Creative Brief

Founded in 1979, Ann Beha Architects (ABA) became Annum Architects in 2022. Building on ABA’s accomplishments and a new generation of leadership, Annum continues a remarkable legacy and points toward the future. Our firm’s transformative work explores the dialogue between historic and contemporary architecture and is rooted, like its new name, in the idea of time. 

Rebranding this Boston-based firm with a rich 40-year history involved a robust and carefully-phased plan, transitioning from an eponymous firm – founded by a renowned industry trailblazer – into a minority-owned studio devoted to collective leadership and voices. Following a thorough strategy process and visioning workshops, the concept of “Your place in time” was developed to address the practice’s spirit of collaboration with clients, its approach to timeless and sustainable designs, and the creation of buildings bridging the past and future. The new chosen name of Annum – meaning “in or for each year” – evokes these principles.

Annum’s rebranding coincided with an office to Downtown Boston. With historic city views, the branding was infused into the physical space, prominently displayed on two blocks of window supergraphics.

The carefully orchestrated rollout included an animation for ABA’s homepage, announcing “Ann Beha Architects is now Annum Architects”, redirecting visitors to the new website. Email announcements, social media, industry publications, office tours, and an Open House also helped spread our news.

We believe our complex rebrand campaign deserves a Brand Awareness Award due to the challenges we encountered, the solutions implemented, and our stylish and holistic execution.