Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) Expands into Rocky Mountain Region through Denver’s Burkettdesign

Milwaukee-based Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA), a leading architecture and design firm that has more than 200 employees in three offices in Wisconsin and Iowa, today announced that it has expanded into the Rocky Mountain region by acquiring Denver-based architecture and interior design firm Burkettdesign. Zweig Group, a full-service AE consulting firm based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, served as consultants to EUA throughout the negotiations. “We congratulate both sides on this transaction,” said Jamie Claire Kiser, Zweig Group’s director of consulting. “This strategic growth will bring strength to both companies and will allow people at each firm to truly flourish.” The combination of the firms gives EUA a broader national footprint and increases the services and expertise available to clients of both firms. “For over 25 years, Burkettdesign has set the standard for design services in Colorado, and we are thrilled to add that experience and expertise to EUA,” said Greg Uhen, CEO of EUA. “Combining our core strengths in ground-up architecture in the industries of urban redevelopment and mixed-use, workplace, healthcare, education, senior living and science + technology with Burkettdesign’s exemplary corporate design, high tech lab, aerospace and data center expertise will make EUA even stronger in Colorado and nationally.” Burkettdesign will change its name to BurkettEUA, and its entire 27-person staff will join EUA. Additionally, Burkett’s leadership team, including owner Rick Burkett and principals Catherine Quintero, Michele Ponicsan, Gillian Hallock Johnson and Kitty Yuen, will become shareholders in EUA. Associate Principal Ben Niamthet will also join the other principals as a member of the core leadership team of BurkettEUA. “We are excited about the additional leaders joining EUA,” said EUA President Rich Tennessen. “The fact that five principals are investing and becoming shareholders in EUA demonstrates our mutual long-term commitment to our clients and each other.” One example of a client who works with both firms and will benefit from the increased services and expertise available is Denver-based Confluent Development, a full-service real estate development and investment firm. EUA is currently working with Confluent Development on the development of a senior living project in Beaver Creek, Ohio, while Burkettdesign is working with two clients who will be occupying all of Confluent’s Granite Place at Village Center development in Greenwood Village, Colo. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with EUA, and they are a strong design and architecture firm with talented people who really care about their clients,” said John Reinsma, vice president of Real Estate at Confluent Development. “EUA will be a great fit in the Colorado market, and I look forward to what they can do with the combined talent of the team at the new BurkettEUA.” Tim Harrington, executive managing director at leading commercial real estate advisory firm Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, added, “The combination of EUA and Burkettdesign offers great opportunities. I have worked with Burkettdesign on various projects for more than 25 years, and I have five simple words to describe my experience: creativity, passion, reliability, fun and class. I am excited that the combined firm will not only continue, but will also enhance, its ability to provide this level of experience for its clients.” EUA clients include a range of private and public organizations, including GE Healthcare, Ascension, Baird, Northwestern Mutual and Johnson Controls. Burkettdesign clients include leading companies and organizations such as Charter Communications, Vail Resorts, Holland & Hart, TIAA, Comcast, Janus Capital Group, Lockheed Martin, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Sierra Nevada Corporation. “Burkettdesign was founded in 1990 and has established itself as one of the region’s most accomplished and recognized firms by focusing on client service and delivering high-quality, personalized design services,” Rick Burkett said. “Those core values and the team providing them will not change, but what will change is our ability to offer our clients even more specialized services with the added resources, expertise and support that comes from combining with EUA.” Uhen said that EUA made the strategic decision to expand to Denver based on the region’s economic strength and continued growth projections, and Burkettdesign quickly rose to the top of the list of potential partners based on its high-quality reputation and shared values in the areas of client service, work ethic and company culture. Additionally, the firms have limited geographical overlap and complementary core service expertise, providing opportunities for vertical market expansion. “I see this union with Epstein Uhen Architecture as a merger of like-minded firms,” Burkett added. ”Our cultures, our high design standards and our service-first mentalities echo each other. We are now a bigger, stronger firm that still puts our clients’ needs first.” About Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) EUA is best known for designing environments that elevate people’s potential. More than 200 employees in Milwaukee, Madison, Denver and Des Moines demonstrate unparalleled commitment to the markets, communities and clients they serve. The respected 110-year old design and architecture firm specializes in several markets including education, workplace, healthcare, senior living, science and technology, and mixed- use. For additional information, please visit the firm’s website at www.eua.com.