BWBR, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based architecture and design firm, has acquired RND Architects, establishing its first office in North Carolina and expanding its presence into the Research Triangle region. The acquisition brings together two design practices with complementary expertise across science and technology, healthcare, education, and public-sector facilities.
The transaction closed on October 30, 2026, with the firms beginning combined operations on November 2.
RND Architects, previously based in Durham, North Carolina, will operate under the BWBR name.
The acquisition establishes BWBR’s fourth office, joining its existing locations in St. Paul, Minnesota; Madison, Wisconsin; and Omaha, Nebraska.
The combined firm will employ approximately 200 professionals.
BWBR has operated for more than a century, providing architecture and interior design services for commercial and institutional projects across the United States.
Its practice focuses on complex environments serving healthcare organizations, educational institutions, science and technology businesses, and government entities.
RND brings established design experience and customer relationships within North Carolina’s Research Triangle market.
The region includes a concentration of universities, research organizations, healthcare providers, and technology businesses.
BWBR believes the area’s development and investment activity creates opportunities to expand its design practice.
The acquisition provides an established local office and team rather than requiring BWBR to build its presence in the region entirely from the ground up.
RND’s employees will gain access to the resources, technical expertise, and broader project experience of BWBR’s national organization.
The firms expect the combination to strengthen their ability to pursue larger and more complex assignments while maintaining existing client relationships.
For BWBR, the acquisition adds local market knowledge and expands its geographic reach.
The company also expects opportunities to combine the firms’ respective capabilities across specialized building types.
Science and technology facilities can require sophisticated technical systems and design approaches suited to research, testing, and other specialized activities.
Healthcare and educational projects similarly involve detailed requirements concerning building function, safety, flexibility, and the needs of occupants.
By combining their teams, BWBR and RND aim to provide additional resources for addressing these project requirements.
The firms emphasized that the acquisition followed a deliberate search for a compatible partner rather than a transaction driven by private equity investment.
Both organizations identified employee development, client relationships, and shared design values as important factors in the combination.
RND’s existing leadership views the partnership as an opportunity to provide employees with additional professional development resources and access to a wider range of projects.
BWBR intends to preserve the client-focused service model and established relationships that supported RND’s growth in the Durham market.
The acquisition advances BWBR’s strategy of expanding its national capabilities through regional teams with specialized expertise.
The combined firm will operate across four offices while serving clients throughout the country.
With approximately 200 employees, BWBR expects to pursue additional design opportunities in North Carolina and strengthen its delivery capabilities for larger projects.
The transaction also reflects continued demand for specialized design expertise in markets involving healthcare, research, technology, and education.
By adding RND Architects, BWBR establishes a foundation for long-term growth in the Research Triangle while broadening the services available to clients across its national practice.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’ve had our eye on the Triangle for some time because of the tremendous growth here. RND brings design experience, strong local relationships and market knowledge that complement our expertise and resources. Together, we can pursue larger opportunities in the region and expand the impact of our design beyond what either firm could achieve alone.”
Terri Ulrick, President And CEO Of BWBR
“What made BWBR the right partner was that they share our commitment to our employees. This gives our people more opportunities to learn, grow and develop their careers, while allowing us to preserve the personal relationships and commitment to service that have always defined RND.”
Charles Nickelson, Principal At RND Architects
