Ziegler Cooper Architects and Hall Barnum Lucchesi (HBL) Architects merged last month, it was announced this week.
Ziegler Cooper Architects and HBL Architects, both based in Houston, were formed in 1977 and 1966, respectively. “We will operate under the name of ZCA+HBL and all services will be performed under ZCA Umbrella,” says Ziegler Cooper’s founding principal Scott Ziegler, AIA, in an emailed statement.
Ziegler explained to Houston Business Journal that two HBL partners, William Hall Jr., AIA, and Daniel Barnum, FAIA, retired. “When you have practices that are 30 or 40 years old, senior partners may not have a transition plan in place, so there’s an opportunity to bring them in. This was a natural evolution for them.”
HBL Architects vice president Steve Lucchesi, AIA, is now the principal-in-charge of the Worship, Education and Community Studio of Ziegler Cooper Architects. Ziegler told Houston Business Journal: “The 12 former HBL employees moved into our office over the July 25 weekend. They slipped in rather nicely. We had room for them in our main studio space, and we were able to fold them into our worship and education studio. Our practice is now about 125 people.”
Read more about the merger here.
