MG2 Ranks #4 in BD+C Top 140 Retail Architecture Firms for 2024
MG2 ranks #4 in Building Design + Construction’s Top 140 Retail Architecture Firms for 2024 list.
MG2 ranks #4 in Building Design + Construction’s Top 140 Retail Architecture Firms for 2024 list.
A seasoned leader in retail architecture, Michael Shook drives excellence in program and technical delivery for MG2’s Client Programs market. His expertise encompasses warehouse planning, schematic design, construction documentation, accessibility standards, and legal claim support to ensure precision across every project phase. For over 27 years, Michael has partnered with the nation’s top retailers, leveraging his deep understanding of protocols and standards to streamline processes, foster trust, and deliver impactful results.
L to R: Russ Hazzard, AIA, President, MG2; Kevin Haney, PE, President and CEO, Colliers Engineering & Design; Mitch Smith, AIA, LEED AP, CEO and Chairman, MG2. Download high-resolution image.
New partnership offers architecture, design, engineering, and more with locations across the U.S.
SEATTLE, WA—Dec. 3, 2024—Global architecture and design firm MG2 announced today that it has joined Colliers Engineering & Design, a division of the global commercial real estate and investment management firm Colliers. MG2 is ranked a top 20 Architecture Firm and among the top five in Retail Design. MG2’s more than 400 architects, designers, and staff operate across seven offices in the U.S. and China: Seattle, Portland, Irvine, Minneapolis, Washington, DC, New York, and Shanghai. Their award-winning team of strategists, creatives, and technical experts work together to solve problems and design solutions that bring their clients’ visions to life.
Colliers Engineering & Design, headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey, is a privately held company with 75+ offices throughout the United States. Partnering with Colliers Engineering & Design allows MG2 to expand its geographic reach and add expertise in building systems and structural engineering, site development, civil engineering, and construction management.
“Joining a complementary professional practice with Collier’s Engineering & Design’s resources and expertise enables us take advantage of growth opportunities in the market immediately and maintain the pace of our strategic plan,” says MG2 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Mitch Smith, AIA, LEED AP. “Our greatest strength lies in our people, our clients, and our commitment to helping them succeed. This strategic step with Colliers Engineering & Design offers opportunities for our people to do their best work.”
“We are thrilled to have MG2 join our team,” says Colliers Engineering & Design President and CEO Kevin L. Haney, PE. “Collier’s Engineering & Design invests in relationships to promote sustained growth and success, and this agreement will enable us to continue to drive market growth as a top-tier national commercial industry leader, provide clients with exceptional commercial design services, and accelerate communities nationwide.”
Current MG2 leaders will become senior partners within Colliers Engineering & Design, maintaining the company’s leadership structure and culture. MG2 will be rebranded at a future date.
Guided by our vision to create transformative experiences that foster and elevate healthy communities, MG2 has been delivering award-winning projects and programs for over 50 years. We partner with some of the world’s most recognizable companies and brands to bring exceptional design solutions to life through full architectural, strategic planning, cost management, interior design, brand strategy, and program consulting services. Our offices in the U.S.—Seattle, Portland, New York, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, and Irvine—integrate building performance and social responsibility into every project. At MG2, our greatest strength lies in our people, our clients, and our commitment to helping them succeed. We are purpose-driven by nature, data-driven by design. www.mg2.com
Colliers Engineering & Design is a trusted provider of multi-discipline engineering, design and consulting services to public and private sector clients. Headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey, with a network of offices throughout the United States, we specialize in providing a comprehensive suite of E/A services including Civil/Site, Architecture, Transportation, Governmental, Survey/Geospatial, Infrastructure, Geotechnical/Environmental, Telecommunications, Utilities/Energy, and Project Management.
Our talented professionals utilize the most advanced technologies to deliver customized solutions for our clients. Colliers Engineering & Design is affiliated with Colliers (NASDAQ, TSX: CIGI) a leading diversified professional services and investment management company. Learn more at colliersengineering.com. Visit us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
MG2’s Leana Yaacob represented the firm at the METROPOLIST Arch30 event in Los Angeles. This program celebrates the future of architecture by spotlighting top talents under 30 and engaging them in dynamic workshops led by METROPOLIS editors.
“Working on Costco Santa Fe, Mexico was both incredibly challenging and deeply rewarding,” said MG2 Architect Maribel Barba, AIA to Tony Bouquot of Chain Store Age in his recent piece highlighting the Costco Mexico warehouse.
