EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Ratcliff added healthcare architect Gert D. Thorn, RA, AIA, NCARB, LEED, to the firm as a principal and architect Joseph A. Nicola as director of the firm's academic practice. Additionally, the firm promoted Heidi Bilodeau to director of marketing. Ratcliff (http://www.ratcliffarch.com/) provides a broad array of architectural, interior design and planning services to healthcare, academic and civic clients throughout the Western United States.

"Gert and Joseph are exciting additions to our leadership team and their expertise enhances our healthcare and academic practices," said Christopher P. Ratcliff, AIA, NCARB, LEED(R), president. "Heidi has been a dedicated member of the Ratcliff team for many years and is uniquely qualified to lead our marketing efforts."

Gert D. Thorn has more than 25 years of design and nationally recognized project leadership experience. At Ratcliff, he will be responsible for business development and project leadership for the healthcare practice group. Prior to joining Ratcliff, he was managing principal of Perkins + Will's New York office. Earlier in his career, Thorn managed Cannon Design's Buffalo and New York City offices and was the director of Skidmore, Owings & Merill's New York office. He earned his bachelor's degree in architecture from Pratt Institute and is a registered architect in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland.

An award-winning and internationally-recognized architect, Joseph Nicola is the director of Ratcliff's academic practice. His current projects include: expansion and renovation of Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley and master plan and new education building at Monterey Peninsula College. Prior to joining Ratcliff, Nicola designed academic, mixed-use, recreational, office, and retail projects, including an historic addition and renovation to the Olympic Club in San Francisco, as studio director at Hornberger + Worstell and director of architecture and design for PAE International Japan. He earned his bachelor's degrees in environmental design and architecture from the University of Michigan in 1980. Nicola is a registered architect in California and Massachusetts and is a member of the Society for College and University Planners.

Heidi Bilodeau's role as director of marketing encompasses brand management and coordination of business development strategies with principals for Ratcliff's healthcare, academic and civic practice area groups. She was promoted from her role as marketing operations manager following five years of service with the firm. Prior to working at Ratcliff, Bilodeau was marketing director for Smith & Smith Landscape. She also worked for the Exploratorium in various capacities. Bilodeau is Ratcliff's Alliance Coordinator for the Global Design Alliance (www.globalda.com). She earned her bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1993.

Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Ratcliff is the winner of the 2005 Firm of the Year Award from the American Institute of Architects- California Council. The third-generation architectural, planning and interiors firm employs a staff of 75 design professionals and is dedicated to designing sustainable structures in healthy balance with time, purpose and place. Ratcliff's current projects of note include the program, remodel and expansion of John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California; seismic corrections and programmatic improvements to the Doe Library Annex at University of California, Berkeley; and the design of a new fire station in Yuba City, California. Visit www.ratcliffarch.com for more information.

Source: Ratcliff

CONTACT: Liz O'Hara of Ratcliff, , or
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Web site: http://www.ratcliffarch.com/