MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--During the 1965 Thanksgiving weekend, Irv Dana, Bill Larson, and Jim Roubal – two architects and an engineer with the passion to control their own destiny – solidified plans to launch what they envisioned as a new kind of design firm. Members of America’s Greatest Generation, and with a decade of professional experience under their belts, the three DLR Group Founders shared a vision for a firm grounded in shared ideals of design quality, fairness, opportunity for professional growth, and ownership.
On April 1, 1966, Jim Roubal marched a cardboard box of personal effects out of his former office and into a 144-square-foot space in Irv Dana’s basement where the fledgling enterprise would begin. Dana Larson Roubal and Associates – the firm that would ultimately be known as DLR Group – was born. Today that firm staffs 750 employee-owners in 24 locations around the globe and DLR Group will celebrate its 50th birthday from April 1 through September 30, 2016.
“At DLR Group there is so much opportunity for personal and professional growth,” said DLR Group CEO Griff Davenport, AIA, who joined the firm in 1980. “Sometimes it dangles itself in front of you and sometimes you have to go looking for it. But it was there on day one, and the opportunity for employee-owners to positively impact the success of the firm continues today.”
The firm will celebrate its golden anniversary in a number of ways through the spring and summer:
- On April 1, the DLR Group Omaha office will host a reception for surviving DLR Group Co-Founder Jim Roubal. This will include a closed-circuit interview with Roubal shared in all DLR Group locations.
- Each office will host an open house reception for clients, current and former staff, and business partners. Additionally, offices are scheduling a DLR Group Day of Giving. This will be locally driven with each office shutting its doors for a day this summer to provide a day of volunteer service with an organization of its choice.
- The firm’s website will feature a detailed history of the firm. This includes a historical project gallery documenting the firm’s design work from 1966 to present day. Each week a new group of projects will be shared at dlrgroup.com and via the firm’s social media channels.
Since its founding, DLR Group has championed the tenets of design excellence and employee-ownership. Today these ideals remain as foundational elements of the firm.
DESIGN EXCELLENCE
From day one, Dana, Larson, and Roubal envisioned that the future of building delivery would be an integrated design approach. The firm’s commitment to design excellence was rewarded in 2012 when ARCHITECT magazine recognized DLR Group as the #1 firm on its annual Top 50 Ranking of U.S. firms. Today, DLR Group serves clients through the integrated delivery of planning, architecture, engineering, interiors, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Core areas of design expertise include Civic, Courts, Detention, Energy Services, Healthcare, Higher Education, Hospitality, K-12 Education, Retail, Sports, and Workplace.
On a parallel path, sustainability has always been inherent in the DLR Group design process. From early applications of solar hot water and geothermal systems; through the development of LEED; to being an early adopter of the Architecture 2030 Challenge, an initial signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment, and in 2015 a firm that drove the development and signing of the China Accord, DLR Group has always been at the forefront of sustainable design to elevate the human experience through design.
EMPLOYEE-OWNERSHIP
People have guided DLR Group’s growth over the past 50 years. Dana, Larson, and Roubal struck out on their own to pursue their dream of ownership. From the outset profits were shared with employees and employee-ownership remains the foundational element of the firm. In 1978, DLR Group executed its first Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) with employees gaining an ownership stake. In 2005, the firm became a 100 percent employee-owned firm.
“We are in a people business, and what we do is a team sport. This is why being employee owned is so important to both our culture and success,” said Charles Dalluge, who joined DLR Group in 2014 as chief operating officer. “The opportunity for ownership was the deciding factor in my decision to join the firm. The DLR Group family is what makes the difference, and we all play an important role in our success.”
Employee-ownership creates a unique practice and leadership structure. DLR Group does not feature a centralized headquarters location. The firm’s Executive Team members reside in six different offices, and the firm’s design and market sector leaders are dispersed throughout 24 global locations.
“We are a family. Period. Sounds hokey, but it’s so very true. Like a family, we care about each other more than we care about anything else,” said DLR Group Global Design Leader Steven McKay, Associate AIA, and Senior Principal. “This is the essence of a culture developed around employee ownership. Humility, trust, and devotion to excellence – all things you must nurture and grow to be a successful employee-owned firm. DLR Group was this way when I joined, and I am proud to be a continual part of that journey with the same essence today.”
About DLR Group
Founded as an architecture and engineering firm, DLR Group celebrates 50 years in 2016. DLR Group serves clients through integrated delivery of planning, architecture, engineering, interiors, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Core areas of design expertise include Civic, Courts, Detention, Energy Services, Higher Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, K-12 Education, Retail, Sports, and Workplace. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. DLR Group fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge, and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment. Visit dlrgroup.com and follow us at Twitter and LinkedIn.
