Indianapolis, Indiana – August 28, 2025 – MD Architects, a specialized architecture and interior design firm celebrated for its work in veterinary and human healthcare, is proud to announce its transition to a 100% employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). This strategic move ensures the firm’s long-term independence and acknowledges the instrumental role employees have played in its past and future success.
The shift to an ESOP positions every eligible employee as an owner, directly tying their dedication and hard work to the company’s performance and financial growth. This new structure is a testament to the firm’s commitment to its people and a natural extension of its collaborative culture.
Rick Renschen, Founder and President of MD Architects, shares what this major milestone means to him: “Becoming an ESOP is one of the most meaningful milestones in my career. This firm has been my life’s work, something I’ve nurtured from the ground up, through challenges and triumphs, alongside an extraordinary team. I could have chosen to pass the company to my son, and that would have been an honorable path. But I realized that the legacy I want to leave is bigger than one family—it’s about the family we’ve built here together.
I’m entrusting MD to the very people whose dedication, creativity, and passion have shaped its success. It’s a way of saying, “This is yours now. Our future is in your hands.” I feel immense pride knowing that our culture, values, and vision will not only endure but will grow stronger, carried forward by the collective ownership of the people who love this company as much as I do.”
Rick Renschen, Founder and President of MD Architects.
What This Means for Our Employees
An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that holds company stock on behalf of the employees. This means that every eligible employee now has a direct stake in the company’s growth and profitability. As the company thrives, so do the employees’ retirement accounts. This development fosters a powerful culture of shared success, ownership, and direct involvement in the firm’s future.
Rick reflects on how this change impacts our people, “For our team, the ESOP transition means more than just a change in ownership structure—it’s a shift in mindset. Every employee now has a direct stake in the company’s success, creating a stronger sense of pride, accountability, and shared purpose.
As owners, the team benefits not only from the satisfaction of building something together but also from the financial rewards of our collective growth. This transition reinforces our commitment to collaboration, transparency, and long-term stability, ensuring that the culture we’ve built together continues to thrive well into the future.”
Sharing the exciting ESOP news with the entire team at the firm’s annual summer party.
Moving Forward: What Changes
For our valued clients, partners, and the wider industry, our day-to-day operations will remain consistent and unchanged.
• Our Name and Brand: MD Architects will continue to operate under the same name and brand identity.
• Our Leadership: The current leadership team will remain in place, guiding the firm’s strategic direction and upholding our commitment to design excellence.
• Our Services: We will continue to deliver the same high-quality, specialized architectural and interior design services for the human healthcare and animal care industries.
The biggest shift is an even stronger culture of collaboration and ownership. With every employee now having a vested interest in our collective success, we anticipate an even greater drive for innovation, efficiency, and exceptional client service.
“Making the firm an ESOP means our future will be built on shared ownership, shared responsibility, and shared success,” says Rick. “It ensures the firm remains independent, stable, and true to our mission, no matter how the industry changes. With every team member now an owner, we’re aligning our goals and rewards, strengthening collaboration, and fostering innovation.
This transition safeguards our culture, keeps decision-making in the hands of people who know and love the business, and positions us for sustainable growth for decades to come. Our future will be shaped by the collective passion and commitment of everyone who calls MD their professional home.”
About MD Architects
We’re a full-service, relationship-based architecture firm providing design solutions to the veterinary and human healthcare industries. It’s our mission to elevate care through design. We know and understand that your clients and team must be able to move comfortably and efficiently within a space.
MDA’s priority remains to listen closely to your needs, aspirations, and pressures, anticipating and developing customized solutions that are the right fit for your business. For over 25 years, our combined team of animal care architects, designers, and project managers has walked clients through every step of the process – from conceptual designs to final inspections in construction administration.
Contact: Brooke Heckenberg
Marketing Manager
MD Architects
brookeh@mdarchitects.com
317-558-2822
www.mdarchitects.com
Written By MD Architects
MD Architects is a full-service, relationship-based firm dedicated to providing superior planning, design, specifications, and construction guidance to animal care, human healthcare, and commercial industries.
August 28, 2025
