DALLAS—Merriman Anderson/Architects Inc.'s notable maa projects include Bell Helicopter global headquarters in Fort Worth, Ethiopia Embassy Housing Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and Kinshasa Arena Kinshasa, DRC. The firm has completed projects in all states and 11 countries.

The firm is currently working on local projects in its home base: Statler Hotel and Residences, The Drever, Dallas High School, 411 N Akard, Mosaic Apartments, Lone Star Gas Building, Tower Petroleum Dallas and Lorenzo Hotel. maa is a multi-disciplinary architecture, design and planning firm offering services for the built environment from master plan development to architectural design, interior design, 3D visualization, graphic design and construction document production.

The maa stamp can be seen on master planned developments, urban housing, office buildings, corporate facilities, hotels, hospitals, schools and retail projects, including interiors and signage. Maa also has offices in Austin and Charlotte. With nearly 90 employees, the firm is large enough to address broad and complex real estate developments, yet small enough to offer personalized service and accountability. maa associates have a reputation for design excellence and technical expertise, and for creating projects that are a synthesis of exceptional design, function and value.

The firm's renowned commitment to technology via 3-D visualization, virtual reality and building information modeling is evident in the promotion of John Carruth and Philip Siems, both who have been with maa for more than 10 years and are credited with spearheading the firm's technical innovation and expertise. The architectural firm also promoted seven of its associates from its Dallas office to be shareholders/principals; only the second time associates have been named shareholders in the 30-year history of the firm. This is in keeping with the firm's commitment of fostering innovation, growth and diversity.

Attributing the success and growth of the firm to its staff, principals Jerry Merriman, Deby Merriman and Milton Anderson recently presented shareholder status to David Masters, John Carruth, Aimee Sanborn, Philip Siems, Adam Jones, Justin McCarthy and Jennifer Picquet-Reyes, a group to grow the company and help lead them to the next level of services. These are associates with different management and leadership skills, two of them non-architects on the technology side.

“Architectural firms are often times so consumed with servicing their myriad clients and projects, that they neglect to devise a masterplan for their own firm,” says president and founding partner, Jerry Merriman. “Deby, Milton and I feel strongly about sharing ownership of this firm with the talented human resources who have propelled our growth and reputation, and will continue to help us innovate all aspects of our flourishing practice.”

maa principals Merriman, Merriman and Anderson believe their firm's unique familial and symbiotic culture should be reflected in the firm's ownership. The new principals were chosen to work with the owners to plan for implementation of the firm's strategic plan and management of business growth.

“We take our cues regarding pace of growth from our founder, Jerry Merriman,” explains Anderson, vice president and director of design. “Jerry and Deby established excellence, quality, respect and balance as core values when they began the firm in 1986. maa is very much a family atmosphere and just as you take care of your family at home, we believe in offering our employees career growth and stability for their futures. Having a growth plan also offers all of our current and future employees stability for their careers with us.”

Continuity in quality and service to clients, a healthy respect among the firm's employees for each other and a passion for architecture and design are hallmarks of maa. The newest shareholders are a diverse group of individuals among varied disciplines. Their individual responsibilities and strengths were thoughtfully planned to assure collaboration of ideas and service through the years to come.

“This move allows Milton, Deby and myself to secure the firm's leadership for the next 25 years,” said Jerry Merriman, president, tells GlobeSt.com. “Each of the new principals has been with maa for over 10 years. Their combined talents provide a solid foundation for our firm's continued growth and success.”

The firm's annual planning meeting, Football Friday, is another example of maa's unique camaraderie and familial culture. Both the Dallas and Austin offices are combined into teams to huddle and discuss topics such as work quality, efficiency, marketing and office culture. The teams present their ideas to the firm principals at the end of the day. Several of maa's freshest practices have initiated from the annual all-office event.

“This group will nurture and grow the next group of stars in our company,” said Deby Merriman, co-founder. “They represent different management and leadership skills so that all areas of maa will continue to deliver the high-level of service our clients demand. We at maa rely on one another much as family members do. We have found this culture attracts the top talent we have and will continue to recruit.”

The firm offers programming, urban planning, architectural design, space planning, interior architecture/design, graphic design, construction document production, construction observation, 3D visualization and facilities move coordination, emphasizing repeat clients as the heart of their practice. Each maa professional listens to the needs of the firm's clients and works to meet their individual and specific schedule, budget and scope requirements.

Instant Insights /

Family Atmosphere Allows for Career Growth and Stability

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