She continued, “Integrating innovative solutions with community service meant that we were not only addressing the current needs of the city but also engaging with Parque La Mexicana to tailor solutions that were truly beneficial and sustainable.”
MG2 has been named the #2 firm in Puget Sound Business Journal’s list of the Largest Architecture Firms in the Seattle Area.
“Strolling through the sprawling 70-acre public Parque La Mexicana in the Santa Fe neighborhood of Mexico City, locals and visitors enjoy paved trails, vegetation, sculptures, fountains, restaurants, and lakes with city skylines serving as a beautiful backdrop.
“Amongst all the greenery, one would be hard-pressed to spot a 1/2-million-acre Costco warehouse, parking garage, and loading dock. Why? Because it’s largely concealed under what is arguably the largest green roof ever to cover a retail building.”
Hear from Russ Hazzard, President of MG2, in his Q&A with The Zweig Letter Correspondent, Liisa Andreassen.
“Hazzard first joined MG2 in 1993. He says that they’re always looking to grow their shareholder base and to bring younger contributors into the fold – people who want to grow the company and take over when the old guard retires.
“‘It will be exciting to watch as the next generation leads the firm and the industry into the future,’ he says.” Find the full interview in the link here:
MG2 recently transformed a 23,000+ SF Port of Seattle Regional Office, originally built as a railroad shipping facility in 1952, into a space fit for a 21st-century workforce. Converted to office use in the ‘90s, the dated space has been completely redesigned as an open, airy workplace with an industrial feel. A nine-foot drop ceiling was removed, and solar tubes were added to the double-height ceiling to provide much-needed natural light to pour in.
This Federal Agency Office renovation also included implementing federal security requirements for a 24-hour government facility. Additional tenant improvements consisted of a training center, full gym, locker room, and dining area.
Mike is a dynamic, creative architect who continues to explore new and exciting opportunities throughout the architecture and construction industries and has over 15 years of experience working in the industrial, office, and retail market sectors. His passion for design and thirst for knowledge has driven him to work and study around the world. He has experienced a multitude of roles while tackling a wide range of professional challenges, including entitlements, architectural design, project management, contract negotiation, design-build coordination, technical documentation, and sustainable/green building consultation.
MG2 ranked among the top 20 in Building Design+Construction Media’s recently released Top 200 Architecture Firms for 2024.
So excited to see that The Orange County Business Journal has ranked MG2 #18 in its Architectural Firms list for 2024.
“The firm has seen an uptick in retail, industrial, and affordable housing markets, according to chief executive officer Mitch Smith. ‘The growth in all three of these sectors has had a substantial impact on architectural billings in our Irvine office, reflecting the adaptability and agility of our team,’ Smith said.”
So excited to see that The Orange County Business Journal has ranked MG2 in the top 20 of its Architectural Firms list for 2024.
We’re excited to be named one of The Best Commercial Architects in Irvine, CA by Los Angeles Architects.
Spearheaded by award-winning Managing Principal Meghana Joshi, AIA, NOMA, the company’s leadership champions a purpose-driven work culture, fostering meaningful connections between employees, clients, and the communities they serve. In addition to overseeing regional retail, mixed-use, and industrial markets, Meghana is responsible for expanding the firm’s reach, focusing on retail banking, as well as senior living and affordable housing in California.
MG2 is a trailblazer, continuously evolving and adapting to the changing landscape, earning accolades from Fast Company, Architizer, and Interior Design Magazine as well as feature articles in Building Design + Construction, Forbes, Development Magazine, Chain Store Age, and Architectural Record.
Consumers now expect seamless, unified commerce experiences where they can access products and information anytime, anywhere. This fluidity is reshaping how brands build loyalty and manage supply chains with a focus on responsiveness to meet these high expectations.
Listen to the full episode with guests Melissa Gonzalez and Matthew Goelzer, AIA, LEED AP, Principals of MG2 Design, as they discuss the pivotal role of supply chain management in modern retail.
Build Design + Constructions named MG2’s Costco Santa Fe project, located in Mexico City, one of “17 design Great Solutions for AEC firms for 2024.”
In her article for Landuum, MG2 Associate Maribel Barba AIA discusses the remarkable Costco Santa Fe project, a community-centric marvel that blends seamlessly into the urban environment of Santa Fe, Mexico. This project is a testament to innovative architecture and sustainable practices, demonstrating how natural landscapes and recreational spaces can be successfully incorporated into urban settings.
