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Design Firms Nelson, Torchia Associates Announce Merger Deal

Monday, July 2, 2012

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Nelson, a global interior design, architecture, engineering, strategies, workplace-services and information-services firm based in Chicago, announced an agreement to merge its local Chicago/Midwest region operations with the architectural and interior-design firm Torchia Associates Inc.

Frank Torchia (left) and John “Ozzie” Nelson shown addressing members of the newly combined Nelson and Torchia team for the first time.

Torchia Associates, also based in Chicago, is an architectural and interior-design firm.

After a brief transition period of “co-branding” in the Chicago/Midwest region, the firms will consolidate operations under the Nelson brand.

Leaders of the two firms said their relationship evolved from “competitive” to a “competitive advantage” in the Midwest market and beyond, and said the combined firm “will be strategically positioned to further extend their successes and improve their local, national and global coverage.”

Photo courtesy Nelson

Seyfarth Shaw interior, Atlanta, by Nelson.

In addition to being well positioned for more high-profile projects, the firm said it will be able to quickly capitalize on existing Torchia relationships to build new opportunities nationally through Nelson’s established account-management infrastructure and service-delivery platform.

The combined firm will have a local presence of more than 60 team members with access to a network of more than 300 additional designers, architects, engineers, strategists, and other experts.

Local leadership will be provided by Frank Torchia, AIA, IIDA, as managing principal of the combined operations, and members of his current management team including Andrea Brandt, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, Theresa Williams, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C and William Hollander, AIA, ALA, LEED AP BD+C.

Photo courtesy Torchia Associates Inc.

Digitas interior, Chicago, by Torchia Associates Inc.

Nelson’s Chicago-based leadership group includes Mitchell Cohen, Marty Festenstein, Jason Rosenblatt, LEED AP BD+C, and Al Fiesel, AIA.

“Together we’ll be one of the Chicago/Midwest region’s largest interiors focused practices with the ability to also provide the full spectrum of architecture, engineering, space planning and space management services,” said John “Ozzie” Nelson Jr., president and CEO of Nelson.

Frank Torchia, president of Torchia Associates, said the combined company “will keep the best of our Torchia attributes, including a focus on providing personalized and personable service in the regional market, while incorporating the best of what Nelson offers, such as the ability to provide consistent, repeatable results around the world that add value for major accounts.”

More information: www.nelsononline.com and www.torchia.com.