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Volume I Spring 2011 $24.95 USD $26.30 CAN www.architectureleaderstoday.com THE MAGAZINE FOR CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY ARCHITECTURE LEADERS TODAY CMS Architecture With designs around the world, founder Chris Smith brings his love of food and cooking to the architecture world, and has created a niche in the architectural industry. FINE DINING John Laffey Neoclassical design meets the high-end residential market of Long Island's East End, resulting in the area's most breathtaking homes. NEOCLASSICAL GMK Architecture Bridging technology with the beauty of the great outdoors, this firm is focused on "bringing down the curtain" between the architect and the client. TECH-SAVVY

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Volume ISpring 2011$24.95 USD$26.30 CAN

www.architectureleaderstoday.comT H E M AG A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RYARCHITECTURE LEADERS TODAY

CMS ArchitectureWith designs around the world, founder Chris Smith brings his love of food and cooking to the architecture world, and has created a niche in the architectural industry.

FINE DINING

John LaffeyNeoclassical design meets the

high-end residential market of Long Island's East End, resulting in the area's most breathtaking homes.

NEOCLASSICAL

GMK ArchitectureBridging technology with the beauty of the great outdoors, this firm is focused

on "bringing down the curtain" between the architect and the client.

TECH­SAVVY

www.architectureleaderstoday.comT H E M AG A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY

ARCHITECTURE LEADERS TODAY

Scott Bickford, founder and principal of R.S. Bickford & Company approaches each project with a personal touch and believes that the relationships built with residential clients produce more rewarding and meaningful projects.

BUILDING WITH PERSONAL TOUCH

Bickford & Company | 69

NORTHEAST

36 John Laffey ArchitectsAt home in the high-end custom residential market of Long Island’s East End, neoclassical architect John Laffey enjoys creating some of the areas most breathtaking dream homes.

WEST

06 Editor’s Note

10 Hot Products Directory

CUSTOM HOMES

52 RADA ArchitectsThis Chicago-based but internationally influenced firm focuses on eco-friendly buildings. Rada Doytcheva, principal, aims to bring her Bulgarian heritage to college campuses throughout the Midwest.

60 PleinAire Design GroupAlong a patch of beautiful central California coastline, landscape designer Kevin Small, works his green magic by creating wondrous and whimsical landscapes with an eco-friendly touch.

18 The Buchholz Architectural GroupJohn Buchholz and his firm have their feet planted in both the world of architecture and construction,) and the firm’s broad portfolio has brought a new, sustainable edge to the New York Tri-State area.

31 Homsey ArchitectsFrom historic to commercial to educational, Eldon Homsey brings his years of experience to every project, providing a little more than his competition. Today, Homsey Architects, Inc. tackles hundreds of projects of all sizes, uses and sectors.

132 Advertiser Index

4 Spring 2011

24 SilverLining InteriorsInspired by his father, who worked tirelessly on the family’s 19th century townhome, Joshua Wiener, founder and president of SilverLining, brings the same care and quality to every project.

32 The Gund PartnershipSince its founding in 1971 The Gund Partnership has become renowned for their visual and performing arts facilities on campuses and are passionate about how artistic fostering helps strengthen the world.

LANDSCAPE

CMS ArchitectureCharlie Palmer Restaraunt inside the South Coast Plaza Bloomingdales. Draw-ing upon wine as the design inspiration, the restaurant flooring is crafted from re-claimed wine barrels, with the burnished patina of the wood enhanced by vintage leather chair coverings in warm tones to create a rustic but sophisticated environ-ment. Photo by Doug Gifford.

on the cover

54 Northeast Regional Marketplace

62 West Regional Marketplace

09 Letters

GREEN BUILDING

Editor-in-Chief Todd WeaverEditor Diana DoyleExecutive Editor Jonathan MackAssistant Editor Joseph Orange

Creative Director Maria J. OwensArt Director Anthony WalkerDirector of Advertising Julian VuProduction Coordinator Jason RoneAsst. Production Coordinator Elizabeth MacksPhotography Editor Ian Palmer Video Director Susan Maybach

Editorial Director Kate DarlingEditorial Production Joel CornellCopy Editor Chelsea Muth Asst. Copy Editor Paige HillContent Directors Brandon McBride (National),Lisa Dowty (SW), Juan Stewart (NE),Mike Rodgers (W), Cyndel Ponce (Intl)

Vendor Relations Director Diana StephensVendor Relations Eric Miller, Steve Peters

Advertising Sales Director Peter JostensAdvertising Sales Coordinator Patricia O’BrienAdvertising Sales Moe Kazemi, David Levi, Tom Nichols, James Banks

Publisher Steve ReedCirculation/Reprints Anne Brewer

oZ WORLD MEDIA, LLC1100 H Street NW, Suite MWashington D.C. 20005www.architectureleaderstoday.com

Architecture Leaders Today is an international quarterly B2B trade journal that services the architecture industry in design/build, education and healthcare architecture, interior design, and residential and commercial sectors. ALT has a readership of 200,000 C-Level executives within the architecture industry. We do not accept subscription requests from the general public, however an abbreviated version is available on our website.

T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY

ARCHITECTURE LEADERS TODAY

EDUCATIONAL

MIDWEST

96 Turner, Ramirez & AssociatesWith a deep history of military experience, the Corpus Christie-based firm of Turner, Ramirez & Associates has diversified over the years to include a range of government and religious projects as well.

74 GMK ArchitectureWith technology at their fingertips and the beauty of the great outdoors as their inspiration, this Wisconsin-based firm focuses on “bringing down the curtain” between the architect and the client.

INTERNATIONAL

124 CMS Architecture & Design With a love for food and passion for design, CMS Architecture founder, Chris Smith, developed his niche in the industry and today his designs can be found around the world.

92 SDS ArchitectureSDS Architecture finds a role in education while bringing a unique and valuable blend of expertise to its customers.

118 Pieri & Associates ArchitectFor this San Juan-based firm, ecological preservation and nothing short of LEED-Gold certifications for their designs are the top priority.

67 R.S. Bickford & Company For 30 years this company has been dedicated to the values many architects only talk about; their personal journey to the heart of every project has kept clients calling throughout hard economic times.

64 Meisner + Associates / Land VisionThe multi-skilled staff at Meisner + Associates / Land Vision has been a leading landscape architecture and planning firm in the greater Cincinnati area since 1979 and designed the first LEED-Platinum project in Ohio.

HISTORIC

94 Reeder ConstructionBeginning his career as a framing carpenter Wes Reeder applied his con-struction experience and founded Reeder Construction, a company always preceded by its reputation for honest, quality work, done with the heartfelt dedication to doing the best work possible.

108 Bender & Associates ArchitectsSpecializing in historic preservation, Bert Bender and his firm have been breathing new life into some of the Florida Keys' most beautiful buildings for over 35 years.

86 WYK ArchitectsEstablished in 1973, WYK Associates, Inc. provides thoughtful and innova-tive solutions for a broad range of projects, ranging from educational and commercial to government and healthcare.

102 LLW ArchitectsInner-city revitalization and preservation planning are at the heart of this Texas-based firm, which focuses on the preservation and enhancement of significant and unique structures.

CUSTOM HOMES

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

123 Glasstra Aluminum, Inc.With 30 years of experience, Glasstra has grown into Puerto Rico’s lead-ing aluminum and glass manufacturer and installation specialist, complet-ing a variety of diverse and breathtaking projects.

74 Custom Aquariums by DesignWhether its a simple fish tank or a state-of-the-art specialty installation, Custom Aquariums by Design offers their clients the beauty and magic of the ocean that adds that little extra something to any home or office.

