Building Nevada - July 2005

Big A, Little E

Blakely Johnson & Ghusn Shifting Focus

by Doresa Banning

In Northern Nevada, Barnes & Noble.com’s warehouse, Intuit’s office park and a Walgreen’s retail store, and in Southern Nevada, Scott Drake Enterprises’ manufacturing/distribution facility, the Silverado Business Park and the Cheyenne Distribution Center are the architectural creations of Blakely Johnson & Ghusn Inc. (BJG).

BJG is a Reno-based corporation that provides both architecture and engineering, with an emphasis on architecture. However, in the firm’s early days it only provided structural engineering. The focus shift from engineering to architecture has largely directed the company’s evolution. "We’re still struggling with the perception that we’re a structural engineering firm," said Peter Blakely, BJG’s president.

The three founders, Mike Blakely, Cliff Johnson and George Ghusn, formed BJG in 1992 when they combined their firms, C.H. Johnson Structural Engineers and Mike Blakely Structural Engineer. "The merger provided economies of scale," Blakely said. The company offered only structural engineering services until 1998, when it added architecture and civil engineering departments and subsequently, the tagline: Engineering and Architecture. Consequently, local architects viewed BJG as competitors and stopped sending them work. "We had to change our focus from consulting to architects to developing owner/user clients," Blakely said. "We had two really disruptive years."

Once back on track, BJG modified its internal leadership structure. Rather than managing its then 20 employees as a group, it divided them into teams, each supervised by a different leader. "It was a necessary change," Blakely said.

Soon after, the dot-coms imploded. "We had done projects for Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and suddenly that sector completely dried up," Blakely said. Consequently, in 2000, unlike any other year in BJG’s history, profits were minimal.

Then in 2002, BJG opened an office in Henderson to more easily serve its Southern Nevada clients. Ed DeLorenzo now oversees operations there.

By 2004, the firm’s architectural output had surpassed its structural engineering output. So the company’s tagline was changed to: Architecture and Engineering. "We used to say ‘Big E, Little A,’ but now we’re getting closer to where the architecture is driving most of our projects," Blakely said. "Changing the tagline makes a difference internally, then the public follows."

Today, BJG designs buildings and sites for commercial, retail, industrial, manufacturing and warehouse uses. Its largest market overall is industrial, with office a close second. The company also consults in civil engineering, site planning and developer assistance.

With clients in Nevada, California, Utah, Oregon and Arizona, BJG’s work spans the western United States. Annually, the company takes on about 300 to 400 projects, both small and large. Some in progress, for example, include designing a prototype fire station for Clark County, a Dayton retail facility, a community services campus for the city of Reno and a South Meadows warehouse/manufacturing plant.

Last year, reaching nearly 40 employees, BJG outgrew its Caughlin Ranch offices. It seized the opportunity to showcase its architectural skills by designing its new facility. The result is a modern 20,000-square-foot, two-story building at the Sierra Executive Center Park in south Reno. "We’re very proud of this building," Blakely said. "It’s changing the perception that we’re only a structural engineering firm."

BJG’s board of directors is comprised of the original three principals, plus Peter Blakely, Ed DeLorenzo and Jeff Turnipseed. For the future, the board envisions continued growth, opening a California office and taking on more public works projects. "We’re at the stage where we need more diversity of product type to improve stability," Blakely said.

Finally, the corporation will continue to enhance and promote its architectural side. "Our architectural staff is talented," Blakely said. "Getting that perception out to the marketplace is the next big step."

Doresa Banning
Doresa Banning is a freelance writer based in Northern Nevada.