“Our goal was to physically and operationally integrate Costco’s structures with the surrounding park, matching or exceeding the park and the city’s sustainability standards,” shares Maribel Barba.
En su artículo para Landuum, Maribel Barba AIA, asociada de MG2, discute el notable proyecto de Costco Santa Fe, una maravilla centrada en la comunidad que se integra perfectamente en el entorno urbano de Santa Fe, México. Este proyecto es un testimonio de la arquitectura innovadora y las prácticas sostenibles, y demuestra cómo los paisajes naturales y los espacios recreativos pueden incorporarse con éxito a los entornos urbanos.
“Nuestro objetivo era integrar física y operativamente las estructuras de Costco con el parque circundante, igualando o superando los estándares de sostenibilidad del parque y de la ciudad”, comparte Maribel Barba.
After decades of brick-and-mortar success, a leading retail client came to MG2, hoping to expand their e-commerce investments. Partnering with MG2, they initiated multiple new fulfillment centers and upgrades. With flexible design and space optimization at the forefront, the MG2 team facilitated seamless integration of new systems, enhancing operational efficiency.
An integral component of supply chain efficiency is cross-dock distribution centers. For each of these projects, MG2’s primary design objective is the same: to provide a facility that meets the demands of high-speed and efficient operational activities while ensuring all technical, code, site, and operational challenges are diligently managed during the design and construction phases.
MG2’s expertise, combined with their team members’ ability to coordinate with jurisdictions during permitting phases and contractors and vendors during construction, has led to the successful delivery of 20+ depot projects across the world.
The 94,000 SF production facility was built in conjunction with an attached 400,300 SF e-commerce and cross-dock depot on an 80-acre site. The commissary includes production offices and five production lines. Specialized pieces of baking equipment were imported from Europe, requiring MG2 to partner with mechanical, refrigeration, and processing engineers across six countries. MG2 responded to strict environmental requirements and introduced faux window elements and accentuated cornices into the metal-clad façade to visually soften and reflect the area’s surrounding residential architecture.
MG2 worked with Rice Commercial Group on the New Skyservice FBO at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The project includes a new 100,000 SF hangar space, virtually doubling Skyservice’s hangar space in Toronto. The new FBO includes large areas for aircraft storage and maintenance, associated amenities, and office spaces for tenants.
MG2 is currently working on multiple sites for a national, sustainable data center client in Atlanta and Kansas City. Each project presents a different structural type, including precast, concrete tilt walls, and pre-engineered metal buildings based on end-user requirements and site conditions. Beyond the architectural design, MG2 is addressing complexities in MEP, structural engineering, security, and acoustic concerns. Furthermore, MG2’s involvement extends to tenant work, demonstrating our capability to provide comprehensive support for large-scale projects. In addition to our work with mission-critical facilities, the client sought our expertise in program design and program thinking.
CWI partnered with MG2 to design and construct multiple protein processing plants to meet their customers’ growing demand for protein.
The protein processing plant in Morris, IL, produces over 220 million hot dogs, 152 million burger patties, and 13 million pounds of meatballs annually. MG2 optimized the layout for maximum efficiency, implemented utility systems for large-scale machinery, and strategically designed the building to accommodate refrigerated storage, a microbiological laboratory, a test kitchen, and a two-story office area to support 75,000 SF.
In addition to the plant in Illinois, MG2 designed and constructed a protein processing plant in Tracy, CA. This West Coast distribution depot includes a meat packing plant, a perishable foods storage depot, and a frozen foods facility to serve CWI’s stores on the West Coast. Over 220 million hot dogs are produced in the Tracy, CA plant alone. The massive meatball cook room is built entirely of stainless steel, and high-tech handwashing sanitation stations are scattered throughout the plant and connected to counters that allow plant officials to ensure they’re used regularly.
MG2 was brought on as an owner’s representative to manage the design and construction of this unprecedented $300 million project, which includes a chicken hatchery, feed mill and processing plant. The state-of-the-art complex is expected to produce nearly 100 million processed birds annually. The supply chain – from feed manufacturing to the breeding of chickens to the final packaged goods produced – will be concentrated within a hundred-mile radius of the facility. MG2 is also assisting CWI with building an anaerobic lagoon system in partnership with the city to promote the biological oxidation of wastewater.