McClier Corp., Chicago, and The Austin Co., Cleveland, have announced preparations for a merger under McClier’s parent firm, Los Angeles-based AECOM. Both McClier and Austin offer architecture, design, engineering, building, and consulting services and have major positions in the newspaper facility market. Both firms also do a significant amount of work for pharmaceutical/R&D clients. Financial details were not disclosed, and the firms have not publicly commented on how the merger may affect existing operations, staffing, branding, or branch offices. The companies are continuing to function independently pending the completion of the merger. The S/L/A/M Collaborative, Cambridge, Mass., has hired Sylvia Corr as director of client development, responsible for generating new business opportunities throughout the Northeast in the higher education and science and technology sectors. Previously Corr was business development manager for R.G. Vanderweil Engineers. Health Education+ Research Associates, St. Louis, has added four new employees: Nancy Sopuch, lab programmer; Liz Edwards, lab planner; and Travis Krick and Alex Munoz, architectural technicians. HERA offers lab planning, programming, and design services to clients in the higher education, healthcare, government/municipal, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer products sectors.