homeWelcome, sign in or click here to subscribe.login
     


 

 

Architecture & Engineering


print  email to a friend  reprints add to mydjc  

April 1, 2015

Strazzara buys out Meng with plans for expansion

Charles Strazzara is buying Studio Meng Strazzara from Eric Meng, a fellow partner in the Seattle architecture firm, and plans to expand its presence throughout Washington and into Arizona.

Meng

Strazzara

Strazzara is now president and will oversee operations with support from principals Dennis Erwood and Mark Nakatani, and a five-person management group.

Meng, who was president, will remain a partner and senior advisor focused on projects and client relations, according to a press release.

Terms of the deal were not released.

Meng founded the firm in 1976. This will be the first time in its 39-year history that the firm plans to grow into other states. The release said demand is high in markets such as Arizona for architects with experience in “new urbanism.”

SMS has grown steadily since 2011, and now has more than 30 designers, architects and planners.

Strazzara joined in 1989 as an intern. He became a principal in 1995 and a partner in 1999, working to expand the mixed-use, residential and retail/commercial studio.

The firm's current work includes:

• Trek, a mixed-use apartment complex adjacent to transit in downtown Auburn that opens in April.

• Capri, a mixed-use building in downtown Kirkland that opens in October.

• Dunn Automotive Building, an in-fill project on Capitol Hill that will incorporate the 1925 facade of a two-story, historic building. It is due to open in early 2016.

• The Commons at Ballard, which will have office, retail and housing, and is set to open in summer 2016.

SMS also works on public projects, including educational, performing arts, civic and transportation.

Erwood is principal-in-charge of the education practice and has been responsible for the design of more than 50 education-related buildings.

Nakatani joined the firm earlier this year to expand in the public sector. He has worked on transportation, municipal, state and federal contracts.




Email or user name:
Password:
 
Forgot password? Click here.