WHR Architects announces New Associate Promotions

12/05/2013 | WHR Architects

WHR Architects recently named six outstanding individuals as Associates in its Houston and Dallas offices — talented architects, designers and thought leaders who inspire those around them. The newest associates Jim Osborne, Robert Mehall, Akshay Sangolli, Jane Baughman, Stephanie Schwindel and Kelly Thomas, reflect the ongoing growth and diversity of the practice, representing multiple studios and disciplines at WHR and Genesis Planning.

In Houston, Jane Baughman, AIA, LEED® AP serves as a Senior Project Architect, bringing 18 years of experience in specialized lab design. Three former Tradewell Fellows – Kelly Thomas, Associate AIA, LEED® AP, Stephanie Schwindel, Assoc. AIA, LEED® AP and Akshay Sangolli, Associate AIA, EDAC, LEED® AP – each Medical Planners and Architectural Interns, are developing solutions for projects across the globe.

Genesis Planning's Jim Osborne, FACHE, LEED® AP GA, manages business development for medical technology planning projects.

In Dallas, Robert Mehall, AIA, LEED® AP BD+C, a planner and designer, has provided clients with technical expertise and years of progressive healthcare design experience.

“These talented architects and designers are the future of our practice. They possess not only important traditional strengths in planning, design and construction administration, but also skills in emerging specialties such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), sustainable design and medical technology,” says Chairman and Founding Principal David Watkins, FAIA.

The new Associates’ promotions come at an exciting time in both WHR Architects’ and Genesis Planning’s history. WHR opened its first European office in Copenhagen this year, collaborating on projects in Denmark and pursuing opportunities across the globe. Domestically, WHR is working on projects at the Texas Medical Center, the University of Houston, and the George R. Brown Convention Center, each contributing to the evolving profile of downtown Houston.

Additional recent projects include work for multiple Houston Independent School District (HISD) campuses, UT Health Northeast, Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, the Department of Public Safety, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Ocean Medical Center, and many others across the nation.

The growth of both companies has led to Genesis Planning expanding into a new, larger office space across the street from WHR’s Houston corporate headquarters.

WHR Architects, one of the largest architecture firms in Houston and a nationally recognized leader in healthcare, education, laboratory and performing arts design, is looking forward to an exciting 2014.

About WHR Architects
WHR Architects is a full service architecture, interior design and technology planning firm. The firm’s commitment to critical thinking is balanced by an ingrained empathy that results in both improved project outcomes and positive working experiences for their clients. With over 140 people in Houston and Dallas, Texas; New Jersey; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Abu Dhabi, the 34-year-old firm is working on projects throughout the US for top–tier public and private education and medical institutions. Learn more online at www.whrarchitects.com or follow @whrarchitects on Twitter.

About Genesis Planning
Genesis Planning, a wholly owned subsidiary of WHR Architects, has provided medical technology planning expertise for twenty years to a broad range of clients on a national and international basis ranging from physician groups to multi-organizational healthcare systems. Their clientele and experience includes over 300 healthcare organizations in 40 states in the U.S. and 17 countries throughout Central and South America, the Middle East and Europe. For more information about Genesis Planning, visit www.genesis-planning.com.

Photo © WHR Architects, Inc.
Back row (standing, left to right) – Jim Osborne, Robert Mehall, and Akshay Sangolli.
Front row (seated, left to right) – Jane Baughman, Kelly Thomas, and Stephanie Schwindel.