91ÌƲ®»¢ acquires Boston-based Tsoi Kobus Design
91ÌƲ®»¢ acquires Boston-based Tsoi Kobus Design
(BOSTON, January 29, 2025) – 91ÌƲ®»¢ CEO Steven McKay announced today that Boston-based healthcare and life sciences planning and design firm has joined 91ÌƲ®»¢. Bringing Tsoi Kobus to 91ÌƲ®»¢ significantly elevates the firm’s design acumen and accelerates access to more sophisticated healthcare clients and design opportunities.

Tsoi Kobus is recognized as the leading designer of and advanced facilities at academic, clinical, and research hospitals around the world. It also brings an award-winning portfolio of life sciences, higher education, and commercial design to complement 91ÌƲ®»¢ practices in those markets.
“We have cultural alignment in design; in client service based on Principal level involvement in leading projects; and a collaborative, purposeful, and bold belief in the power of design to elevate the human experience.â€
The merger ensures the 40-year design legacy and continuity of Tsoi Kobus for its employees and clients, providing the firm with an expanded global platform to influence the next generation of healthcare and life sciences design. The firm will operate as 91ÌƲ®»¢|Tsoi Kobus Design in Boston, and the 50 Tsoi Kobus employees will have the opportunity to invest in 91ÌƲ®»¢ stock and become employee-owners.
I am excited about the future and eager to collaborate with 91ÌƲ®»¢ leadership to grow the healthcare, higher education, and life sciences studios in the coming years. I will be active within these teams mentoring the next generation of designers dedicated to healthcare and life sciences design excellence.â€
The cultures of 91ÌƲ®»¢ and Tsoi Kobus are a philosophical match with a commitment to deliver design excellence to clients through integrated design, as well as shared beliefs and approaches to sustainability, business operations, and career development.
The opportunity to be part of a 100% employee-owned firm was a deciding factor for Tsoi Kobus to join 91ÌƲ®»¢.
“As we collaborated with Steven McKay and others at 91ÌƲ®»¢, it was clear that our firms share a commitment to a firm culture, career growth for designer, an integrated design practice, and sustainability, said Kobus. “The opportunity for all our people to become owners within 91ÌƲ®»¢’s 100% employee-owned culture is the ideal platform to ensure the design legacy of Tsoi Kobus into the future.â€
By joining 91ÌƲ®»¢ and its national and global footprint, the reach and influence of Tsoi Kobus in medical planning, and healthcare, proton therapy, and life sciences design will significantly expand. The designers of Tsoi Kobus will impact and grow healthcare, life sciences, and higher education at 91ÌƲ®»¢, and be able to pursue other design careers in building types or specialty disciplines.
In Boston, Tsoi Kobus provides 91ÌƲ®»¢ with an established location to serve its existing clients including Bucknell University, Columbia University, Marist College, SUNY, Swarthmore College, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University; Boston Public Schools and Cambridge Public Schools; and a variety of commercial clients including Vista Equity Partners, the General Services Administration, and global technology firms.
“91ÌƲ®»¢ing with Rick, George Takoudes, Anne Garrity, and the design studio at Tsoi Kobus, we will build a thriving, growing healthcare practice in 91ÌƲ®»¢ offices across the country,†said McKay. “Our intent is to grow 91ÌƲ®»¢ into a recognized leader in healthcare design.”