130 Andreu World AmericaConducting business in 70 countries and with their primary U.S. office in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, Andreu World sources wood from their own forest in Ukraine to manufacture their products. Today, the company is still family owned and operated with 300 employees globally.

Architecture Leaders Today 5

LANDSCAPE

30 Boro PlasteringFounded in 1937, Boro Plastering is built on a foundation of doing nothing but the finest in first-class, high-quality residential plastering work. Their resume, which boasts London's Sothebys and John Lennon, proves they've stayed on-target.

48 SRK PoolsSteve Kenny, owner of the Long Island-based company SRK pools, is an expert on water and water chemistry. With state-of-the-art designs and technology, Kenny aims to bring safer, healthier and more cost-effective methods of pool water treatment to the U.S.

GOVERNMENT

HOSPITALITY

POOL AND SPA

SPECIALTY FURNISHING

MANUFACTURING

AQUARIUMS

PLASTERING

85 Midwest Regional Marketplace

114 South Regional Marketplace

101 Turner & TownsendThis worldwide company, with 63 offices, is poised to optimize business and operations for clients within any sector, offering professional cost and asset control, consultant and project management services.

82 Don Stevens, Inc.For nearly half a century, Don Stevens, Inc. has been providing reliable, quality distribution services throughout the Northeast and Midwest.

HVAC PRODUCTS

CONSTRUCTION

SOUTH

It’s a small world, architecture. In just this spring issue of ALT, many of our subjects have crossed professional paths in one way or another. To start, you’ll read about a model-turned-architect who was schooled by former colleagues of the late Charles Gwathmey, whos partner Robert Siegel is also featured. This individual, as well as another featured architect, have both worked on various projects for Kate Spade; the latter recently completed a project at Beekman Place, which is featured again in a separate feature. In a different vein, you’ll read about one architect’s criticism of the Design Build Institute of America, which hap-pens to be headquartered in the same building as ALT publisher, oZ World Media.

Intriguing how interconnected industry leaders can be, yet while all are successful in their own right, having such varying approaches to a com-mon goal. Here are some of the most notable quotes from this issue:

“There are a lot of hotel architects out there who do what we do all day long. It’s not rocket science.”

LLW

“Many of my colleagues ask how I put up with residential clients, like a couple or family who dis-agree concerning one infinitesimal detail or an-other. I’ll turn around and wonder how they work with conglomerates behind walls of red tape.”

Bickford & Co

“Many clients are reducing the hierarchy within offices. There are still basic work stations, but those are evolving. Nobody wants to work in the infamous cube.”

McMahon

“What we all need to understand is that good design takes many forms. I’m tired of hearing people say, ‘I don’t like it, it’s contemporary, or Spanish, or rustic, or Old World.’ Instead they should be asking, ‘was it well executed?’”

D.S. Ewing

“All architects are trained to be generalists and problem solvers. I think we’re best when we keep our pencils sharp and our scope broad… The hardest client to deal with is the one who cannot tell you what he wants.”

Helman Sechrist

“Necessity is the mother of invention. And with a diverse array of project types, the more eccentric and difficult the clients’ problems are, the more we are driven to find the highest qual-ity solution, which gives our clients a much better building at the end of the day.”

LNB

“If you design a building to be energy efficient and to produce its own energy, it’s much better than greenwashing with recycled windows or re-claimed wood flooring. While using sustainable materials is important, in the end it’s a focus on energy.”

Zach | de Vito

“Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice are like facets of someone’s delirious mind. There is more freedom in L.A. to explore and experiment, while New York is more conservative.”

STUDIOHOWE

“I don’t want to design a building that’s bad for the environment. Architects are supposed to be optimistic and positive people…. If you talk

in the language of a businessman then you can get them interested in green building. If you go the wrong way you won’t even get to bat. And the environment isn’t going to get better unless busi-ness is engaged.”

Pieri & Associates

"Success is not just about changing what pro-fessionals know, but knowing how to rely on the basic, ageless principles of good planning and adapting them to today’s world. Sun, wind, rain, snow, oceans, rivers, flora, fauna and earth are still with us today. Humans will always need to consider these basics and plan ahead. A brighter future will be one that relies more on conserv-ing natural resources and reducing energy use. Future growth, development and the success of landscape architecture will be with those who lis-ten to the land best.”

Meisner + Associates

“When I graduated from Howard, we were taught to think that if young black architects want-ed survival, we had to be twice as good as our white counterparts. There were no intrinsic racial element to this; it was entirely factual.”

J. A. Matthews

Joel uses his background in technical writing to translate complex jargon into

vivid narratives. Past works include projects with the State Department, the DOD, World

Bank and many retail giants.

joel co

rnel

l

6 Architecture Leaders Today

editor’s note

CONTRIBUTORS

Amelia earned both a B.S. in journalism and anthropology from the University of

Texas. Currently based in London, she writes for a variety of print and online publications

both in Europe and the U.S.

amel

ia

doe

nlen

Rebecca enjoys a career of writing about critical issues and prominent business

leaders of our time. Her work has been recognized both locally and nationally.

rebe

cca

rodr

igue

z

Joan’s experiences as a writer havetaken her places that wouldn’t have been possible in other careers. Her success is

evident in the awards and recognitions her writing has received.

joan tupp

once

With a diverse background in B2B magazine writing, ranging from framing to fashion,

Marylyn brings a unique perspective to Industry Leaders Today. Her assignments have taken her

everywhere, including New York Fashion Week

mar

ylyn

sim

pson

Based in Atlanta, Felicia is a freelancer.A University of Maryland graduate, she has contributed to several magazines

including Today’s Chemist at Work.

felic

ia

willi

s

anne

br

ouile

tte

Anne’s writing experiences have taken her places that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

With a B.A in Creative Writing from Tulane University, Anne freelances for a variety of publications.

William graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Journalism and Political

Science. He writes for a variety of trade publications in the U.S. and abroad.

willi

am c

oles

on

A little something to go on.

TODD [email protected]

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Performing Arts/Media Facilities Planning and Design

we scoured the Energy, Tech, building and design markets to bring you our favorite new products to line your projects .

1tetrad megaby Brave Space Designhttp://www.bravespacedesign.com/

These Brooklyn-based designers are hitting home with that bit of inner nerd in all of us. These environmentally sustainable, green-built shelves come block by block, so you can customize your own. They’re also offered in colored or bamboo finishes and in large and small sizes.

The key detail to these 11-inch deep shelves is their beveled edges. They give the piece an “unreal” optical quality, taking your shelves

beyond the realm of practicality and into art. Reversible and interchangeable, these sturdy blocks will provide for

endless stacking configurations and a lifetime of enjoyment.

