e group wins design competition to create the Desert Botanical Garden's newest exhibit

e group competed against 13 other landscape architecture firms in the design competition to create the newest Desert Botanical Garden exhibit. The new exhibit will be called The Berlin Agave Yucca Forest. Way to go team! A special thanks goes out the the Philippines office for their help with the graphics. Click the following link for the electronic presentation:

http://www.egroupinc.com/dbg

Manila Office completes schematic design for The Legaspi Central Business District

E group in Paris

On their way to Dubai, Bob and Irene had some hours to steal in the City of Lights. It may not be landscape architecture but it is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

E group in Dubai

In January of this month Bob Thompson and Irene Bustos went to Dubai to connect up with some new friends they met in Barcelona. They said it was a marvelous trip filled with sights, sounds, food and new friends. The architecture was stunning but it was the vastness of the desert that captured their eyes. E group Dubai. It may not be that far off.

Irish Restaurant & Pub opening up just down the street from e group...bottoms up!

Turf Accountant Irish Restaurant & Pub opening downtown

by Republic restaurant critic Howard Seftel - Dec. 30, 2008

Get out your shillelagh, four-leaf clover and leprechaun outfit, and start the countdown to St. Patrick's Day. A new Emerald Isle watering hole, Turf Accountant Irish Restaurant & Pub, is coming to downtown Phoenix. It's joining the growing cluster of storefronts just south of Matt's Big Breakfast on First Street, housing Sens and Wade Moises's soon-to-open Pasta Bar. Partners Andrew Mirtich and Frank Murray aren't exactly novices - they also operate another downtown Irish pub, Seamus McCaffrey's. Mirtich says the new place will be "more contemporary," targeting downtown ASU students - he's a grad - looking for wi-fi, music, good eats and a pint.Mirtich is aiming to open by the end of January. Details: Turf Accountant Irish Restaurant & Pub, 705 N. First St., Phoenix.

The Phoenix Business Journal "Book of Lists" is out...e group lands at #2

The prestegeous Phoenix Business Journal "2009 Book of Lists" is out. e group finished in a tie for second place with EPG inc. Logan Simpson Design Inc. finished first.

A big "get well soon" goes out to RanDizzle

Bob received a phone call late last week from Natalie, Randsom's wife, that he was in the hospital. It turns out he was complaining of abdominal pain and was admitted to remove a blockage. One hour of surgery and two hours of recovery and he was resting well at the hospital. Unfortunately his snowboarding days are over for a bit and he is expected to be in the hospital for 5 days. Please join us in prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

Mission Accomplished! China office is officially connected!

It has been a long time coming but the China office is finally connected to the e group network. The equipment was configured in the US and shipped to Hong Kong. The whole process took many months to complete and involved numerous headaches as well. Thanks go out to Jack, Yang and Matt. Mission Accomplished!

Best Wishes from e group!

At the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. It is in this spirit we say ... thank you and best wishes for the holidays and a happy new year. e group will be closed from December 22nd until January 5th. Best wishes from e group!

Another new member in e group's family arrives in rapid fashion

Olivia Elizabeth Blanchard was born December 11th at 3:20 p.m at St. Joseph Hospital in Phoenix (about 3 1/2 weeks early). She weighed 6 lbs - 7 ozs and was 19 1/2 inches tall. Everybody is doing just great, says Dad, and we are excited that we will be getting the '08 child tax credit that Hans is always talking about.

Newest member of e group's family arrives...not named Franz as many expected

Here is the first premier celeb' photo of little Devin Arthur Stoll, born today, December 8th.
8 pounds, 20 inches and says Dad "he...like most Germans is not afraid to raise his voice if it is warranted."

Jena learns to Blog!

Jena learned to author a blog...now you can all read her rants.

Vintage photo surfaces of e group's founders

Even though e group has a rich 30+ year history a photograph recently surfaced of the firms two co-founders (Mark Swartz and Bob Thompson) that predates the firm itself. Enjoy!

New website continues to progress

Work continues to progress on e group's new website. Once complete it will be the firms third website design in the last 10 years. The new site will be very streamlined and much more robust graphically than the previous version. The website was designed "in-house" while the scripting was outsourced to a developer in Pakistan named Farhan Parpia. Keep up the great work Farhan!

Project News - Manila Office awarded large commission

e group's Manila Office was awarded the contract for the landscape architectural design of the new Diosdado Macapagal International Airport. Way to go team!