After more than 35 years of devoted service, Weld Ransom, CID, will retire from PlanForce at the end of January. He will be sorely missed, and his achievements will not be forgotten.
Weld founded the eponymous Weld Ransom Design in 1984. The firm began as the space planning resource for international developers Kajama and MEPC. In 1999, he began working with architecture firm WCL Associates, expanding the two companies’ services to include commercial real estate consultation, master planning, and tenant improvement, in addition to the interior design and architectural services for which they were well known.
In 2014, Weld Ransom Design rebranded as PlanForce and, the next year, acquired longtime-partner WCL Associates, bringing the experience of talented architects, designers, and marketers under one roof as a full-service creative firm driven to help clients get more out of their real estate assets. In January 2020, PlanForce became employee-owned, and as part of the transition, Weld agreed to remain with PlanForce for a year. He will continue to work on select projects and will serve on the company’s board of directors for the foreseeable future.
“Weld has been a mentor to many, and his influence has made an indelible impact on everyone at the firm, as well as the hundreds of Minnesota companies whose workspaces he has touched over the course of his long career. I want to thank Weld for all he’s done for our company and the community,” said PlanForce president Ryan Schroeder, AIA.
Elizabeth Lari, CID, who has been with the firm since 2015, will step into the role of Director of Interior Design. She is a Certified Interior Designer with more than a decade of professional experience. Her work is focused on tenant improvement and helping businesses create spaces that foster employee engagement and workplace culture.
“While no one can replace Weld, I look forward to working with our talented team to continue his mission of helping companies design places where people and business can thrive,” says Elizabeth.
Please join the entire PlanForce team in wishing Weld the best as he starts this new chapter in his active life. We know he is eager to catch up on the traveling, singing, and baking he loves so much. A formal retirement party will be announced once social distancing requirements allow larger gatherings.
Weld has been a mentor to many, and his influence has made an indelible impact on everyone at the firm, as well as the hundreds of Minnesota companies whose workspaces he has touched over the course of his long career.
Ryan Schroeder, AIA
