NELSON, a global brand experience firm delivering architecture, interior design, graphic design, branding and consulting services, has finalized an agreement to acquire Craft Architects, a Seattle-based architecture and interior design firm, the company said in a statement.
The strategic move will expand NELSON’s Seattle location, a part of the firm’s rapidly growing West Coast presence, and launch a full nationwide industrial practice area for the firm.
Led by Principal Kathy Craft-Reich, Craft Architects has a 15-year history of award-winning design in the industrial, commercial, retail and financial markets. The firm’s pioneering work for its client, Prologis, produced the first multistory warehouse space in the United States at Georgetown Crossroads in Seattle, notable for its three-story structure with truck access on two levels. The firm’s innovative concept is expected to help meet increasing demand in the commercial real estate market for industrial manufacturing and distribution space in dense, urban areas.
Combined with Craft’s more traditional, suburban industrial portfolio, the West Coast firm’s capabilities in urban, multistory design extend NELSON’s growing industrial design practice, currently based in Minneapolis in the Midwest and Atlanta and Alpharetta in the Southeast, to create a comprehensive nationwide practice. Led by Sasha Vinitsky in Alpharetta, NELSON’s industrial practice has produced over 30 million square feet of space for companies large and small in the Southeast and Midwest regions. The addition of Craft will allow NELSON to bring its knowledge and expertise in industrial design to clients across the country.
In addition to Prologis, Craft brings a diverse roster of clients such as Panattoni Development, Terreno, Triangle Equities and CenterPoint to NELSON’s extensive portfolio, along with 17professionals to NELSON’s Seattle office, one of more than 22 locations nationwide.
“We are beyond thrilled to have Craft Architects join our firm,” said John “Ozzie” Nelson Jr., Chairman and Co-CEO of NELSON. “This is a great opportunity for us to create a true nationwide presence in the industrial market and bring a fresh approach to designing these important spaces. Craft’s portfolio of state-of-the-art projects will also boost our profile as an innovative leader in the industrial market.”
“Craft greatly looks forward to an expanded ability to work across the country and globe as a part of NELSON,” said Kathy Craft-Reich, Principal. “We couldn’t be more excited to join operations with a firm that shares our client service philosophy and commitment to forward-thinking industrial space design.”
The acquisition will be finalized on October 15, 2018. Effective on the 15th, Craft Architects will operate as NELSON.
