Generational Equity Advises Caron Architecture in its Sale to AXIS/GFA Architecture + Design

By Generational Group

03/07/2023

Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client Caron Architecture LLC to AXIS/GFA Architecture + Design. The acquisition closed March 1, 2023.

Located in Seattle, Washington, Caron Architecture (Caron) is a full-service architecture firm that provides simple and elegant designs for a wide variety of national and international clients. Founded in 2002, Caron offers particular expertise in multi-family residential, hotel, and mixed-use/commercial architectural design, as well as pre-development and master planning technical services.

AXIS/GFA Architecture + Design, headquartered in San Francisco, California, and founded in 2001, AXIS/GFA Architecture + Design is an award-winning full-service international architecture and design firm with studios in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle, and satellite offices in Las Vegas, Boston and Hawaii. Although an all-industry firm, AXIS/GFA Architecture + Design offers particular expertise in hospitality design, hotel architecture, hospitality facility renovations, and multi-family residential architectural design.

The agreement will see Caron Architecture rebrand and become AXIS/GFA’s new Seattle studio. The acquisition is the latest milestone in AXIS/GFA’s ongoing growth and expansion along the West Coast, and further positions the firm as one of the most widely-practiced hotel and multi-family residential architectural design firms in the Western United States.

The integration of Caron to the AXIS/GFA brand extends AXIS/GFA’s reach into the Pacific Northwest. The acquisition of Caron’s Seattle studio effectively positions AXIS/GFA to now service clients across the entire Western United States and Hawaii.

In addition to increasing the firm’s geographic reach, the acquisition leverages Caron’s noted multi-family residential design expertise, supplementing the capabilities of AXIS/GFA’s well-established and award-winning hospitality and multi-family design practices.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” states AXIS/GFA Founding Principal Architect and CEO Cory Creath.  “Caron complements AXIS/GFA’s strategic plans in a number of ways. Considering their core expertise, adding their studio to our firm increases the capabilities and competitiveness of our multi-family residential practice.  Given their location, Caron immediately adds an established presence for AXIS/GFA in the Pacific Northwest.”

In addition to enjoying complementary strengths by way of their practice expertise, AXIS/GFA and Caron also enrich each other through their shared belief in client success through trusted relationships.

“I’ve always been proud of how Caron distinguished ourselves by striving to be our clients’ greatest advocate,” states Radim Blazej, Founding Principal Architect at Caron Architecture. “Seeing now how AXIS/GFA embraces a similar culture as ours, I’m confident this partnership is set for success.”

Radim Blazej will continue to lead the team in Seattle as AXIS/GFA’s new Principal and local Studio Director.

Generational Equity Executive Managing Director of M&A – Western Region, Stephen Crisham, and his team, led by Senior M&A Advisor, Paul Hajek, with support from Managing Director – M&A, Chad Comroe, successfully closed the deal. Executive Managing Director and Group Leader Randy Kamin established the initial relationship with Caron.

“This strategic acquisition will give AXIS/GFA a firm hold in the Greater Seattle market where Caron has been successfully operating for over two decades. The acquisition process was very smooth with both parties sharing the excitement of what the future holds,” said Hajek.