CEI Architecture, a Canadian architectural firm, has announced that it will join HDR, a global firm specialized in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services.

Collectively HDR's and CEI's have extensive experience with public-private partnership (PPP) for health. This merger of practices provides clients with a much greater depth of experienced resources focused on an incredibly deep portfolio of PPP projects.

The two firms aim to find opportunities for growth both geographically and within each firm's respective market sectors.

Effective July 27, 2015, the firm will go to market as HDR | CEI.

Doug Wignall, AIA, president of HDR's Architecture practice, stated:

"Both of our firms share a philosophy of balancing quality design, technical expertise, business orientation, and customer satisfaction-specifically focusing on being market leaders in clearly defined sectors. This common platform is essential to building a solid foundation for future growth. CEI is a well-respected design firm with a commitment to design excellence that complements our own. I am confident we will work well together to continue to advance this reputation to global prominence."

Bill Locking, a founding partner of CEI, commented:

"Together, we are poised to be a preeminent force in many sectors in Canada, particularly in healthcare, recreation and research. We will seek to deepen our bench of local healthcare and research expertise with the global resources HDR offers in consulting services such as strategic innovation, user experience modeling, laboratory and healthcare planning, data-driven design, and Lean Six Sigma. This uniquely positions us to deliver healthcare and research projects of all sizes, scopes and complexities."

"The expertise CEI brings to the table can help HDR expand into new sectors such as recreation, K-12 education and commercial development not only throughout all provinces of Canada, but beyond the Canadian border as well."

CEI was founded in 1996 and has approximately 70 employees located in British Columbia; its main office is in Vancouver, with additional offices in Victoria and Penticton, as well as Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. HDR's presence in the Canadian market began in 2002; currently about 120 employees are based in offices throughout Ontario.