January 13, 2017

California firm buys The Portico Group

Rupp

Iacofano

Berkeley, California-based MIG has acquired The Portico Group, a Seattle design firm that has been in business since 1984. Terms of the deal were not released.

Portico provides master planning, programming, design and construction observation for museums, zoos, aquariums, cultural centers, parks and botanical gardens.

MIG focuses on urban planning and design, environmental planning and science, civil engineering, landscape architecture, communications, technology and community engagement.

Daniel Iacofano is a founding principal and CEO of MIG. He said the acquisition allows his firm to offer architecture and exhibit design, and do more spaces for children in places like parks and museums, which is a Portico specialty.

“The fact that they are based in Seattle is a big plus because Seattle is such a big, growing city. It's a high-demand city,” he said.

Cities are back “with a vengeance,” he said, and better design is needed to make them more livable.

MIG plans to use Portico's expertise in adding amenities and experiences on urban design projects, such as the firm's Trails to Treasure information panels in Pioneer Square.

MIG|Portico is at 1500 Fourth Ave., where Portico has been based. Alissa Rupp, Portico's president and CEO, heads the 17-person office. Johanna Schorr is director of architecture.

Portico's work includes the new KidsQuest Children's Museum Bellevue, Hands On Children's Museum Olympia, Pearl Harbor Visitors Center in Hawaii, and Denali Square at McKinley Chalet Resort in Alaska's Denali National Park.

Rupp said the acquisition allows her and Portico principals Charles “Chuck” Mayes and Dennis Meyer to cash in their equity in Portico, and spend less time on management functions and more with clients.

They are now MIG|Portico principals.

Rupp said The Portico Group has worked around the world and in a variety of markets.

“It makes sense for us to connect with MIG because it expands our ability to have a local presence in regions where we're doing work already,” she said.

Rupp said MIG|Portico is committed to being a great employer and a design force here and across the country.

MIG was founded in 1982, and has 206 employees in Washington, California, Colorado, Oregon, Texas and New York. Iacofano declined to provide the firm's revenues.

MIG entered the Seattle market in 2015 when it acquired SvR Design Co., a landscape architecture, applied ecology and civil engineering firm, and formed MIG|SvR.

Iacofano said MIG does not plan more acquisitions near-term, but he said scaling up has allowed it to offer a range of design services in many places without becoming a mega-firm.

MIG partnered with Portico and SvR prior to acquiring them. Iacofano said they offer new ways of doing things, and there's “significant value” in their names and identities.