Clayco, Inc., an integrated design-build firm headquartered in Chicago, has purchased Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC), an architecture, interiors and urban design firm also based in Chicago that serves corporate, developer and institutional clients.
LJC will become a branded business group alongside Clayco’s existing architecture and design practice, BatesForum. LJC CEO Lamar Johnson will provide leadership for the overall design business within Clayco.
“Integration with Clayco—from its real estate development to architecture, engineering and construction groups—allows LJC to provide clients both a full complement of services and to take the inefficiency and risk out of the design and development process,” said Johnson.
LJC has developed a practice characterized by diverse projects for respected Chicago firms, including Sterling Bay’s renovation of 600 West Chicago, the Triangle Square project at Elston and Webster and a new headquarters for the John Buck Company at 151 North Franklin.
“We look to LJC for an entrepreneurial approach executed by an experienced team,” said Scott Goodman, founding principal of Farpoint Development. “Joining an entrepreneurial industry leader like Clayco is a natural extension of LJC’s outlook.”
The merger will create an integrated practice with more than 225 professionals with offices in Chicago; St. Louis; San Francisco; Springfield, Missouri and Rogers, Arkansas.
“Lamar has an outstanding and respected reputation within the design community,” said Clayco CEO Bob Clark. “This merger will further deepen Clayco’s integrated delivery platform by adding team members with strong design capacity as well as Lamar’s leadership skills.”
