WHR Architects Promotes Joel Colwell to Principal

HOUSTON, Texas — WHR Architects announces the promotion of Joel Colwell, AIA, to principal. Colwell joined the firm in 2004, having spent the previous 10 years on the client side as a facilities/project manager for a hospital in Louisiana.

“Joel’s strong personal understanding of the owner’s perspective has proven to be highly valuable,” said David Watkins, FAIA, WHR chairman. “His leadership on projects creates confidence in our clients, inspires his teammates, and produces superior healthcare facilities. His promotion is well-earned.”

With more than 30 years of experience, Colwell has managed large-scale, complex projects for major healthcare systems as well as challenging smaller renovations and additions — all with notable success. “WHR has been a great fit for me,” said Colwell. “The firm’s focus on client service and responsiveness really resonates with healthcare owners and administrators. It is the foundation for our relationships as trusted advisors to our clients.”

An excellent example of Colwell’s project leadership is his work for Stamford Health System in Stamford, Conn., where he has been responsible for the management of multiple projects over seven years.  Many of these projects were the result of “make way” projects implemented from the facilities master plan developed by WHR for Stamford Hospital in 2004. These projects set the stage for the development of the new specialty building on campus that includes diagnostic and treatment functions. Recently, the hospital authorized WHR to proceed with the horizontal and vertical expansion to the previously designed Diagnostic & Treatment base building, adding seven bed floors and a lobby expansion.

A graduate of Louisiana State University, where he received his bachelor of architecture degree, Colwell is a member of the American Institute of Architecture and is certified by the NCARB.

Among WHR’s recent and current healthcare projects are The Methodist Hospital Research Institute and their Outpatient Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Mid-Campus Building One, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Research Park Complex, Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences Building and Dental School — all in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Other projects include Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, New Jersey; Ocean Medical Center, Elderly Care Unit, Brick, New Jersey; University of New Mexico, Sandoval Regional Medical Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico; and The University of Texas, Health Science Center at Tyler, Texas.

WHR Architects is a full service architecture, interior design, and technology planning firm. The firm’s commitment to critical thinking is balanced by an ingrained empathy that results in both improved project outcomes and positive working experiences for their clients. With over 120 people in Houston and Dallas, Texas, Washington, DC, and New Jersey, the 32-year-old firm is working on projects throughout the US for top–tier public and private education and medical institutions. WHR was named the 2008 AIA Houston Firm of the Year and 2010 IIDA Texas/Oklahoma Pinnacle Firm of the Year.