On 19 June, RMJM, one of the worlds largest architectural practices and Hillier, one of the largest design practices in the US, announced plans to merge the two businesses into a single entity. The merger creates a truly global design studio with four geographical centres in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and now the US.

According to Peter Morrison, CEO, RMJM Group, RMJM had been looking to break into the US market for some time as many its projects are owned by clients that either emanated from the US or had a significant presence there. He saw Hillier as a “splendid opportunity to gain some real exposure” in that market.

Morrison goes on to say that the synergy was not just geographical but that the two firms also have similarities in the way that they work and the types of projects they are renowned for. Hillier has a strong education practice and has been involved in the design of some of the best university projects in the US, while RMJM also has great experience in education projects in Britain.

Both groups are also strong in the hospitality sector and they plan to draw resources from across the world to work on projects where their skills are needed. The ex-Kone Pederson Fox design director in RMJM Hillier's New York office is one important addition to the group's strength.

Morrison sees his studio as being geographically balanced with roughly 250 staff in each of the four global centres and he doesn't place particular importance on any geography more than others “we are not parochial like that”, he says. RFP