While design firm Populous only announced last week that it had acquired Denver-based Fentress Architects, the Kansas City, Mo., company had been exploring the possibility of the purchase for more than a decade, according to those involved in the recent deal.

“Our history together goes back 10 or 12 years,” recalls Bruce Miller, Populous CEO. “We had conversations, but nothing was worked out at the time.… It’s been a progression to this point, and we both see a value of a combination of two firms as we go to market in the U.S. and globally.”

The acquisition will preserve Fentress Architects within Populous as Fentress Studios, a Populous company. Curtis Fentress, the architect’s co-founder and principal and its Chairman and Principal Agatha Kessler will join the Populous global holdings board, and will retain their roles at Fentress Studios. “But other than that it’s business as usual,” says Miller. 

The companies have chosen not to disclose the financial terms of the deal.

Bruce Miller

“Everyone is excited about going to Populous,” says Curtis Fentress. “We can charge out into the aviation world as one. For Fentress, it’s more opportunity to do business around the world, and with what Populous has done to date in providing design services for airports, it’s a chance [for us] to do some exciting new innovative design.”

Populous ranks at No. 57 on the ENR 2025 Top 500 Design Firms list. Fentress ranks at at No. 290.

A Strong Aviation Market

This combination of design firms comes at a time when the global aviation market is expanding, and both firms were seeing opportunities grow beyond what they could handle alone, says Miller. “We see a very strong Americas region market and strong global market, and from my point of view we will address both.”

Curtis Fentress

“I see the same thing,” agrees Fentress. “Everyone is taking to the skies more than before … we’re seeing the numbers climb dramatically. In the U.S. they’re having to revamp the systems for directing traffic to airports, spacing out the airplanes more because there’s so much traffic. There’s a need for expansion of gates in almost every airport in America.”

Miller also expects that Congress will continue to fund air safety measures and upgrades, despite recent disruptions at the Federal Aviation Administration and possible budget cuts. “What we’re seeing in the U.S. is when it comes to safety of American citizens, Congress will still be putting money out to do those things. They will get money out there for the radar system that needs an overhaul in the U.S.”

A Single Practice

Reaction from the firms’ clients to the acquisition has been largely positive, says Miller and Fentress. “For our current clients they can expect continuity, and will see noting but enhancement to the services we provide,” says Miller.

“We contacted all of our clients as we went through this transition, and they are all glad we joined in with Populous and are a much bigger firm—it allows us more horsepower, as it were,” explains Fentress.

For now, as the companies sort out the rebranding, Miller says different projects may list Fentress or Populous as the designer, or a combination of the two. But it’s a single practice, he adds. “We are one company now, you won’t see us pursuing work separately. As we approach projects as one firm, we will look for the best opportunity with the best people as we are in one practice together.”

Fentress agrees. “It’s really an opportunity to go back to that old adage: nobody is as smart as all of us.”