August 5, 2009

BFGC Architects Planners, Inc. announces the closing of it’s merger with the IBI Group, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The practice will continue with the name: “BFGC - IBI Group Architects Planners.”

For the past 60 years BFGC has practiced architecture and planning in California, operating in the cities of Bakersfield, San Jose and San Luis Obispo. Two Principals lead the practice in each of the three offices. Together with 5-Associate Principals, 8-Associates and a professional staff of 70-people, BFGC has established a very strong reputation in the research, planning, interiors, design and construction phase services with particular focus on educational facilities for K-12 schools, college & universities and healthcare. The firm has provided continuing services to community colleges, school districts and hospitals for sixty years. The firm also is involved in architectural work for other public facilities in justice, civic administration, defense, and private corporate work, as well.

Phil Beinhaker, Chairman and CEO of the IBI Group of Firms noted that, “David Cartnal, Mark Engelien and William Tuculet and their colleagues, including the three other principals, 5-associate principals, 8- associates and long-term staff have established a firm of a strongly recognised reputation for design excellence and superior client-service, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare. The leaders of the firm have all committed to continue their key roles of leadership and management to achieve the integration of the BFGC practice within the practice of IBI Group, and to become a core component of the national educational practice that IBI is building across the United States. Additionally, the geographic presence of BFGC in three cities between Los Angeles, to the south, and San Francisco, to the north, will extend the IBI platform in California, in addition to it’s office in Irvine. IBI will broaden the services offered in these three cities, as well as extend into Metropolitan Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area markets. With the integration of BFGC, the total complement of professionals within the IBI Group of Firms will now be approximately 2,285 people. IBI currently operates 67 offices worldwide, including Athens, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Boston, Delhi, Denver, Detroit, Jerusalem, London, Montreal, Quebec, New York, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Singapore, Toronto, Vancouver & Washington, D.C.

David Cartnal, FAIA-President/CEO of the BFGC firm stated that “This integration of BFGC within the IBI Group is based upon strategic planning that the BFGC leadership has undertaken over the past 5-years, regarding the continuing and further growth of the BFGC practice, including the consideration of succession over time. The current leadership is fully committed to continue with Mark Engelien, AIA-CFO and Senior Principal in Bakersfield, William Tuculet, AIA-Vice President & Senior Principal in San Luis Obispo and myself continuing as Managing Senior Principal in San Jose. Together with us, will be our three principal colleagues, Brad Henderson, AIA-Bakersfield; Richard Mello, AIA-San Luis Obispo, and Dean Tatsuno, AIA-San Jose; our five Associate Principals and our eight Associates and all our current staff. Our staff have responded enthusiastically to the enhanced opportunities for their respective careers and new opportunities. Our loyal, longstanding clients have been reassured that they will continue to receive the professional services that BFGC has provided to date, further enhanced with the additional depth of resources and breadth of expertise that the merger with IBI offers them.

Mark Engelien noted that “This merger will enable us to move forward in enhancing the scale of projects, operating systems of BFGC, and has introduced advanced technology to further the effectiveness of our services to our existing clients, as well as broaden our practice together with our new colleagues worldwide in the IBI Group. This merger embraces the model: Think Globally – Act Locally.

Bill Tuculet noted the involvement BFGC has always had in it’s local communities will continue and he expects the intra-office collaborative practice model BFGC has developed will make for a seamless transition as the two firms incorporate this model worldwide. IBI has already developed an international practice in the areas of urban & land planning, buildings & facilities, transportation and infrastructure/IT systems. The combined talents and energies of professionals worldwide, who understand the importance of strong, local client service will make this new merged firm a worldwide leader in full-service excellence.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BFGC Architects Planners Receives 2009 Best of Bakersfield Award

Best of Bakersfield Award Honors Their Achievement

BAKERSFIELD June 8, 2009 -- BFGC Architects Planners has been selected for the 2009 Best of Bakersfield Award in the Architects category.

Each year, The Best of Bakersfield Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The Best of Bakersfield Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally and data provided by third parties.

About The Best of Bakersfield

The Best of Bakersfield funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of Best of Bakersfield Award is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The Best of Bakersfield Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs.

SOURCE: The Best of Bakersfield

CONTACT:
The Best of Bakersfield
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
URL: http://bakersfield.2009award.org

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Grace Strauther Joins BFGC Architects Planners
Former LAUSD Superintendent forms Strategic Alliance

 

Friday, April 17, 2009 – Grace Strauther, former Local District 3 Superintendent for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), has joined the BFGC Architects Team to offer educational consultation from a district/community perspective.

Mrs. Strauther possesses a unique comprehension of a diverse population of district staff, students, parents, and the community. She is a veteran educator who began her career with the LAUSD more than 47 years ago and has overseen the operation of 107 elementary, middle, senior and continuation high schools serving an area from Central Los Angeles to the Westside. She understands the challenges faced of a diverse and technologically-advanced society.

“We are happy to make this alliance with Grace,” states Bill Tuculet, AIA and Principal Architect with BFGC, “Even though our firm has 60 years in providing architectural planning and design services to educational clients throughout the State, Grace brings the strong interpersonal and supervisory skills from a community perspective, not to mention a keen appreciation of administration needs and desires.”

Grace Strauther has also been an Administrator for the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA), an Adjunct Faculty Member in the School Management Program at UCLA, and a Consultant for the Council of Black Administrators (COBA).

Appreciation Award

Thursday, Feb 12, 2009-

Mr. Trost received an appreciation award from the Kern County Fire Department, Office of Emergency Services for "extraordinary contributions" to the Kern County Operations Center Project.

Mr. Trost was a key team member in the coordination, team building, and leadership of the project which included representatives from several County departments.

As project architect, Mr. Trost assisted with the design of the facility and coordinated and preparation of construction documents for the construction of the new facility but also assisted in the coordination and implementation of the "state-of-the-art" audio visual system that will be the lifeline of the emergency operation process. The project was 18 months from conceptual design to the grand opening.