10 Spring 2011

hot products

2Not only can you get these carpet tiles in any color or pattern but Flor’s modular square carpet system can be arranged in any way that suits your space, making the options endless and available for your ever-changing design needs. And, with some of the lowest VOC emissions in the residential industry, as well as using varying degrees of recycled materials you can feel good about using this product!

by florhttp://www.flor.com

floring that fits

The sleak, stainless-steel body and the softly curving glass canopy make this wall-mounted, circulating hood an attractive addition to any kitchen. Not only is it pretty, but its quiet too. Operating at a reduced sound level than most other kitchen hoods, you will be able to cook in peace.

by KOBEhttp://www.koberangehoods.com/

over the range

3 Architecture Leaders Today 11

hot products

4Using high-tech salt-hydrate phase change material (PCM), this Swiss-made window glaze deflects high-angle sunlight and keeps your rooms cool. The PCM technology stores energy generated from the sun that builds up on the exterior of the window and reuses it to either heat or cool the inside of the building. Used in Europe for the past decade, this cool, new, hyper-efficient product is soon to make its debut in North America.

by GlassXhttp://www.glassx.ch/

crazycool windows

12 Spring 2011

hot products

crazycool windows

56

This organic blown glass raindrop chanelier is one of the many artfully designed and beautifully crafted glass works by Jean-Pierre Canlis. This 8-piece chandelier is a dramatic piece for any room. Hanging from a 36” round metal base, the raindrops are designed to be illuminated from the exterior providing the brightest rain you’ve ever seen.

by canlis glasshttp://www.canlisglass.com/

Maybe its been a really long winter... but we think this is the greatest product ever! Now, you can extend your outdoor enjoyment to days and nights when it’s a little chillier than normal to relax in a hammock. With carbon fiber heating elements sewn into the comfortable quilted fabric that warms from the shoulder to lower back, you can stay cozy day and night. This snazzy hammock fits two people and the battery operated thermostat allows for 3 different warmth settings.

by tempachairwww.tempachair.com/heated-hammock.html

swing into spring

drip, drop

Architecture Leaders Today 13

hot products

7baby, light my firedesigned by Paul Cohenmanufactured by EcoSmart Firehttp://www.ecosmartfire.com/en/home

Revolutionizing the world of fireplace design, EcoSmart creates beautiful, contemporary fireplaces designed with a futuristic appeal to complement your contemporary decor. The best part? These denatured ethanol burning fireplaces are ventless, allowing for use in just about any space. 14 Spring 2011

hot products

After years of research, the Swiss company SolTech Energy developed these new, sleek and modern passive solar glass roofing tiles using their patented solar thermal light absorption technology. The glass tiles not only look amazing atop your home but have a longer life expectancy than conventional clay or concrete roofing materials. The system is designed to be integrated into the house’s existing energy system whether it is ground source heat pump, air heat pump, pellet boiler, oil boiler or electric boiler.

by SolTechhttp://www.soltechenergy.com/en/

don’t throw stones

8staff pick!

Architecture Leaders Today 15

hot products

Bound to strike your fancy no matter your taste or style, Graham and Brown is on a mission to revive the world’s love of patterns. From simple elegance to funky florals to whimsical color schemes, their newest collections bring you affordable designer wallpaper that will make you never want to leave your home again.

by Graham and Brownhttp://www.grahambrown.com

paper craze

9 16 Spring 2011

hot products

The William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.Photo courtesy of The Gund Partnership

INSIDE: THE BUCHHOLZ ARCHITECTURAL GROUP, HOMSEY ARCHITECTS, THE GUND PARTNERSHIP, JOHN LAFFEY ARCHITECTS, SRK

POOLS, SILVERLINING INTERIORS, BORO PLASTERING, RADA ARCHITECTS

NORTHE A ST

northeast | architecture

18 Spring 2011

New York’s Most Comprehensive Small Firm

by Joel Cornell

THE BUCHHOLZ ARCHITECTURAL GROUP OFFERS AN ASTONISHINGLY WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES, ALL BACKED BY DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN A PLETHORA OF SPECIALIZED FIELDS.

John Buchholz has his feet firmly planted in both the world of architecture and the world of construction. This puts the founder, owner and principal architect of The Buchholz Architectural Group, P.C. in a unique position for their clients. Buchholz’s wealth of experi-ence and knowledge has made him a favorite amongst local contractors and construction specialists alike. The firm’s broad portfolio, in addition to Buchholz’s talent and dexterity, has brought a new, sustainable edge to the New York Tri-State area.

“My father had a background in design as the director of design and engineering for the New York City Department of Corrections,” Buchholz said. “I grew up around architecture, construction and design from my earliest memories on, and those aesthetics and ideals were instilled in me in ways that would later formulate my career. As a teenager, I spent weekends with my father building additions andrenovating kitchens and bathrooms for houses in our neighborhood. I learned to use my hands very early on.”

With New York’s Tri-State area as the epi-center of culture, knowledge and resource, Buchholz was able to attend a local technical high school that had a focus on design and architecture. After graduating, he paid his own way through studies at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn by working various construction jobs. In working as a laborer, a carpenter’s helper, a plumber’s helper and an electrician’s helper, Buchholz collected a useful assortment of skills.

“Pratt Institute gave me a great foundational education in design,” Buchholz said. “Still, it was severely lacking the education that I

think today’s architects truly need, concerning the construction industry. Once I graduated from Pratt, I immediately went to work for a construction company as a construction supervisor managing two hundred multi-disciplined full time staff.”

Eight years later, the bottom of the economy fell out. Buchholz left the construction com-pany and decided it was time to finally put his architectural background to use and founded The Buchholz Architectural Group in 1996.

Unlike many architecture firms that take years to develop their sense of self, The Buchholz Architectural Group offered a unique array of services from the very start. The most notable difference from their competitors was their involvement in total construction manage-ment services.

“Because of my construction background, the comprehensive array of services that we offer allow clients to enjoy a successful project from beginning to end are never required to seek any necessary services elsewhere,” Buchholz said. “Construction companies and subcontractors we work with really appreciate an architect that actually knows how to put together those elusive and usually unforeseen details that give them the best source material from which they can begin building a project. We always assemble a detailed set of working drawings, particularly in terms of putting a building together, which our clients have come to appreciate.”

The Buchholz Architectural Group’s scope of services truly shines when they get involved on a project in its earliest conceptual stages. Several of the firm’s oldest clients get them

involved in the earlier stages of every project, such as reviewing potential sites based on the client’s desires, their intended use and their needs, as opposed to their wants.

Through the preliminary design and construc-tion phases, Buchholz and his highly qualified staff of five designers, architects and LEED accredited professionals endeavor to bring every detail of a project, from wayfinding signage to interior design and construction management services, under one roof. Many times, however, clients opt to work with another specialist or subcontractor on certain aspects of a project , oftentimes due to past relation-ships. Yet again, Buchholz’s experiences within construction and his relationships with some of the area’s most talented specialists and subcontractors mean that, for the majority of the time, The Buchholz Architectural Group is working in extremely familiar territory.

“Typically, the client type that we find are most frequently attracted to our style of design and project management are in the com-mercial sector,” Buchholz said. “We offer a wider variety of services to accommodate the variety of clients that we receive. We’ve done numerous bank and brokerage offices, so we’re keenly aware of the nuances involved in those sectors. We have been privileged to have worked on many high-end office interior projects, and in the past decade really have come to specialize in retail stores and centers, but that world has been largely downsized over the past few years.

“Sustainable design ideas are always para-

THIS SPREAD: John Buchholz, owner and founder.

architecture | northeast

Architecture Leaders Today 19

northeast | architecture

20 Spring 2011

THIS SPREAD: A chic bar and bistro where creamy stone floors and black leather appointments contrast the wood furnishings to

create a harmonious balance.

PHELPS CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Phelps Construction Group adheres to a basic concept that has proven, over time, to be the key to success in the construction industry. Phelps Construction creates and maintains a safe, positive working environment that enables them to deliver the highest quality construction services to clients while building long-term relationships with project owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors and suppliers.

Combining a teamwork approach with quality workmanship, Phelps completes projects on time and on budget to the satisfaction of owners and architects. Phelps Construction Group will provide pre-construction, general contracting and construction management services to meet all of a client’s construction needs from the initial conceptual budget through completion and maintenance of the new facility.

Located in northern New Jersey, Phelps Construction Group is ideally positioned to service New Jersey, southern New York and eastern Pennsylvania along with the entire northeast. The executive management team is comprised of individuals with extensive experience in all aspects of the construction industry. In addition, Phelps Construction Group has managed all types of construction projects ranging from small renovations to large, complex multimillion dollar projects for some of the most prestigious and demanding clients. For more information, please visit www.phelpsconstructiongroup.com

northeast | architecture

22 Spring 2011

mount to us. In dealing with commercial clients, for whom business comes before all else, we’ve found that many of these clients would like some level of LEED Certification, but they have to consider their budget and what elements of design come first. Trying to get clients to take on the additional cost for LEED Certification has been difficult, but we continually endeavor to educate them on why sustainable design is the best solution at all times, despite the increase in the upfront costs.”

