Sydney data centre designer Greenbox Architecture acquired by US multinational Woolpert

Greenbox Architecture, a full-service firm that has worked on the likes of Monash IVF's (ASX: MVF) flagship facility and NEXTDC's (ASX: NXT) most recently built Sydney data centre, has been acquired by US-headquartered Woolpert for an undisclosed sum.

With a diverse wheelhouse of expertise including workplace interiors, commercial architecture, health and life sciences, residential and data-centre design, Sydney-headquartered Greenbox Architecture has 70 staff and has also worked on architecture and interior design for Moderna’s groundbreaking mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Victoria.

This is not Woolpert's first foray into Australia, having acquired geospatial services company AAM in 2021, which has offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, as well as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Like Greenbox, Ohio-based Woolpert also specialises in data-centre design, following its acquisition of Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects (SNHA) in 2022 with a footprint in the US and the UK.

Greenbox CEO Andrew Owens says he wanted to join an organisation with an agile, entrepreneurial culture where Greenbox would have impact and a voice in shaping architecture strategy to advance the industry.

"By joining a tech-driven company like Woolpert, we will be able to accelerate growth in AI, optimisation, 3D modeling, and other related technologies," says Owens, who has led the firm since its inception in 2009.

"But also, we want to continue to have fun. We want our people to do work they love in an environment where they can thrive. We found that in Woolpert."

Woolpert president Neil Churman says cultural alignment was a key consideration in joining forces, noting Greenbox and Woolpert are both certified by Great Place to Work and share an emphasis on staff satisfaction.

"From our first meeting with Andrew and the Greenbox team, it was clear that their values are aligned with ours," Churman says.

"Like Woolpert, they are focused on a balanced approach toward industry leadership, high performance, and creating an outstanding employee experience for their team."

He claims the acquisition will further establish Woolpert as a global leader in data-centre design and geospatial solutions.

"Andrew and the Greenbox team have established themselves as the clear Asia-Pacific market leader in data centre design and solidify our ability to deliver design and geospatial solutions on a truly global scale to the mission critical industry," Churman adds.

"Data centres have become essential infrastructure supporting nearly all aspects of our daily lives, and we’re focused on better supporting our clients as they continue to expand globally."