PDR, a Texas-based design, architecture, and consulting firm with work around the globe, is amplifying its presence in Austin by adding key leadership to its local team. Amy Collins, formerly an Associate Principal of the Houston office, has been named Principal and Director of Design of the Austin office. She joins Shawna Hills who has been promoted to Business Development Director. Emily Mehigan has also joined the firm as an Associate and Lead Designer.

Headquartered in Houston, PDR has a diverse set of clients from the world’s largest oil and gas companies and technology innovators to fintech and law firms. PDR, which focuses on interior architecture, opened its Austin office in 2017 and quickly got to work on multiple projects. The team now includes 11 employees who have backgrounds in design, architecture, brand, and project management. Current work includes law firms such as DLA Piper LLP, and McLean & Howard LLP; corporate offices for USAA, Ottobock North America, Piper Sandler and Find What Feels Good; and numerous multifamily projects for developers such as Johnson Trube & Associates, and DMA Companies.

“We are excited about our growth in Austin and the opportunities to bring PDR’s unique approach of designing first and foremost for a positive human experience and organizational success,” said Lauri Goodman Lampson, PDR President and CEO. “As the Austin area continues to grow, bringing in new companies with cross-generational workers, we look forward to growing and elevating our ability to create exceptional workplace experiences that are designed to evolve over time and bring value to clients in this market.”

PDR works with global companies, local businesses, real estate advisors and developers to redefine the high-performance workplace. From early strategy development, design and architecture to initiatives leading to occupancy, PDR looks at a client’s needs holistically and brings together architecture and design, consulting, and brand experience to improve the human experience, impact business performance and foster organizational transformation.

More about the personnel changes:

Amy Collins, Principal and Director of Design

Collins oversees the expansion of the Austin team and serves as PDR’s Director of Design, guiding projects from concept to completion. With two decades of experience in workplace design, Collins has led high profile interior projects, planned corporate campuses, and created award-winning environments that engage the people who inhabit them. She most recently worked in PDR’s Houston office as an Associate Principal.

Shawna Hills, Business Development Director

Hills’ ability to serve as a trusted advisor and relationship builder has expanded the Austin studio, where she will continue to grow the client and project roster. With an impressive 20-year background in workplace interiors, Hills’ talent, leadership, and passion for excellence have earned her a loyal following with clients, consultants, and team members. She previously served as PDR’s Regional Director.

Emily Mehigan, Associate and Lead Designer

A new hire to PDR, Emily Mehigan was previously an Interior Project Designer at Perkins + Will. Mehigan brings over 10 years of commercial design experience, ranging from corporate clients to multifamily and retail spaces around the world. She will manage and lead all phases of design and construction, combining creativity, current design trends, and industry standards with technical knowledge to ensure a beautiful and functional product.

AUSTIN (June 30, 2021) — United Properties announced today that it has begun construction on phase I of its first Austin-based project, Buda Midway, a 474,000 sq. ft. Class A industrial development located on Fire Cracker Drive in Buda, Texas. The development will ultimately encompass 800,000 sq. ft. when completed.

“Buda Midway is exactly the kind of high-caliber project we’ve been planning to pursue from the very start,” said Josh Delk, senior vice president, Austin commercial development, whose appointment was announced in April 2020 with the opening of the United Properties – Austin office.

“Demand for industrial real estate in Central Texas is extremely high and space is very limited, with not enough industrial product on the ground or in the pipeline to satisfy near-term demand,” Delk said. “Buda Midway, which will ultimately include over 800,000 sq. ft. of Class A, institutional-grade warehouse and manufacturing facilities, will be well-positioned to take advantage of strong market conditions with an unrivaled location in Buda, in close proximity to Austin while also offering the ability to service the flourishing suburbs in Hays County, south of Austin.”

He added that the project offers excellent means of ingress and egress, access to major highways, high visibility from Interstate 35 and proximity to restaurants and retail. “We’re also very proud of the building design with its clean aesthetic, which will provide a fine front door for high-quality tenants in the market,” Delk said.

Phase I of the Buda Midway project will contain three buildings on 35.88 acres totaling just over 474,000 sq. ft. Buildings 1 and 2 will feature a rear-load design, each at 115,090 sq. ft. Building 3 will offer a cross-dock design at 244,285 sq. ft. with an expected completion date of the first part of 2022. Phase II, which will be completed at a later date, will include up to an additional three buildings with another 326,000 sq. ft. available on the site.

Buda Midway is located at the crossroads of IH-35 and SH-45, offering quick and easy access to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, every major Texas highway and cities such as Austin, Round Rock and Temple to the north; and San Marcos, New Braunfels and San Antonio to the south. The site is in close proximity to a variety of amenities, including restaurants, hotels and shopping. Once finished, the buildings will provide 30’-36’ clear heights and ample dock doors and trailer parking, as well as 200-plus parking spots, including car charging stations.

“We’re applying thoughtful design to Buda Midway to ensure it enhances the surrounding community, including an architectural plan that includes beautiful design and landscaping with plenty of greenery and retention ponds,” said Delk. “We believe Buda Midway complements the city itself. We’re confident it will become an integral part of the economic and social fabric of the community — a good neighbor providing jobs and giving back.”

“Buda has strived to provide more employment opportunities for our residents and those in the surrounding area,” said Traci Anderson, Buda Economic Development Corporation (EDC) executive director. “United Properties is bringing a high-quality development to Buda that will give people the opportunity to work closer to home.”

Buda Midway is part of a joint-venture partnership between United Properties and PCCP, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment and management firm, that plans to develop an 11-building industrial portfolio in Minneapolis, Denver and Austin.

Project partners include Aquila Commercial, Kimley-Horn Design and Engineering Consultants, Powers Brown Architecture, RC Page Construction and Hitchcock Design Group. For more information, visit budamidway.com.

Since United Properties announced its market entry in April 2020 with Delk’s appointment, the Austin team has grown to include Chris Mase, vice president, construction management, and Brenda Studt, development manager. United Properties – Austin opened a new headquarters office at 1617 West 6th Street, Austin, in December 2020.

Delk indicated that he and his team are working on several fronts, from industrial development to mixed-use and residential, throughout Austin and the surrounding areas.

“We’ve been here just a little over a year, and despite the challenges we’ve faced with the pandemic, we are full steam ahead, beginning with Buda Midway — with more to come,” he said.