VCBO Architecture announced today that FSC Architects has joined the firm as part of a personnel integration that took effect Nov. 1.
The move integrates FSC’s team and expertise into VCBO, building on a successful history of collaboration, complementary strengths, and shared values between the Salt Lake City-based multidisciplinary design firm and the Honolulu-based boutique hospitality practice.
The integration supports VCBO’s strategic expansion goals in Hawaii, enabling the firm to pursue new project types while strengthening design capabilities across existing markets. It also reinforces FSC team members’ ongoing work by pairing their global hospitality expertise with the resources of a large full-service architecture firm. Together, the unified team advances a shared commitment to people-focused, place-driven design.
As part of the integration, FSC founding principals James Freeman, AIA, and Benjamin Candari, AIA, have joined VCBO as principals. Candari will serve as managing principal of VCBO’s Honolulu office, guiding project delivery and team integration.
Additional FSC staff have also joined VCBO, ensuring continuity of service for existing clients and projects. FSC’s hospitality clients will remain a top priority and will continue working with the same trusted team — now backed by VCBO’s broader resources and capacity.
In the coming months, VCBO and FSC team members will relocate to a new joint office in Honolulu. The expanded team will continue managing ongoing efforts while pursuing new opportunities. Hawaii-based staff will also collaborate closely with Utah teams, contributing to VCBO’s award-winning work in other markets and building types.
“This integration strengthens our vision for Hawaii and deepens our commitment to the communities and clients we serve,” Derek Payne, principal and president of VCBO, said. “FSC brings remarkable talent in hospitality, residential, and mixed-use design — paired with a global perspective and a deep appreciation for local cultures. We are proud to unite our teams and continue building a strong, lasting VCBO presence in Hawaii.”
Aerial rendering of the BYU–Hawaii McKay Complex, a VCBO + FSC collaboration.
Strengthening a Proven Partnership
VCBO and FSC have worked closely together for several years, including on the McKay Complex at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, a transformative five-building project currently under construction at the campus core in Laie, Hawaii. The firms’ successful partnership on this and other projects in both Hawaii and Utah since helped lay the foundation for the integration.
Freeman and Candari each bring 30 years of experience in hospitality and resort master planning and design. Their work spans Hawaii, the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, and is distinguished by its focus on placemaking, cultural sensitivity, and the creation of memorable experiences. FSC’s design philosophy — designing experiences that enrich life — aligns closely with VCBO’s mission to create spaces for people to thrive.
Why This Integration Matters
The move represents a strategic milestone for VCBO and a meaningful evolution for FSC’s clients. Key benefits include:
- Expanded Opportunities in Hospitality: The FSC team has built a strong reputation in hospitality and mixed-use destination design, specifically in Hawaii and the Pacific Rim, enabling VCBO to pursue hospitality work more intentionally while complementing the firm’s existing multi-sector portfolio.
- Enhanced Design Thinking Across Markets: With specialized expertise in placemaking, cultural sensitivity, and experience-focused design, FSC will enrich VCBO’s ability to deliver meaningful, user-centric spaces across all markets.
- Integrated Capabilities From Vision to Delivery: By weaving FSC’s strengths in planning, conceptual design, and visualization with VCBO’s resources, the firm offers a more integrated and seamless delivery model for hospitality clients.
- Alignment in Mission and Philosophy: VCBO and FSC share a foundational commitment to designing spaces that uplift users, honor local context, and enrich the communities they serve.
The newly integrated VCBO Hawaii team gathers on the Honolulu coastline.
Looking Ahead: A Unified Vision for Hawaii and Beyond
The integration reinforces VCBO’s long-term investment in Hawaii and signals the firm’s commitment to building a strong, enduring presence in the region. Together, the unified team is positioned to broaden its impact, deepen relationships with local communities, and expand the range of design expertise available to clients.
“As we look toward the future of VCBO in Hawaii, we are energized by the possibilities ahead,” Candari said. “This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter — for us and for our clients.”
Contact
VCBO Marketing
marketing@vcbo.com | 801.575.8800
About VCBO Architecture
Since 1973, VCBO has delivered iconic architecture with a focus on exceptional design, innovation, and client dedication. Guided by our mission to create spaces for people to thrive, we actively contribute to the built environment through meaningful projects that strengthen communities, support client vision, and inspire those who experience them.
VCBO is consistently recognized as a top-performing firm, delivering impactful, award-winning work across the Intermountain West and beyond. The firm is currently ranked #1 in Utah Construction + Design’s Top Architectural Firms and #406 in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms. In 2024, Engineering News-Record Mountain States named VCBO its Intermountain Design Firm of the Year, underscoring the firm’s continued impact across the region and beyond.
With expertise spanning architecture, planning, interior design, and sustainability, VCBO’s portfolio includes projects in K–12 education, higher education, civic, healthcare, sports and recreation, multifamily, commercial, industrial, and religious sectors. Across all markets and project types, we are dedicated to creating enduring spaces that anchor, serve, and inspire the people and places they serve. Today, VCBO operates offices in Salt Lake City, St. George, and Honolulu.
About FSC Architects
FSC Architects is a boutique hospitality planning and design firm based in Honolulu, specializing in the creation of hotels, resorts, mixed-use destinations, and experience-driven environments. Guided by a philosophy of designing experiences that enrich life, the firm is known for its ability to craft compelling visions rooted in placemaking, cultural sensitivity, and a deep appreciation for local context.
With decades of international experience across the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, FSC brings a global perspective shaped by extensive immersion in diverse cultures and environments. The team’s expertise spans early-phase planning, conceptual design, and high-impact visualizations, helping clients articulate bold ideas and shape distinctive destinations. FSC’s work reflects a passion for creating memorable experiences and authentic places that uplift, inspire, and endure.