PNC Bank, one of The Buchholz Architectural Group’s many repeat clients, is one who holds the firm to a higher standard, one which Buch-holz regularly surpasses. Every new project that PNC begins, including retail , financial center or advisory building , must be at least LEED Silver. The Bank of New York (Mellon) has also been a frequent repeat client of Buchholz’s, on their banks and financial office centers alike.

Airport Plaza was a 600,000 sq. ft. shopping center located on 92 acres of Long Island, New York. The plaza was located in very close proximity to Republic Airport, the state’s third busiest airport. Not only did the firm have to traverse the usual rigorous landscape of zoning laws and building codes involved in a project of such size, but their proximity to the airport also brought along another large set of regula-tions and requirements to follow. Nonetheless, Buchholz and his firm completed the project

easily within the margins of both schedule and budget. Additionally, a large majority of the retail tenants within the shopping center came to The Buchholz Architectural Group for their interior and exterior design, construction and management skills.

“Our experience in all facets of the concep-tual, design, construction and management phases of a project give our clients peace of mind and the assurance that no problem, no matter how large or small, will impede our efforts,” Buchholz said. “I know how to deal with contractors and specialists because I was one for quite a while. As times become more demanding, so do our clients. Every conflict is an opportunity for a solution, and we know that we’re working with our clients, not against them.” ALT

OPPOSITE PAGE: Bank of New York. 6,200 sq. ft. interior alteration to create a new commercial banking branch. This branch permitted the upgrage and expansion of the facility to attract new customers. Features of this installa-tion include two ATM lobbies, a prefabricated vault, state-of-the-art teller stations and a business banking center.

THIS PAGE: ProActive Therapy clinic, Montclair, N.J. This new 5,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility offers physical and sports therapy, with dedicated spaces for physical rehabilitation, acupuncture, sports training and massage.

Photos courtesy of Buchholz Architects.

Every Detail, Every Day, Always Done Right

by Joel Cornell

northeast | architecture

24 Spring 2011

architecture | northeast

Architecture Leaders Today 25

contractor’s contract were transferred to the team at SilverLining. Wiener began expand-ing the firm to accommodate the increasing scope, building a team of the city’s best supers, project managers, carpenters and support staff. By 1991, SilverLining had evolved from paint-ing and plastering specialists to a full-fledged general contractor.

In 1999, the cabinet shop to whom they subcontracted much of their work, began suffering from financial difficulties and went out of business. Wiener saw an opportunity and acquired the failed shop, equipment and artisans included. “It is an enormous asset for SilverLining, giving us control over the quality and schedule of the custom millwork built for many of our projects.”

In 2005, Wiener purchased an empty lot in the Bronx where he built a 14,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art cabinet shop. The building includes sustainable components like hydronic-heated flooring, non-pollutive spray booths and natural lighting throughout nearly the entire facility.

SilverLining continued their steady growth,

oshua Wiener grew up on the Upper West Side of New York City in a townhouse built

in 1864. He worked alongside his father who was always tinkering, redesigning and renovating the old house. It was here that Wiener fell in love with the art of building.

Upon graduating from Vassar College in 1987 with a double major in psychology

and drama, Wiener used the artisan skills he had developed in his youth to establish a painting and plastering company, which has evolved into one of New York’s premier high-end contractors.“We started out very ‘Tom Sawyer’-esque,”

Wiener said. “I hired friends and acquaintances from college to help out here and there. It turned into a sustainable business. I had a crew of about five guys and I began hiring more talented and skilled career painters and carpenters as the business grew. From there, we incorporated in 1987 and have consistently grown to where we are today.”

Many of SilverLining’s first jobs were calls from flyers posted around the city. Initially, the company specialized in high-quality painting and plastering. As they completed jobs with great precision, their clients recognized their talent and gave them more work with increas-ing responsibilities. Many components of a project that are traditionally under the general

By focusing on the highest quality

of workmanship, SilverLining Interiors has

grown to become one of New York City’s most

prestigious high-end residential contractors.

OPENING SPREAD: Architect: Heiberg Cummings Design; Photo by Peter Margonelli.

THIS PAGE: Architect: Heiberg Cummings Design; Photo by Peter Margonelli.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Designer: Benjamin Noriega Ortiz Design; Architect: Brian Boyle; Photo by Antoine Bootz.

northeast | architecture

26 Spring 2011

FERRA DESIGNSSpecializing in precision architectural metal

fabrication, Ferra Designs' directive is to provide the highest quality craftsmanship to the most discriminating clientele. They meet the most stringent deadlines with a progressive aesthetic for the most the discerning architects and designers. Ferra Designs technology-based development is fortified by the time honored traditions of the true craftsman. For more information, visit www.ferradesigns.com.

mainly through relationships with New York City’s premier architects and interior design-ers. In 1993, they acquired their first $1 mil-lion project for general contracting services. Today, the firm builds projects ranging from $250,000 to $12 million. Their highly qualified and talented staff of over 140 trained artisans and support staff give them both the capacity and flexibility to build large and small proj-ects alike, with the same attention to detail and service. They also believe that a strong relationship with their vendors is crucial to success and have worked with many premiere companies throughout the northeast includ-ing Empire Mirror & Glass, B&H Restoration, Capitol Fire Sprinklers Company, Charles W Beers, Inc., Ferra Designs, Integrated Comfort Systems Inc and Saint John’s Woodworking.

Wiener has built this prestigious firm on a simple yet rigorous dedication to quality, a philosophy which radiates throughout all levels of the organization. “For us it’s cultural. If you don’t believe in delivering the highest quality and service for our clients, you simply won’t fit in. We have very high standards,” Wiener said.“The most any one project manager will ever

handle is two projects at a time, depending on the size of the project,” Wiener said. “For the larger, multimillion dollar projects, we make sure that the project manager is overseeing only that one project. I always endeavor to keep my best and brightest employed and busy. It’s the best way to ensure that you’re always keeping the best people on staff and constantly

motivating them to grow and evolve.” “We have several layers of management to

ensure the highest quality on each project. We have two executive project managers who oversee our project managers. They provide an additional perspective through many years of experience, and make sure that every step of every project is perfectly managed.” Wiener keeps himself involved in every project, while refraining from micromanaging the day to day details.

SilverLining believes every client they work with deserves their total commitment and dedicated service from beginning to end. So, in 2000, they established a full-time service department. Their function includes punch-list management, warranty servicing and small projects management.

True to their beginnings as a painting company, SilverLining is very much concerned with the finishes and details. As a high-end residential builder working exclusively within New York City, this makes for a perfect fit. Their clients expect the highest quality when it comes to the guts of a project like electrical, plumbing and framing work. But it’s the finished details that make a project sing. “Over these past two years, we’ve seen the

prices of our competitors drop significantly,” Wiener said. “We try and keep our prices very competitive, despite our significantly better quality of workmanship. Yet, people are looking very, very hard at the numbers now and aren’t necessarily willing to pay the

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Architecture Leaders Today 27

slight premium for a better product or service. Elements of our company such as our service department do come at a cost to us and the client. Many times, we’ve witnessed potential clients who have chosen other contractors with under-qualified workers on staff -- something we refuse to do, no matter how the economy might look.”

