Oakland, California-based VDK Architects, one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s leading architecture firms specializing in the Science & Technology market sector, has merged with Harley Ellis Devereaux, a nationally acclaimed architecture and engineering practice.  Harley Ellis Devereaux will relocate the employees in its current Berkeley, CA, office to the new Oakland office location effective January 3, 2012.  “The merger enhances Harley Ellis Devereaux’s strong credentials in the Science & Technology market and the increased staff size in the Bay Area will improve the firm’s capabilities in the Education market sector which it has traditionally served in Northern California,” reports Gary Skog, Chairman & CEO of Harley Ellis Devereaux.

About VDK Architects

Established in 1988 by Lee VanDeKerchove, VDK Architects has earned a reputation for excellence in the design of technically demanding projects. The firm specializes in programming, planning, and designing research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities and advanced technology facilities. Client groups served include biotechnology, pharmaceutical, electronics and higher education.  The firm has always been focused on providing superior service, resulting in many long-term client relationships.

The firm’s principals, Lee VanDeKerchove and Susan Briggs, will continue on as principals at Harley Ellis Devereaux with VanDeKerchove taking on the role of Science & Technology Studio Leader and Briggs becoming the Managing Principal of the combined Oakland office.  Roland Lazzarotto, an associate principal at VDK Architects will also continue on as an associate principal at Harley Ellis Devereaux.

Lee VanDeKerchove says of the new HED office, “We are excited about joining Harley Ellis Devereaux and expanding the firm’s Science & Technology Studio’s presence on the west coast.  The combination of VDK’s experience and reputation in the Bay Area and Harley Ellis Devereaux’s extensive science and technology portfolio will provide our clients with an even broader range of services, thought leadership and design excellence.”

Harley Ellis Devereaux employees who are currently in the Bay Area including two Associates:  Ed Dean, a specialist in sustainable design and Net Zero Energy facilities and Malvin Whang, an expert in the design of Simulation Centers and high technology facilities will continue to serve the firm’s clients throughout the country working from the new Oakland office location.  The newly merged Bay Area Office will operate under the Harley Ellis Devereaux name effective January 3, 2012.