Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 30, 2015– WHR Architects, one of the nation’s leading healthcare architecture practices, announced the expansion of the firm with the addition of Hank Burns and Ehsan Salarikhaniki. Burns, a project architect, and Salarikhaniki, an intern medical planner, join the expanding Raleigh office to assist in advancing WHR’s industry thought leadership and high level of healthcare design innovation and service.

With more than eight years of experience, Burns will facilitate consultant coordination and oversee construction documentation. Prior to joining WHR, he worked with research laboratories, higher education, civic, healthcare and religious facility clients at Raymond W. Hill, Jr. Architecture & Associates in Mauldin, South Carolina; BJAC, PA and Flad Architects in Raleigh; and Lord, Aeck & Sargent in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After growing up throughout the Southeast, Burns received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, and his master’s degree in architecture from North Carolina State University. Active in the industry, he is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Building Enclosure Council. He resides in Raleigh with his wife and son.

Salarikhaniki comes to WHR having recently completed a medical planning internship at SmithGroupJJR in Washington, D.C. In this position, he will assist the WHR team in medical and master planning, as well as schematic, conceptual and parametric design. A native of Iran, Salarikhaniki ranked second in the Iranian university entrance national exam among 17,401 participants, and received his master’s degree in industrial design from the University of Tehran. He completed postgraduate work in digital architecture in Barcelona, Spain, and received his master’s degree in architecture and health from Clemson University. He is actively involved in Clemson’s architecture and health alumni organization and resides in Raleigh with his wife.

At the Raleigh office, Burns and Salarikhaniki join healthcare studio leaders Michelle McNutt AIA, LEED® AP BD+C, senior associate; Terence McCabe, AIA, CSI, LEED® AP, senior associate; and Charles Griffin, AIA, FACHA, EDAC. The team maintains more than two decades of experience working with leading North Carolina healthcare and research institutions including East Carolina University, Morehead Memorial Hospital, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Randolph Hospital, REX Healthcare, Sampson Regional Medical Center, Triangle Physician Network, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, UNC Healthcare and multiple UNC Hospitals.

ABOUT WHR:

WHR, based in Houston, Texas, with additional offices in Dallas, Raleigh, New York City and Copenhagen, Denmark, is the healthcare practice group of EYP, Inc., currently ranked No. 1 in healthcare renovation and the 13th largest healthcare design practice in the United States. WHR’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 180 people, the healthcare practice group is working on projects worldwide for top tier public and private education and medical institutions. For more information about WHR Architects, visit http://www.whrarchitects.com.

(end)