It’s hard for an architect or designer releasing blueprints to bid to know exactly the level of quality and service they will receive. It’s impor-tant for them to research prospective contrac-tors and to tour completed jobs to develop an accurate understanding of the caliber of the company. Often for an owner embarking on a renovation, it’s the biggest financial commit-ment of their life and they after have very little to go on initially. “I encourage our potential new clients to tour our completed and in-progress work that will attest to the standard we hold ourselves to; even jobs built 5 to 10 years ago, to show how well our projects hold up both physically and aesthetically,” Wiener said.

The leadership team at SilverLining does not set specific growth goals. That is not their concern, despite completing over $40 million in projects annually. “What we care about is not how profitable we will be,” Wiener said.

“Rather to deliver the highest level of quality and service. Clients see the value and from there, growth will continue organically as it has over the past two-plus decades.” ALT

CAPITOL FIRE SPRINKLERS CO.

Capitol Fire has had the pleasure of working with SilverLining Interiors for the past six years and hope to continue in the future. Capitol Fire is a full service fire protection company and the largest open shop fire protection contractor in the metropolitan area. Capitol Fire has full design, fabrication and installation capabilities. For more information, visit www.capitolfire.com.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Architect: Gary Morganroth; Designer: Tsao & McKown Architects

THIS PAGE: Architect: BKSK Architects; Photo by Frank Oudeman.

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Architecture Leaders Today 29

Boro PlasteringAs the Spanish Civil War raged across

the Atlantic and President Roosevelt was sworn in for his second term, artisan Andrew Matorella took his vast range of experience and applied it to professional plastering. With the intention of doing nothing but the finest in first class, high-quality residential plastering work, Matorella founded Boro Plastering in 1937.

As time went on, the company continued to see unprecedented growth. Their expan-sion was based entirely upon the quality of their work and their unceasing dedication to customer satisfaction.

Boro Plastering continued to expand, and so did the Matorella family. In 1946, Andrew’s son, Joseph, took control of the company. His efforts only furthered his father’s original vision of what a high-end residential artisan plastering company should be.

In preserving the family business that his father had struggled to maintain, Andrew held the company focus on the quality of the work above all else. Less than a decade later, in 1954, Andrew’s younger son, John, joined his brother Joseph as a partner in the business.

Their reputation for the highest quality plastering work was beginning to take them to new and greater heights, and the family’s deep trust in each other and their dedica-tion to meeting every demand of the client cemented this reputation. The result has been nearly a century of nothing but the best in high-quality plastering work.

Due to the continued success and rapid expansion of Boro Plastering across the West Coast, the Matorella brothers were joined by current company president Gary Annino in 1997. Annino’s vision and talent enabled the artisans and specialists working for the company to spearhead its success far into the next century.

“Our goal was to create a diversified organi-zation that could afford clients the opportu-nity to benefit from a professional approach to construction handled on a personal level,” Annino wrote in a personal letter to the public. “This has been successfully accomplished by maintaining an annual volume, which is measured enough to control, but large enough to offer our clients the competitive pricing necessary to maintain excellence in

by Joel Cornell

today’s marketplace.”Today, the portfolio and list of clients that

Boro Plastering has maintained reflects the high caliber of their work. The com-pany has done plastering for Barneys New York, Sotheby’s London, the New York Stock Exchange and many of Broadway’s most famous theatres. A few of their personal and residential clients include Faye Dunaway, John Lennon, Steven Sondheim, Charles Gwathmey and Harrison Ford.

In working with a range of architects and interior designers around the world, Boro Plastering is able to turn ordinary rooms into works of art through the addition of unique, custom and precast moldings, domes, columns, colored Venetian plaster, ceilings and precast classical ornaments such as rosettes and plaques.

The company’s unique vision and the level of talented, skilled artisans they retain ensure absolutely nothing except the highest quality plastering in the world available today. ALT

a long history of fine craftsmanship and quality service

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HOMSEY ARCHITECTSPROJECTS OF EVERY SHAPE AND SIZEby Joel Cornell

Many architects working today focus on one particular sector, industry or building type. Their specialty might foster a unique depth of knowledge, but what happens when that niche drops out entirely? Eldon Homsey, through his years of experience and background across a multitude of industry verticals, sectors and subsectors, understands this notion. For over half a century, his firm of Homsey Architects, Inc. has completed hundreds of projects of all sizes and uses, across all sectors.

Homsey first began his business upon leaving Harvard University with a Bachelor of the Arts in Fine Arts in 1957 and the University of Penn-sylvania with a Masters Degree in Architecture in 1961. Right as he hit the ground running in the mid to late 1960s, Homsey endeavored to always provide a little bit more than his competition ever could. Of the expansive range of services that Homsey Architects, Inc. offers to its clients, many services other firms consider extemporaneous are always considered among the core set of services any architect should provide. A broad range of post-occupancy services are only a few of the unique resources Homsey Architects, Inc. brings to its clients.

The industries serviced by Homsey Architects, Inc. span from corporate, educational and institutional, to religious, historic and residen-

tial. Residential design currently constitutes nearly 25 percent of their annual practice. The firm’s very first major project, a country estate in Delaware known as Mount Cuba, was completed in 1936 and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, Homsey Architects, Inc. continues their tradition of highly personalized, high-quality services for all clients. For residential clients, the firm provides both creative, social and financial design aspects. These extra steps before, during and after a project have kept clients coming back for project after project.

The firm has always done their best to reinvigorate old communities and revital-ize the more historic aspects of a project. Homsey Architects, Inc. believes that historic reuse simply makes sense, from reaffirming a community’s sense of place and history, to conserving valuablenatural resources.

Homsey has established a corporate culture that appre-ciates and promotes historic preservation. He founded Preservation Delaware in 1993 and has served on the Board of Advisors of the National Trust for Historic Preserva-tion. His work with historic structures has won the firm

numerous commissions and has nurtured preservationists on his staff. Staff members currently volunteer by serving on historic review boards, local historic societies and civic organizations, as well as by researching local historic resources and assisting history museums with fundraising.

Homsey Architects, Inc. realizes that build-ings are not just for today; no building project is ever really supposed to end. They under-stand just how a client’s needs can extend far beyond the visible scope of their current project, and their services represent this understanding by taking clients not just where they can, but wherever they need to go. ALT

VANDEMARK & LYNCHVanDemark & Lynch has provided civil engineering, land

planning and land surveying services in the Mid-Atlantic region for over 70 years. VanDemark & Lynch is proud to have worked with Homsey Architects on a multitude of successful projects during their entire 65-plus year history, and hope to continue their excellent working relationship for many years to come. For more information visit www.vandemarklynch.com

THIS PAGE: The Longview Gardens in Kennet Square, Pa., was designed to lead viewers through the garden. Homsey handled the Palm House, a beautiful glass build-ing designed to allow palms to grow to their full height. It features different levels for a variety of views. Photo by Mark Pellegrini.

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northeast | educational

32 Spring 2011

Founded in 1971 by renowned architect Graham Gund FAIA, Gund Partnership has evolved into an internationally recognized firm for their work on campuses and in the arts. “We’ve changed our name over the years,” said Laura Cabo AIA, a principal in the firm along with Gund and John Prokos FAIA. “It really tells the story of the evolution of the firm. We were founded by Graham Gund, and over the years we’ve become Gund Partnership, which is the story of our collaboration.”

Other things have changed since their founding, including the types of buildings the company has worked on. “Over the years we’ve worked on a variety of different build-ing types,” Prokos said. “We’ve maintained a strong focus on academics but we’ve also built many housing and resort projects while fostering a particular expertise in the arts.”

