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2010
2009
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Change Reflects Firm’s New Employee Ownership, How It’s Known in Marketplace
Chicago, September 15, 2008 – A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc., the leading architecture, interiors, engineering, and construction firm headquartered in Chicago, announced today that the company is shortening its name to “Epstein.”
The firm said that the name change reflects the fact that the company is now owned by its employees versus the founding Epstein family and that most people know the company in the marketplace as Epstein.
Since the company was founded 87 years ago in Chicago, the Epstein family has led the firm to become a major international architecture, interiors, engineering, and construction company with more than 350 employees on three continents, the company said.
However, with the employee buyout of the firm in December of 2005, the company is now led by a three-person management team, none of whom are family members, and who have continued the firm’s strong domestic and international growth.
Sidney Epstein, the son of founder Abraham Epstein, remains as Chairman Emeritus, however, and maintaining the Epstein name reflects the strong heritage of the business as well as the strong brand equity it currently holds in the marketplace, the company said.
Each of the members of the three person executive management team has been with the firm for over 15 years and has been integrally involved with the company’s leadership, growth and development for the last decade. The leadership team consists of:
• Michael Damore, AIA, Executive Managing Director and President, Architecture and Interior Design. Damore is responsible for developing the design aesthetic of the Epstein organization. He has been with the Epstein organization since 1991 and has been responsible for broadening the design capabilities of the firm from one that is industrial-focused to one that is equally balanced between the commercial and manufacturing/distribution sectors. Damore’s experience includes conceptual design leadership in coordination with and management of all professional disciplines. Damore also works closely with client representatives, construction managers and specialty consultants to contribute to a project's successful completion.
• John R. Patelski, P.E., LEED AP, Executive Managing Director and President, Engineering and Construction. Patelski provides overall strategic direction and management for Epstein’s specialty consulting, engineering and construction disciplines. In addition to this role, he is the director of Epstein’s business development efforts helping position the firm for future growth in emerging areas. Patelski joined Epstein in 1992 and during this time has been instrumental in developing new business units for the firm including EN Engineering, the firm’s energy engineering joint venture with Nicor Inc. Patelski is a registered professional engineer, currently licensed in more than 35 states.
• James Jirsa, Executive Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer. Jirsa is responsible for overseeing all financial functions and growth opportunities for the firm, and was instrumental in Epstein’s recent move toward 100% employee ownership. Jirsa, who has been with Epstein since 1984, also has been instrumental in modernizing and streamlining the production capabilities of the organization.
Divisions of Epstein that previously had separate brand names will now be included under the Epstein name. These include annex|5, Interior Space International (ISI) and neXt wayfinding + design.
The new company logo features a script “E” and a burnt orange palette. The script ‘E’ was taken from the signature of Sidney Epstein and is meant to pay homage to the heritage of the company while at the same time reflecting a design touch that is synonymous with Epstein’s architecture, engineering and construction projects.
Among the firm’s better known recent projects are the recently completed West Expansion to the McCormick Place Convention Center, the new Serta headquarters outside of Chicago, the new O’Hare International Airport runway 9L-27R and the Zlote Tarasy Mixed-Use Development in Warsaw.
About EpsteinEpstein was formed in 1921 and provides architecture, interior design, engineering, and construction services worldwide. Headquartered in Chicago, the firm maintains offices in Los Angeles, California; New York, New York; Warsaw, Poland; and Bucharest, Romania. Epstein consistently ranks among the leaders by well-known industry media including Engineering News Record, Building Design + Construction and Midwest Construction. The firm is well-known for its commercial, industrial, high-rise office, residential, municipal, and transportation projects. Epstein is also a leader in sustainable design, developing "green” solutions and technologies across all building types. More information is available at www.epsteinglobal.com.
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