Vernon G. Henry & Associates, founded in 1967, is Houston’s oldest land planning firm
HOUSTON, November 3, 2008 – TBG Partners, Texas’ largest landscape architecture and planning firm, has merged with Vernon G. Henry & Associates (VHA), an urban land planning firm established in Houston in 1967 by Mary Lou and Vernon Henry. VHA’s current employees will be relocating to TBG’s Houston office, increasing the staff to 35 and enabling the company to significantly expand its portfolio in services such as comprehensive city and regional planning, site selection and land use analysis. For development projects, the merger signifies enhanced integration of site planning and landscape architecture to create totally-integrated, cohesive environments.
“We are thrilled to add this great company to our TBG family. Their depth of knowledge in the Houston community cannot be equaled, and their long track record of key clients and dedicated employees add so much value to our company,” said Bill Odle, ASLA, managing principal of TBG Partners’ Houston office. “Vernon G. Henry & Associates is one of the most respected planning firms in Houston, and it is our top priority to maintain this reputation.”
Mary Lou and Vernon Henry have had substantive planning and urban consulting experience for both private developers and public agencies throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Japan, Latin America, Saudi Arabia and Western Europe totaling more than two million acres. Both have had leadership roles with the American Planning Association (APA) and the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and each has been inducted into the elite membership of AICP’s College of Fellows. Mary Lou is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Planning Award from APA, and Vernon is former president of APA’s Texas-Louisiana Chapter.
“Mary Lou and Vernon will remain very active in the merged firm. I’ve had the honor and privilege to have known and worked with them both for more than 30 years and look forward to incorporating their company’s extensive urban planning experience into our four Texas offices,” said Earl Broussard, founder and president of TBG Partners. “The agreement we’ve come to is perfect because we share the same values – to provide extraordinary talent, superior service and consistent value to our clients. VHA’s diverse experience will support our goal of creating great projects to enhance urban spaces, community interaction and an awareness of the land.”
ABOUT TBG PARTNERS
As Texas’ largest landscape architecture and planning firm, TBG Partners designs mixed-use and residential communities, corporate campuses, civic buildings, resorts, healthcare and educational facilities, city parks and historic sites. With a strong commitment to the advancement of sustainable design principles, TBG encourages its employees to become LEED Accredited Professionals and its clients to utilize green building practices for their projects. Established in 1987, TBG has offices in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. For more information, please visit http://www.tbg-inc.com.
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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191