Gund Partnership has an impressive portfo-lio in the arts. “We are nationally known for our vast expertise in any kind of visual and performing arts on campuses,” Cabo said. “In this current recession, it is interesting that those types of projects seem to be rising to the top of wish lists for campuses these days.” The firm notes that the popularity of the arts on campus is, in part, due to their ability to fulfill the missions of liberal arts institutions to mold well-rounded students.

In today’s increasingly visually-based world, students who creatively problem-solve are the ones that rise to the top of their professions. Exposure to both visual and performing arts has fueled the current interest in interdisciplinary opportunities on campus where students and faculty can work together, pushing the limits of innova-

GUND PARTNERSHIP

a focus on campuseswith a niche in the artsby Felecia Willis

THIS PAGE: (TOP LEFT) John Prokos, FAIA, LEED AP, Managing Principal. Photo by Chuck Choi. (TOP RIGHT) Graham Gund, FAIA, LEED AP, President. Photo by Mark Ostow. (BOTTOM) William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio Exterior view of the west entrance and Buckeye Reading Room. Photo by Brad Feinknopf.

OPPOSITE PAGE: William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Interior view of the west atrium, looking towards the central glass encased book tower. Photo by Brad Feinknopf.

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Architecture Leaders Today 33

tive scholarship. “The arts on campus are natural gateways to the surrounding com-munity that foster positive relationships, and in many cases can help to strengthen local economies,” Cabo said.

Gund Partnership’s interdisciplinary approach has led to the firm’s reputation for designs that transform traditional build-ing types. The recently completed William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library at Ohio State University combines a variety of envi-ronments to engage a student body of more than 60,000 undergraduates and graduates. Since its opening, the library has experienced more than four times the number of daily visitors than prior to the renovation.

Growing out of their housing and resort portfolio, Gund Partnership’s campus experi-ence includes important student life facilities. They recently completed the renovation and expansion of the main dining hall at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Also at

THIS PAGE: South Franklin Circle, Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Exterior view of the Community Center and the interior view of the swimming pool, inside of the Community Center. Photos by Brad Feinknopf.

OPPOSITE PAGE: (TOP) Laura Sanden Cabo, AIA, LEED AP, Principal Photo by (BOTTOM)The Waterworks at Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, Maas. View of the private courtyard within Whitehall. Photo by Chuck Choi.

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34 Spring 2011

Kenyon, the firm designed a new village of student townhouses, which is currently under construction. Reflecting 21st century student life trends, these projects create a mixed use of space, supporting the vibrant day-to-day life of students and the vitality of the campus.

College campuses aren’t the only schools that have benefitted from the work of Gund Partnership. The firm’s portfolio boasts the largest high school ever built in Massachu-setts. Newton North High School is 413,000 sq. ft. of new construction. Additionally, the company completed South Franklin Circle, a 625,000 sq. ft. new senior living commu-nity outside of Cleveland, Ohio, and the International Retailers and Manufacturers’ Showcase, a one million sq. ft. commercial center outside of Euro Disney in Paris. “For a relatively small firm, we are sought after for some large projects that encompass a variety of building types in which the cli-ent is seeking an innovative solution to the standard response,” Prokos said.

Gund Partnership possesses an esteemed reputation as the recipient of over 125 awards throughout the years, including the Housing Award from the AIA and Time magazine’s Best Design of the Year for the Church Court Condominiums, completed in 1993.

The company has a major commitment for sustainability and green design for all

their projects. Ninety-five percent of the technical staff and 100 percent of licensed staff are LEED Accredited Professionals, including Gund, whose own home employed geothermal resources years ahead of the current green movement. The company recently completed the LEED Gold Armour Academic Center at Westminster School in Simsbury, Conn. They are also proud to have the first newly constructed LEED Silver project in the nation’s capitol, The National Association of Realtors building, as one of their assignments.

What all Gund Partnership ventures have in common is the desire of the company to develop creative design solutions that provide the greatest possible value within their clients established budgets. The core of the practice is centered on collabora-tion with owners to express mission, phi-losophy and community in a wide range of planning and design assignments. ALT

ALBERT M. HIGLEY CO.The Albert M. Higley Co. in Cleveland,

Ohio has completed some of its most iconic projects with Gund Partnership. Please visit www.amhigley.com for images of current and previous collaborations. With more than 11,500 completed projects, against which Albert M. Higley Co. can compare their work, their esteem for Gund Partnership is sincere.

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northeast | custom homes

36 Spring 2011

by Amelia Doenlen

The five-man firm of John Laffey Architects is at home in the high-end, custom residential market of Long Island’s East End.

A Small Firm With A Big Name

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Architecture Leaders Today 37

A Long Islander through-and-through, John Laffey has contributed a great deal to the picturesque l and scap e of L ong Island’s East End, build-ing many of the areas

beautiful homes. With over 16 years of prac-tice behind him, and no end in sight, he has many more notable projects up his sleeve.

“I knew I was going to be an architect all my life,” said Laffey, president of John Laffey Architects. “It was a calling, really, and I just couldn’t have imagined doing anything else.”

After graduating from the New York Insti-tute of Technology, and completing his apprenticeship, Laffey was drawn to the bright and bustling world of New York City architecture. But after a brief stint in the city he realized that residential architec-ture was his calling, and he headed back to Long Island.

“My first office was 12 feet wide by 22 feet long,” Laffey said. Over time, as the workload grew and needs expanded, he gradually took on one or two associates to help. Today, the small, family-like firm consists of Laffey and four associates. A pen-and-ink guy, Laffey

was trained before technology was used in architecture and he prefers hand drawing his initial plans before handing them over for rendering.

“I do work on AutoCAD, but I’m affection-ately known as the aging dinosaur in the office,” he said. “I’m not very good with it, but I do appreciate it as a tool and for its accuracy and its ability to create the detail in the drawings that the contractors and I require to make really great houses.”

Laffey likes to keep the firm small so he can stay involved in all projects. “I’m kind of a control freak,” he said. “I try to delegate the work as best I can, but the small setup allows me to be very involved in all the projects we have going on from the design development to the finishing aspects like painting.”

Working almost exclusively in the East End, Laffey values the ability to remotely dictate project specifics.

“It’s a great environment working out here. I can be on the beach on one job, in the woods looking out over Peconic Bay on another. I can be out in farm fields or on the cliffs overlooking Lake Montauk.”

The portfolio boasts a variety of custom

ALAN COURT & ASSOCIATES

Alan Court & Associates, a distributor of stone, tile and plumbing fixtures, is considered by John Laffey to be an incredibly talented and valuable asset to not only his firm, but more importantly to his clients. As part of the design process, John Laffey enjoys bringing clients into Alan Court’s showroom in East Hampton because Court brings a creative flare to the designs. Alan Court & Associates has a unique selection of tile and stones that are not found with other distributors. According to Laffey, Alan Court & Associates is not only creative, but keeps the budget in mind for Laffey’s clients as well. To find out more about Alan Court & Associates call 631-324-7497 or email [email protected]

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UPSTATE DOORNew York-based Upstate Door

is a producer of custom-made hardwood doors. A proud partner of John Laffey Architects, Upstate Door works with John Laffey to create his vision of what he and his customers want. Upstate Door delivers perfect hardwood entryways and interior doors to complement John Laffey's beautifully crafted and designed homes. Upstate Door builds to specification and produces stile and rail doors for entryways, interiors, patios and porches. At Upstate Door, each project features architect and builder design, built to their specifications, the finest hardwoods and expert craftsmanship. Please visit www.upstatedoor.com or call 1-800-570-8283 to see more distinctive door solutions.

It’s a great environment working out here. I can be on the beach on one job, in the woods looking out over Peconic Bay on another. I can be out in farm fields or on the cliffs overlooking Lake Montauk.

