Dario Designs Inc. said it snagged 16 new architectural and design projects in the first four months of 2006, including a major contract to add 63,000 square feet of production space at the Austin (Texas) American Statesman.

In addition to the American Statesman contract, DDI also is designing a new office and production facility at The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Colo., and received an architectural and engineering services contract in conjunction with a new production plant at the Naples (Fla.) Daily News. It’s also working with The New York Times to consolidate production and trim the paper’s web width (see related story, page 1).

DDI also was awarded design contracts at four international newspapers.

Meantime, the firm beefed up its personnel, adding a new director of architecture and head of its international division, among other appointments.

On the architectural side, George Morin was named director of architecture while Derick Veliz was appointed as a design architect. Ronaldo Gilberti was named head of DDI’s international division.

Scott Clevinger was named to DDI’s consulting division and will serve as a project manager for master plans, process analyses and operational studies. Clevinger recently served as strategic projects manager for The Daily Press in Newport News, Va.