EYP is a leader in education, government and sustainable design, and WHR is the design firm of choice for Houston’s Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world. Both EYP and WHR have experienced a surge in growth over the past year. In 2013, EYP grew by 20 percent and opened six new offices, and WHR grew by 70 percent. The merger will bring together 530 professionals from both firms.

EYP has eight offices in the U.S. and has completed projects in more than 100 countries. Prior to the merger with WHR, EYP expanded its family of practices last year with the addition of The Weidt Group, an energy consulting and software firm with offices throughout the Midwest. WHR is the third acquisition for EYP since the firm sold a minority stake to a private equity firm in 2011 and started a growth strategy, according to the Albany Business Review.

WHR, with additional offices in Dallas and Copenhagen, currently employs approximately 170 staff. WHR is responsible for several of the largest current health care projects in the country, according to Architectural Record’s data on health care construction projects between January 2013 and February 2014.

Tom Birdsey, AIA, president and CEO of EYP, said the merger will strengthen the company’s geographic visibility and service offerings.

“EYP and WHR are united by passion and purpose, fueled by research and focused on furthering our clients’ missions. They trust us to help them make well-informed decisions that will advance their vision and create lasting value,” Birdsey said in a statement. “Understanding the intersection of technology, human experience and the natural environment is key to building a more sustainable world and advancing a new paradigm for our profession. Our merger positions us to better help our clients negotiate this challenging landscape, and our increased national visibility will allow us to further expand our reach and continue to provide valued insight for clients in the health care, higher education and energy industries, among others.”

While the merger will help EYP extend its business to the Southwest, WHR will be able to gain more visibility in the East Coast market.

“As design professionals, we are uniquely positioned to help preserve and advance our culture in ways that enable individuals to prosper, including the transformation of the health care experience,” said David Watkins, FAIA, chairman of WHR, in a statement. “The culture and expertise WHR shares with EYP gives us the ability to help our clients better achieve their missions. I look forward to what this partnership holds for our future growth. As two design thought leaders, our strategic alliance offers public and private sector clients greater access to specialized expertise and expanded resources. The knowledge, tools and services EYP provides will be a crucial asset in helping clients embrace sustainability and collaborative design excellence.”

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“The board approving this renovation and expansion recognizes that, as the Houston region’s only full-service health system, we must be prepared to stay ahead of the fast-growing advances in medicine, keep pace with the extraordinary growth of our medical staff and meet the health needs of our community,” said Dan Wolterman, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, in a statement. “When completed, the Memorial Hermann-TMC Master Plan will enhance our ability to provide the highest-quality and safest health care for our community for many decades to come.”

The expansion will add 1.34 million square feet of space, expand the capacity by 160 beds, replace 71 beds, 24 new operating rooms, 16 additional emergency room bays and add a 333-seat café. Additionally, a new parking structure will create 750 new parking spaces.

“We recognize that our community will continue to grow and so will their health needs, so we’re designing the building with a forward-looking perspective to meet those needs,” Wolterman said.

In order to plan for future growth, six shelled floors and six shelled operating rooms will be constructed to accommodate future growth with the potential of adding 264 beds.

“Our buildings tell a remarkable story about our history, but it is our employees who truly define our legacy,” said Craig Cordola, CEO of Memorial Hermann-TMC. “With this expansion, we are building towards our future and investing in our people. It gives me great pride to be a part of this seminal moment in our hospital and system’s history.”

Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed in 2018.

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“The board approving this renovation and expansion recognizes that, as the Houston region’s only full-service health system, we must be prepared to stay ahead of the fast-growing advances in medicine, keep pace with the extraordinary growth of our medical staff and meet the health needs of our community,” said Dan Wolterman, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, in a statement. “When completed, the Memorial Hermann-TMC Master Plan will enhance our ability to provide the highest-quality and safest health care for our community for many decades to come.”

Construction on the master plan is expected to begin this summer with locally based WHR Architects Inc. serving as the architect of record for the project.

The new master plan is a continuation of the growth that has been taking place on the health campus in the past year. In 2013, the hospital board approved $50 million to address the short-term needs of the health care campus to better accommodate the growing patient population. The approved projects include a new observation unit, expanding the post-acute care unit and building out new inpatient beds and operating rooms.

“We recognize that our community will continue to grow and so will their health needs, so we’re designing the building with a forward-looking perspective to meet those needs,” Wolterman said.

The master plan will include the construction of a patient care building as well as a building that will include parking and additional space to support future growth. The expansion also will provide the campus with an additional 1.34 million square feet, an extra 160 beds, 71 replacement beds, 24 new operating rooms, 16 additional emergency room bays, 750 parking space and a 333-seat café. Additionally, six shelled floors and six shelled operating rooms will be constructed to accommodate future growth with the potential of adding 264 beds.

“Our buildings tell a remarkable story about our history, but it is our employees who truly define our legacy,” said Craig Cordola, CEO of Memorial Hermann-TMC. “With this expansion, we are building towards our future and investing in our people. It gives me great pride to be a part of this seminal moment in our hospital and system’s history.”

The hospital is also placing focus on recruiting up-and-coming physicians and innovators in the medical field. The hospital’s partnership with the University of Texas Medical School at Austin has recruited exceptional clinicians and has allowed the hospital to expand its services, Cordola said.

Cordola added that throughout construction patients will continue to be provided with high quality care.

“We are excited about our growth and future,” Cordola said. “But I want to assure our patients and the community that Memorial Hermann-TMC will continue to meet their needs now without disruption as we prepare to meet their needs in the future.

Construction on the project is expected to be completed in 2018.

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The 11,400-square-foot facility, located near the Texas Medical Center, offers 16 private bedrooms and bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, meditation room, community room, family room, education center and a garden. The facility was named in memory of Dr. Osama Gaber and Dr. Lillian Gaber’s daughter, who was killed in an automobile accident at the age of seven. Nora’s organ donations helped save several critically ill children and inspired the creation of Nora’s Home as well as the establishment of the Nora’s Gift Foundation.

“Transplant patients must undergo months of testing before and after surgery and many travel long distances with their families,” Dr. Osama Gaber said in a statement. “During this difficult time for patients and their families are burdened with the high cost of lodging, the loneliness of being away from their loved ones and the fear of losing their jobs, homes and way of life. Nora’s Home hopefully will relieve some of this burden.”

Nora’s Home provides a home-away-from-home for patients and their families before, during and after transplant surgery. Approximately one-third of patients who receive solid organ transplants at one of the Texas Medical Center’s six transplant centers travel from outside Texas.

“Studies have established that separation from the patient’s support network increases stress, adversely impacting the transplant recovery process,” said Kayla Lehmann, Nora’s Home executive director and transplant patient, in a statement. “The cost of trying to keep families together for such an extended time often becomes prohibitive, adding to the stress for many patients.

Several firms donated their time in order to design and construct Nora’s Home, which broke ground in October 2012. Those firms included WHR Architects, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc., Walter P Moore Engineers and Consultants and AEI Affiliated Engineers. All firms hold offices in Houston.

“We were inspired by the passion of Nora’s Home’s team,” said Bill Ganshirt, WHR’s team leader, in a statement. “Creating a comfortable, home-like healing environment for patients near the TMC was of paramount importance.”

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