Mancini Duffy Announces Merger With DC-Based Architecture Firms

WASHINGTON, DC -- 10/19/09 -- Mancini Duffy, a full-service architecture and design firm headquartered in New York, is pleased to announce that two Washington, DC-based architecture practices, Michael Winstanley Architects Planners and Still & Svitchan Associates, will join Mancini Duffy's D.C. office. The merger realizes Mancini Duffy's long-term vision to create a scalable practice that can offer its clients a diverse range of integrated design solutions across different practice disciplines and markets. The D.C. office will operate as Mancini Duffy/Winstanley.

"It's rare in our profession to be able to align a large firm's expertise, culture and vision for the future with not one, but two firms," commented Anthony P. Schirripa, AIA, Chairman and CEO of Mancini Duffy. "Diversification and growth are critical features of Mancini Duffy's long term strategy -- these new relationships take us in exactly that direction at the right time."

Michael Winstanley, AIA, AICP will become the Managing Principal of the D.C. regional office and joins the Mancini Duffy firm-wide leadership team. Winstanley, formerly Design Director for Leo Daly's Washington office, founded Michael Winstanley Architects in 2004 and has built a highly regarded multi-disciplinary practice noted for its awarding winning master planning and design work.

Winstanley was attracted to the merger because he saw the potential to create a potent and expansive practice. He explained, "I made this move for a number of factors, but mostly because knowing Mancini Duffy's capabilities, reputation and resources, I realized the opportunity we have to focus on large scale design and planning projects not just in this region, but in New York and beyond. I'm also excited because I know the leadership team shares my passion for this vision, and shares the high standards for design to which both firms have always aspired."

Still & Svitchan, led by co-founder and senior partner, Doug Svitchan, AIA, has been a stalwart presence in the D.C. market for over 18 years. The firm has built a reputation for building design and design-build delivery projects over a wide range of assignments from airports to government buildings. Says Svitchan, "We saw the chance to be part of something bigger and better and we thought our experience and relationships especially in the government sector could add value to that equation." Svitchan and partner, George Eisenberger, AIA, will join Mancini Duffy as principals.

Mancini Duffy D.C. principals Anik Jhaveri, AIA and Yves Springuel, AIA have been involved with the merger plans and have played key roles in helping to shape the firm's strategy for the consolidation. Exclaims Jhaveri, "This move significantly expands our capabilities. Yves and I are looking forward to working with the new team, building on what we have already accomplished in D.C."

Mancini Duffy was advised in this transaction by mergers and acquisitions advisors, Growth Insight Inc.

Founded almost 90 years ago, Mancini·Duffy has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and New Jersey. Also, as a member of IPID, International Partners in Design, Mancini•Duffy serves the diverse needs of its expanding multi-national client base across the U.S. and in Great Britain, Europe, East Asia and Australia.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1091476