In a “case of right creative partner, right place and right time,” design firm DLR Group has added to its strong Midwest, national and international presence by welcoming as a strategic partner Cleveland-based Westlake Reed Leskosky. “The term ‘peer firm’ tends to be tossed around loosely,” says Griff Davenport, DLR Group’s chief executive officer. “As we went through this process, it became readily apparent that within our firms is a clear cultural alignment. The common foundations are a commitment to the benefits of an integrated design process, supported by a dedication to design excellence and the sustainability goals of Architecture 2030.” Westlake Reed Leskosky “has been seeking to join a firm of like beliefs and values to increase the distribution of our design expertise,” says managing director Paul Westlake, who has been appointed to the DLR Group board of directors. His former firm’s office in Cleveland, as well as those in Charlotte and New York, will operate as DLR Group|Westlake Reed Leskosky. Office mergers will take place in other markets nationaly and internationally.