The LA-based practice Hodgetts + Fung and Seattle-based practice Mithun have announced that they will merge, effective today. The Culver City office has updated its name, reflecting the new change, to Mithun | Hodgetts + Fung.
In a recent conversation with Ming Fung, cofounder of Hodgetts + Fung, she explained to me that she and Craig Hodgetts, her partner at work and home, had no plans to merge with any firm, but got quite excited about the possibilities upon hearing from Mithun's Brendan Connolly last year, pitching the idea. Both offices recognized a tremendous synergy between the firms, rooted in a deep reverence for humanity, with a body of work focused on care for their clients.
Mithun values the overlap in markets both firms have specialized in, appreciating the approach H+F has taken in areas such as education, urban repair, and workplace architecture. Southern California's strong growth in both institutional and commercial segments is clearly another big draw for the larger firm.
This isn't the first merger for Mithun. In 2012, 4 years after opening their Bay Area office, Mithun merged with Daniel Solomon Design Partners. Daniel, a friend and colleague of Ming and Craig, helped confirm their decision to merge with Mithun, describing his positive experience joining forces with the larger operation.
An LA-based Mithun team will be joining Mithun | Hodgetts + Fung, but no current staff is expected to change. Ming told me that the culture and environment at both firms is so surprisingly similar, that the only change that may happen will be the introduction of more open office space.
13 Comments
Wow. This is unexpected and makes me think differently about mergers. In any case, congratulations to both parties.
why a return to incognito?
It's funny, the internet never forgets....I was somehow logged out of Archinect on my phone, and when I commented it asked if I wanted to sign in via Facebook, so I did because it seemed easy enough, and then it asked me "Log in as liberty bell?" and I went LOL sure. So now I'm on a computer and I'm logged in as Donna Sink. But that comment up there is still liberty.
I guess I'm bi.
gigiti. I've never heard of the 2 firms above. Clicked on the news piece to look at pretty pictures. Found out more than I planned to. 8-)
I expected you were back to anonymous because you are secretly the FG stalker.
LOL no. liberty and Donna both love FOG.
Is a bit unexpected... usually mergers in this business are a big, boring firm swallowing a small exciting one, but these two seem more like peers.
Exactly, archanonymous. It seems like they're both doing great on their own but see synergy (I'm not proud of using that word but it seems apt here) in joining forces.
I've always been a fan of Craig Hodgetts' work and person. I remember him in reviews back in the day, and he was a gentleman. Especially compared to Mayne, Libeskind, and the usual rogues' gallery of egos wearing pants.
Just recently I had the chance for a short meeting with him and Ming Fung regarding a project, and they could not have been nicer or more polite. Very refreshing and reaffirming....
They are, citizen! I met Ming at an AIA conference and we had dinner - she's lovely. And Craig was on the podcast: https://archinect.com/news/art...
There's hope for civility in the profession, yet!
When we were having dinner with them, it was such a wonderful evening.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.