THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 10, 1996 TAG: 9608100247
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: 39 lines
Two of the region's leading architectural firms have decided to join forces.
Williams, Tazewell and Associates of Norfolk and The TAF Group of Virginia Beach announced Friday that they have agreed to merge.
The new venture will be known as Tazewell, Ashe, Forterra. It will trade as The TAF Group and will be based in offices at Landmark Square in Virginia Beach.
The new company will have more than 100 employees who will provide an array of architectural and design services.
Oliver P. Farinholt remains as president and CEO of The TAF Group. E. Bradford Tazewell Jr., chairman of Williams, Tazewell and Associates, becomes senior principal of architecture for the new firm.
Michel C. Ashe, vice president and director of architecture for The TAF Group, becomes vice president and principal in charge of architecture for the merged companies. Arthur J. Gaskin, president of Williams, Tazewell, becomes vice president of architecture.
The two firms had been negotiating a merger for several months, but talks were interrupted in mid-July. Both sides quietly resumed negotiations, which culminated in Friday's merger announcement.
The financial details of the deal were not disclosed and no statements were made beyond the information released in a prepared announcement.
Williams, Tazewell and The TAF Group are both well known in Hampton Roads. Each have designed some of the region's most distinctive buildings.
Williams, Tazewell's portfolio includes some of the highest profile buildings in Norfolk: the Harrison Opera House, Norfolk Southern Tower, the Scope and Chrysler Hall.
The TAF Group has designed some of Virginia Beach's major landmarks, including the Pavilion/Virginia Beach Arts and Conference Center, the Virginia Beach Veterans Memorial, Five Columbus Center and Ocean Lakes High School. by CNB