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Architecture Leaders Today 39

The clients we’ve had over the years are the top in their chosen line of work and having the opportunity to create dream homes for them and get to know them and their families, makes for very rewarding work and a very rewarding life.

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FOUNTAINHEAD CONSTRUCTION Fountainhead Construction is a service-oriented firm that

specializes in building architect-designed custom homes and high-quality renovations. The professionals at Fountainhead combine superior craftsmanship, expertise and a commitment to quality to produce the finest homes. The majority of projects are referrals from prior customers and architects who feel no hesitation in recommending Fountainhead Construction to their clients. For the past two decades, Fountainhead Construction’s efforts have been focused in the Hamptons, which gives them a unique understanding of the environmental conditions in the area and how they affect building a home. Whether it’s a shingled cottage, oceanfront estate or contemporary new construction, Fountainhead Construction’s mission is to bring your architectural plans to life. Fountainhead Construction is proud of their reputation and works hard to maintain it. For more information on building or renovating your dream Hamptons home, please visit www.fhcinc.com.

SUMMERHILL LANDSCAPESSince 1993, Summerhill Landscapes, Inc.

has maintained a dedication to the highest standards of product and service throughout the Hamptons. Summerhill Landscapes is a full service landscaping company providing design, landscape installation, masonry, irrigation and full property maintenance. The creative team will guide clients through specialized restrictions such as re-vegetation, deer and environmental concerns. The central concern of Summerhill Landscapes is the quality of service through all stages of the project from inception to maintaining your investment for long lasting sustainability. For more information on Summerhill Landscapes, please visit www.summerhilllandscapes.com

designed dream homes, specializing in Neoclassical architecture. Laffey draws inspi-ration from 1800s and early 1900s Colonial summer homes. Shingle-style architecture makes up about 90 percent of the firm’s work.

“If you came to me and asked for an ultra-modern glass concrete house, honestly, I probably would tell you that I’m not your guy,” Laffey said. “Its not that I wouldn’t enjoy it, but there are guys that do that specifically.”

The full-service firm works with the client from start to finish, a process that can take around two years. Theybegin with the zoning analysis, site plans and budget, and stay till the last coat of paint has dried.

“We’re big on team approaches here,” Laffey said. “We work with ourselves, with the clients and with the contractor to make sure that everyone stays involved with the project and there is no darkness in the process.”

When starting the process Laffey asks the client to bring in pictures of architectural styles and details they like to help clarify their vision for the project. Oftentimes he will bring new clients to tour homes that he has previously built to gather inspira-

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northeast | custom homes

44 Spring 2011

tion and to provide a clear image of the finished project.

“It’s important to me that the client is very invested in their house,” Laffey said, “because ultimately that makes the best product.”

For a firm that works entirely off word-of-mouth, it’s crucial that each house is nothing short of perfect. “You’re only as good as your last job,” Laffey said. He feels they are lucky to have gotten this far, and that while they are a small firm they have made a big name for themselves.

“As long as my name gets mentioned in Manhattan in the right circles, it trickles down very easily,” he said. “The clients we’ve had over the years are the top in their chosen line of work. Having the opportunity to create dream homes for them and get to know them and their families, makes for very rewarding work and a very rewarding life.”

While roughly 90 percent of the firm’s work is residential, they also work in the commercial sector and recently completed the historic renovation of a church in South-ampton that was built in 1908. Keeping the

IMPERIAL GUNITEThirty years ago Imperial Gunite, Inc. coined

the term ‘Total Swimming Environment’. “The swimming pool should be treated as a focal point within a larger landscaped room,” said Tony Vindell, owner. Stunning focal points are exactly what Imperial Gunite have been providing; but quietly. Avoiding traditional marketing like newspaper advertising and direct mail, the company thrives on word-of-mouth testimonials from past clients who access this distinctive builder through their architects and builders—professionals who have chosen Imperial for their own personal swimming pool projects. “It speaks volumes when the top architects and builders come straight to us for their homes and it’s always a pleasure to hear from prospective clients who tell me they loved the pool we built at a friend’s home,” says Vindell. “There’s pride in that.”

Imperial Gunite was chosen to build the swimming pools at two Hampton’s showcase homes as well as the fountains at the prestigious Ross School. They are rarely credited for their work shown in many publications, but Vindell doesn’t mind. “I’m not looking for accolades, I am happy to work with the leading visionaries. Moving with them to their next project is the perfect pat on the back.” To see more of Imperial Gunite’s work, visit: www.imperialgunite.com

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Architecture Leaders Today 45

CARPEN HOUSEThe kitchen shown was designed

by Carpen House in conjunction with a John Laffey Architects-designed East Hampton residence. Alex Stivala of Carpen House has been working with John Laffey since 2004 on many residential projects including the one pictured above.

“We’ve built a mutual trust within our designing relationship, which brings out the best of our abilities when it comes to designing the perfect solution in cabinetry. John creates the space and conceptual kitchen, and then I make sure that the layout and flow of the kitchen works well. Then, I add the final aesthetic touches,” Stivala said.

Stivala designs and engineers cabinetry that achieves the heights of both functionality and quality. Every design complements John Laffey’s designs whether it is kitchen, library or bathroom cabinetry that Carpen House builds. Working as a team with Laffey’s office, Carpen House brings the best end result and strives to exceed the client’s expectations not only to the creator but also the client who will ultimately enjoy the final product. For more information on custom woodworking for your home, please visit www.carpenhouse.com or call Alex Stivala at 877-396-3302.

existing steeple and back wall standing, they rebuilt everything in between, redoing all the glass windows and the pews. “This was a beautiful old barn that the Polish community had built over 100 years ago. To bring it back to its former glory was incredibly rewarding,” Laffey said.

Currently, Laffey is undertaking a 16,000 sq. ft. gymnasium addition for a local parochial school. The addition includes an indoor track that loops around the inside of the second story. Previously, the school’s gym operated out of the cafeteria. Laffey’sown children have attended the school and he is excited to contribute something that will impact future attendees so positively. “It was great to see the town to come together to back the project in a time when many schools are slimming down because of the economy.”

Despite the economic climate, the firm has stayed busy-- a testament to their skills. The boom of the area peaked in the ‘90s and Laffey has noticed a definite drop in the past two years, but attributes it mostly to the natural ebb and flow. “We run the office a bit tighter and we’re more careful,” he said, “but we’ve held through. The firm has had very low turnover over the years and has kept great relationships with the few people that have left.

“ What really sets us apart,” Laffey said, “is who we have worked for and what we have accomplished.” ALT

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Arms sticky from the heat, you fight to pull on blown-up floaties, eager to break the still surface of the waiting pool. Mom gives them one last tug and you take off, your flight broken only by the

reek of chlorine pushing back at you as you fall towards the water. You hardly register the smell but you know it will linger on your skin the rest of the day and exude from your bathing suit the next time you pull it on. It is a smell those childhood days spent in the pool are clouded with, and it is not a good one.

“When you smell chlorine in the air or on your skin, what you smell is a byproduct of chlorine that is harmful,” said Steve Kenny, owner of Long Island-based SRK Pool Services. “For 50 years we have grown to accept this as okay and part of the swimming experience, but we have been misled.”

With all of today’s technological and scientific advancements, it is easy to question why your children will stink of chlorine hours after a swim, just as you did all those years ago. The science of pool cleaning, care and filtration has actually made progress, yet it lacks appearance in American pools.

“At SRK, we believe it’s time that we all embrace safer, healthier and more cost-effective methods of pool water treatment,” Kenny said.

Pools need to be sanitized often in order to keep the microorganisms, bacteria and chemicals under control and at healthy levels. While chlorine is the American standard for keeping pools clean, other more progressive options, such as Ozone oxidation, have been used in Europe for many years.

