Local architectural firm signs MOU during trade mission in Boston

St. John's architectural firm PHB Group Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Boston-based architectural firm Jung/Brannen Associates Inc. to do joint bidding on international projects. This MOU is a direct result of a trade mission to New England in May and was signed during the province's first cultural industries trade mission to Boston this week.

Charlie Henley, vice-president of PHB Group Inc., and Duncan Pendlebury, president of Jung/Brannen Associates Inc., signed the MOU at a ceremony that took place at the Jung/Brannen offices in downtown Boston. Robert Noble, Canada's Deputy Consul General in Boston and George Sweeney, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development (Information and Advanced Technologies), participated in the signing ceremony.

"Signing this MOU to solidify our relationship with Jung/Brannen is a major step forward in PHB's strategic plan to provide design services in external markets," said Mr. Henley. "This alliance fits well due to common beliefs in entrepreneurial spirit, team-based management, and dedication to innovative solutions. PHB's ability to access Newfoundland and Labrador's world-class connectivity infrastructure and our close proximity to New England is convenient and conducive to pursuing international projects as a team".

Under the conditions of the MOU, PHB and Jung/Brannen will jointly bid on international projects � a process that is already underway. 

"All of us at Jung/Brannen are pleased that the PHB Group is joining the growing J/B Alliance," said Mr. Pendlebury. "It provides a great opportunity for us to collaborate on international projects with a firm whose corporate culture and commitment to leading-edge design reflect so many of the qualities we value. We look forward to a long and rewarding working relationship with their entire team."

Jung/Brannen Associates Inc. is an international architecture, planning and interior design firm founded in 1968. The firm has recently completed the new headquarters and lab facilities for Praecis Pharmaceuticals and headquarters for Course Technology and the Massachusetts Medical Society, all in the greater Boston area. The firm is currently working on the One Lincoln Street office tower and the Tremont Tower residences in downtown Boston, as well as the new headquarters for ESPN; the new public safety facility for the City of Providence, Rhode Island; a series of projects in the Middle East; and a number of class-A commercial office park developments.

PHB Group is a St. Johns, Newfoundland-based architecture, design, and project management team dedicated to providing outstanding customer service and innovative design solutions. While the firm's experience has primarily been in Eastern Canada, it has undertaken projects in Asia, South America and the Caribbean. The firm's recent projects include The Rooms, the new Student Union building for Memorial University of Newfoundland, a genetics research laboratory and participation in the new Janeway Children's Hospital.

PHB Group participated in the New England trade mission in May 2001. During that mission, PHB met with Mr. Pendlebury to discuss joint ventures. 

"This MOU is proof that there is a market for Newfoundland and Labrador's products and services in New England. It also demonstrates that government's initiative to market our strengths on the national and international stage is a strategy that's working," Mr. Sweeney said.

The cultural industries trade mission to Boston occurred November 6-8, having been postponed from September 17, following the tragic events in the United States. 

This mission is funded by the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development and by the federal and provincial governments under the Canada-Newfoundland Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement (CEDA). CEDA is a six-year, $95.4 million initiative designed to complement existing federal and provincial economic development efforts. It is administered federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and provincially by the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. 

Media contact:

Josephine Cheeseman 
Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development
(709) 729-4570

Charlie Henley
PHB Group Inc.
(709) 576-8612

Patrice Cormier
Jung/Brannen Associates Inc.
(617) 482-2299

2001 11 09                           11:15 a.m.