Architizer: CannonDesign is a model for strategic firm growth
June 15, 2026
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Through a recent series of acquisitions, CannonDesign has made a clear case for growth as a means of deepening design capability rather than simply expanding scale.
Architizer has published a new piece that dives deeper into the strategic vision behind CannonDesign's recent growth and acquisition streak.
Titled, "Inside CannonDesign's acquisition of Ennead Architects - And What it Reveals About the Future of Practice," the Q+A article features commentary from our CEO, Brad Lukanic, and Executive Director of Design, David Polzin. The duo share their vision for CannonDesign and the impact metrics that have fueled our eight acquisitions over the past two years.
Testimonials
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CannonDesign is on a mission to fundamentally shift what it means to be an architecture firm and recharge design. We are focused on progress. We are willing to lead the industry. And, we are committed to never standing still.
Brad Lukanic, AIA, LEED CEO
The piece starts with focus on our recent acquisitions of Ennead Architects and Cityfi, and then looks toward the larger forces impacting the architecture and design profession.
"The profession is in the midst of rapid change," Architizer acknowledges. "New technologies are reshaping how we design, clients are asking for things they never used to, and the expertise required to deliver a single project keeps widening. Faced with all this, more and more firms are rethinking what growth should really look like, and whether the way they expand might itself be in service of better design."
Then the piece fully embraces its Q+A format, featuring commentary from Brad and David.
Testimonials
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We have been clear-eyed since day one that Ennead is not a business move for growth’s sake. This is a force multiplier for both of us that is calibrated and strategic.
David Polzin, AIA, LEED AP Design Executive Director
In the wake of the Ennead news, CannonDesign has also been featured in articles from Architectural Record and The Architect's Newspaper that dive into growth strategy and succession planning.
Our firm is proudly focused on fundamentally shifting how architecture firms serve clients and society. As Brad makes clear in the Architizer piece, "To realize our greatest potential, we need to continue to grow, to invest, to scale and to empower people in new ways."
