HOLLYWOOD, Calif., May 17, 2007 -- 5+DESIGN, shop designer for RCI newbuilds, has evolved from a modest startup just two years ago this month to a substantial and successful global architectural practice.

The protagonists are the five founding partners, Arthur Benedetti, Michael Ellis, Stan Hathaway, Tim Magill and David Moreno, who after working together for 20 plus years in a large firm, set out on their own to establish a highly collaborative design studio.

Today, with over 60 people in offices in Hollywood and Hong Kong, the partners are busy leading teams of international designers on over 20 projects in sixteen cities on four continents. Instead of the houses and renovation projects that are the typical fare for a new firm, 5+DESIGN began to work immediately on large-scale, mixed-use projects. While the partners' reputation for creating memorable environments initially attracted a number of leading international developers -- from Paris to Abu Dhabi to Macau -- it is their model of global practice that has given the firm its remarkable momentum.

"When distinctiveness creates competitive advantage, a singular vision is no longer enough. The global marketplace demands a more complex model that incorporates multiple points of view, an understanding of culture and history, and the talent and experience of multi-disciplined, international teams working together," says Tim Magill. "The best solutions are always greater than individuals," adds Arthur Benedetti. "Our practice evolves ideas quickly and effectively, with the varied perspectives adding validity to our design."

5+DESIGN's current portfolio combines an increasingly sophisticated mix of uses that move beyond the retail and entertainment or "placemaking" projects that dominated international development in the recent past. Currently, the firm has over 6,000 residential units in design, along with hotels, office buildings, and other uses that are integrated with retail into true mixed-use environments. "Our work today is placemaking plus," says David Moreno. "We are building real communities where people will live. It is critical that we find the emotional heart for these places architecturally."

Keeping pace with the exceptional growth has put pressure on the firm in several ways. One of the realities of an international practice is that the partners are constantly on the road. "We are global citizens these days," notes Michael Ellis. "We are fully engaged with our clients no matter where they are. More than that, we empathize with their need for social connection, attachment, and enjoyment in the places we are developing for them and with them."

Attracting and retaining the kind of talented architects the firm needs to design and deliver the more than 20 million square feet of project work worldwide is another challenge. Stan Hathaway believes the 5+DESIGN work culture and environment have made a significant difference in the firm's success at recruiting in the current tight market for architects. "We established an upbeat, positive work environment where there is a sincere emphasis on communication and collaboration. By respecting the talents and

opinions of everyone who works here we have created an office that nurtures people and gives them opportunities to grow," he says.

As the first projects designed by the firm begin to open, there is a palpable excitement in the office. Successful projects will confirm the soundness of the decisions made by the partners when they launched their enterprise and early reviews are positive. Current work includes Al Wateed at Al Raha Beach and Al Raha Gardens, both mixed-use projects in Abu Dhabi; residentially anchored urban mixed-use at Harbour Mile in Macau; Luxe Hills, a suburban residential and a mixed-use project in Chengdu, China; casino and retail interiors for several next generation cruise ships for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, as well as projects in Dubai, Cairo, Shanghai, Beijing, and the US.