ATLANTA, Dec. 16, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A robust commercial real estate market in 2014 fueled substantial growth for internationally recognized design firm Cooper Carry. The firm, which is active in public and private sectors ranging from hospitality to research laboratories, expanded its design portfolio by an additional 122 new projects.
The resurgence of the market also led to a 35 percent increase in the number of design professionals across its Atlanta, New York and Washington, D.C. offices to accommodate new projects across all of the firm's 13 specialty practice groups. The New York office also recently relocated to a new studio in Lower Manhattan, one of the city's burgeoning meccas attracting designers and other creatives.
"2014 is the first year since the collapse began in 2007 that Cooper Carry has seen growth in each of the practice areas that we serve as well as in each of the geographic markets served by one of our offices," said Cooper Carry President and CEO Kevin R. Cantley. "In addition to the expansion of the volume of our business, we have enjoyed the increase in demand for innovation, particularly in the design of the workplace for several corporations."
The overall growth in the market is especially reflected in the hospitality sector. Cooper Carry's hospitality practice was awarded 14 new hotel projects in 2014. The firm designed 10 hotels that were delivered this year, including Hyatt Place hotels in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, and the Villa Christina Hyatt in Atlanta. The 2.4 million square feet delivered represents over 3,000 keys. Of significance was the opening of the 4,000th Marriott hotel, the 1,175-key Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C., designed in collaboration with tvsdesign.
With continued success in the multifamily market, several projects are under construction nationwide. Cooper Carry was awarded 11 residential projects totaling more than 1.6 million square feet in 2014. Construction began on Phase II of Emory Point in Atlanta, and several Post Properties projects throughout the Southeast were delivered.
Activity in the design of mixed-use developments continues to expand as well, with projects like ONE Daytona breaking ground. Cooper Carry is the executive architect for the 1.1 million-square-foot project, which combines world-class shopping, fine dining, upscale residential and a hotel just steps from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. The firm won 20 new mixed-use projects totaling 3.2 million square feet in 2014.
The office market is experiencing growth in key markets with companies growing and expanding as the economy continues to improve. Texas developer KDC selected Cooper Carry to design a new office and mixed-use complex in Atlanta that will be anchored by State Farm. In October, Intergraph, a high tech company, opened its new $58 million headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama. Cooper Carry provided complete design services for the project. The firm completed interior design work on Intergraph's Atlanta office as well.
"We've recently read that 2014 growth has exceeded that which was predicted, and, published predictions point to an even stronger business expansion in 2015," Cantley said. "Cooper Carry is planning for continued growth through the next year as the demand for creative design increases in the markets we are pleased to serve."
ABOUT COOPER CARRY
Cooper Carry provides architecture, planning, landscape architecture, interior design, environmental graphic design and sustainability consulting services. Founded in 1960, the firm specializes in the design of corporate, education, government, hospitality, mixed-use, office, residential, retail, science + technology, and transit projects. The firm has designed projects in 45 states and globally in the Caribbean, Middle East, Asia, Africa and Central America. Engaging a fundamental design philosophy centered on the concept that environments should connect people to people and people to place, the firm promotes the philosophy of "connective architecture." Designers understand the local market and the specific cultural and physical contexts in which the building will serve those who interact with it while conceiving memorable spaces, inside and out. Listening to the client and gaining a deep understanding of the market and site prior to commencing design, Cooper Carry balances passionate creativity with client service. The firm expands vision and adds value to every project and its community.
For more information visit coopercarry.com.