Appointment part of firm’s strategy to build its integrated practice with strong leadership
CHICAGO (Sept. 20, 2012) – Forum Studio, a next-generation practice offering architecture, interior design, engineering, landscape and planning solutions, announced the appointment of Ron Johnson as associate principal of its Interiors practice.
The appointment comes as part of a strategic effort on the part of the firm to fortify its ranks with strong hires and build momentum towards the fulfillment of CEO Bob Clark’s vision of building Forum into “the firm of the future.”
“Ron’s primary role will be to provide interior design leadership in collaboration with other senior architectural, building and planning leaders of our firm and to deliver integrated design services to our clients,” noted Chris Cedergreen, president and senior principal of Forum Studio.
Forum Studio’s philosophy is steeped in understanding each client project on a multiple of levels and its Interior Design practice is a part of a fully integrated, expertise-driven team. Noted Cedergreen, “Delivering on the client’s vision via a holistic approach is what Forum does extremely well due to our ability to listen to the how and why of each project – not just fashioning a solution but solving critical issues that serve to best respond to our client’s most complex project needs.”
Johnson comes to Forum Studio after serving as chief operating officer and principal at Arcturis in St. Louis, where he oversaw the completion of award-winning projects and helped the firm expand into several new market sectors, including its first ground-up bank building, stadium club and suites, K-12 school and a YMCA facility. Key clients included Maritz, Energizer, Centene, Edward Jones, the St. Louis Rams and the St. Louis Blues. Johnson also led teams on large corporate and institutional projects, and guided several clients through national rollouts of multiple projects across the U.S.
In addition to Johnson’s extensive work experience, he is active in professional organizations, including the Kansas State University’s Interior Architecture Board and was recently selected as chair of the St. Louis Chapter of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). The prestigious position at ULI parallels his role at Forum as he leads the chapter in synthesizing complex issues to address responsible land use.
“ULI is like Forum Studio in that it is one of the few organizations that is comprehensive in its mission,” Johnson commented.
Johnson’s plans for his new role at Forum Studio include bringing different points of views to the table and to provide the "creative tension" that can produce the most optimal solutions. He sees highly thoughtful and effective spaces must blend the art and science of design. “Architecture without art is not sustainable. Architecture without science is equally incomplete,” he said.
About Forum Studio
Founded in 1999, Forum Studio creates great environments through responsive, responsible and respected architectural, interior design, engineering, landscape and planning solutions. With more than 110 diverse projects completed and built within the last 13 years by a staff of more than 70 professionals, Forum Studio works closely with clients and contractors to produce the highest quality collaborative designs. Forum Studio is a subsidiary of Clayco, Inc. For more information, visit www.forumstudio.com.
About Clayco
Clayco, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest full-service real estate development, architecture, engineering and construction firms. With annual revenues of $820 million, Clayco specializes in “the art and science of building,” providing fast-track, turnkey building solutions on a nationwide basis for commercial, institutional and industrial building types. For more information, visit www.claycorp.com.
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For more information:
Mary Jo Fasan Colleen Conrad
mj@jochicago.com colleen@jochicago.com
312-375-7117 847-987-2303
