class in their respective markets.
 
About ONE Global Design
 
ONE Global Design is a network of 18 corporate architecture and design firms in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Collectively, ONE Global Design would rank as the 6th largest firm in the country (according to Interior Design Giants 2015 rankings), with more than 700 professionals. Each firm in the ONE Global Design network is principal-led and meets strict criteria to ensure personal accountability. For more information, visit www.oneglobaldesign.com.
 
ONE Global Design Member Firms
Atlanta | Hendrick
Austin, TX | NoackLittle
Boston | Visnick & Caulfield Associates
Calgary | klr design group
Charlotte, NC | ai Design Group Inc.
Chicago | Partners by Design
Columbus, OH | Design Collective
Dallas | Staffelbach
Denver | Acquilano Leslie, Inc.
Los Angeles | Wolcott Architecture | Interiors
Mexico City | ZVA Group
New York City | Design Republic
Philadelphia | Meyer
San Francisco | FME Architecture + Design
Seattle, WA | JPC Architects
Toronto | figure3
Vancouver | SSDG Interiors
Washington, DC | FOX Architects