“My passion for water safety and hygiene is what drove me to begin building the unique pool system that we refer to as the HydroZone3. The “3” indicates the number of layers of protec-tion against recreational water illness (RWI). In 2008 we installed our first of this breed of pools for the Hamptons Cottage & Garden Magazine’s Idea House with great success. We have continued installing these types of pools over the past 3 years and recently we have developed a system that eliminates the main drain, doing away with any need for anti-entrapment devises.” Kenny said.

These pools are designed with dual filtration systems that will remove surface contaminated water as fast as possible with the use of six to eight skimmers and two sets of main drains with all the treated and heated water returning to six to eight floor returns to eliminate dead spots. One system is to oxidize using corona discharge ozone, a high-flow contact chamber,

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SRK poolsSteve Kenny is an expert on water and water chemistry. He aims to bring safer, healthier,

more cost-effective methods of pool water treatment to the U.S. through beautiful designs.

edited by Kate Darling

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Architecture Leaders Today 49

a degas and destruct unit and an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) reader; the second system is to sterilize with a high-flow amalgam UV sterilizer and a trace amount of chlorine (.5ppm) for bather-to-bather contamination.

In some projects where budget does not allow for this or upon the upgrading of an existing pool, SRK will incorporate the 3 layers into one system adding the ozone to the UV chamber to create advanced oxidation. Kenny said the advanced oxidation process is one of the most powerful and amazing systems he has seen in his 25 years in the business.

“Because this process carries no residual and has zero impact on the water balance and the total dissolved solids, we are left with water that needs little-to-no adjustment right down to the potential hydrogen; a perfect saturation index of 120 alkalinity, 250 cal-cium, 7.6 pH and .5ppm chlorine with zero pH drift and/or adjustment.” Kenny said. Ozone works in oxidation systems to drasti-cally reduce a pool’s chlorine demand. Ozone oxidation systems use pumps that generate and circulate ozone into the pool to oxidize the water, thus burning the bacterial contaminants. The constant oxidation of the water allows the chlorine to function strictly as a sanitizer, therefore reducing the chlorine footprint. The oxidation system also reduces scum lines around the pool and helps maintain high water quality without the chlorine odor.

The ultraviolet light used in UV systems sanitizes the water, preventing microorgan-isms from mutating. Both of these systems are CDC, EPA and NSF certified to treat and disinfect pathogens and viruses. SRK uses a combination of both for treating pools and Kenny believes that allowing both systems to work together provides the utmost cleanliness.

Kenny says that the HydroZone3 is harder to sell in America.

“Often when working on new pools, the architect or the builder has more input then the homeowner. Many architects and builders don’t want to hear about oxidizing or filtration systems. They just want a hole in the ground that holds water and falls within the pool budget,” he said. “We’re not looking to remove them completely from the pool part of the project. We only require that we can work with the client to do things right and get the best pos-sible design for them as the homeowner. We’d rather do one of the finest pools you’ve ever been in, than ten ‘hole-in-the-ground’ pools.”

Building a pool that will be structurally sound for years to come, Kenny said, is a multi-step process. At SRK, these steps include overlooked aspects such as design, soil reports, structural engineer reports (based on the soil report) and building with a strict set of guidelines.

Kenny and his staff work with the same pas-sion as that of a meticulous chef, who wants the ripest fruits, the best knives to cut them

with and the best plates to serve them on. They consider all aspects of the pool, working with the aesthetic of the house and the structure of the surrounding community. Instead of a set of packages for clients to choose from, SRK allows for a custom experience from start to finish.

“Getting to know the client is the key to success in pool design,” Kenny said. “We ask our clients specific questions about their family, their day, their lives, etc. Do they have kids? Do they want their pool just for exercise? Aesthetic? Recreation? Is it for them or extended family? Do they swim at night or in the early morning?”

Kenny said this information allows them to design the perfect pool shape, water chemistry, water temperature and pool lighting.

“It’s our job to acknowledge every little detail and work it out directly with the user or owner,” Kenny says.

Though careful attention is paid to complex designs and custom projects, one of SRK’s big-gest concerns is total energy efficiency. Many of the tools required to keep a pool at the right temperature, pH balance or level of sanitation involve harsh chemicals or expensive systems. However, SRK abandons these traditional systems and aims for complete sustainability in their designs using the technique of ozone oxidation and UV sanitation.

An early adopter of this technology, SRK prides itself on being one of the pool industry’s most expert and innovative companies in the

architectural products | northeast

50 Spring 2011

implementation of ozone oxidation and UV sanitation.

For your children, an SRK Pool will mean no more forced showers intended to get rid of chlorine reeking skin. It will mean memories absent of the toxic smell and the sticky skin that it leaves behind. For you, it will mean a safe, clean and sustainable place to escape the blaring heat of the summer sun. It will mean one less thing you have to worry about.

Kenny said the time has come for SRK Pools to lead the public toward better methods of water treatment for swim-ming pools and drinking water.

“There’s no silver bullet to water treat-ment and water balance,” Kenny said. “But this is definitely the closest.” ALT

Photos courtesy of SRK Pool Services.

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Architecture Leaders Today 51

HERNER-GEISSLER WOODWORKINGFamily-owned and operated, Herner-Geissler Woodworking

specializes in high-end custom woodworking. A key element for a successful project is the coordination between the architect and the woodworker, which is evident at the 400 EAST Fitness and Recreation, designed by RADA Architects with woodwork provided by Herner-Geissler Woodworking. For more information, call (312) 226-3400.

INTERIOR INVESTMENTSInterior Investments is in the business of helping to create

environments that support productivity, learning and healing. They are proud to have accomplished these goals with RADA Architects on the 400 EAST Club project. For more information, visit www.interiorinvestments.com.

northeast | green building

52 Spring 2011

Founded by Bulgarian-American Rada Doytcheva, RADA Architecture has an eye-catching edge. Along with the firm’s international f lair, eco-friendly building expertise has made it one of the Mid-west’s premiere educational architecture firms.When Doytcheva immigrated to the United States, she immersed herself in its architectural culture, and dove into American design with Bulgarian roots. After working as an associate for a large design firm, she founded RADA Architecture in Chicago in 1994.Spotting a market demand, Doytcheva and her partner Wil-liam Sitton specialize in higher education architecture, while still extending into commercial, public and private sectors.Sitton, head of project development, brought his tech-nical experience to the firm, after 30 years of work on buildings, including high-rises, museums and airports.” We share a passion for architectural ingenu-ity and rationality of design,” Doytcheva said.One of RADA’s highest achievements has been completing Chicago’s first LEED Silver mid-rise multi-unit residen-tial development project, Clybourn Point, in 2007. The building is made from 10 percent recycled materials, promotes recycling for its inhabitants, uses regionally sourced material and features renewable bamboo flooring.A highlight for residents, the building’s green reduces the urban heat’s island effect, reduces storm water runoff, conserves water and energy and reduces pollution.

Designing Clybourn Point was a career highlight for Doytcheva and Sitton. Beyond bringing green build-ing to Chicago, they have introduced numerous eco-friendly practices to Clybourn Point’s inhabitants. “As one of the first new buildings in the corridor, Clybourn

by Anne BrouilettePhotos by James Steinkamp

The Highest Quality Eco-ChicFor the Chicago-based firm of Rada

Architects, distinct and contemporary designs at the forefront of eco-friendly architecture are just the begining of what they have to offer.

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Architecture Leaders Today 53

Point has set a standard for urban renewal and socially conscious design,” said Walter Burnett Jr., Alderman, Chigaco city councilman.Where the firm really shines is at universities, where their eco-friendly designs extend across campus lawns. Recently, they completed a student residence hall at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., fondly recognized as the “Gold Coast” for being one of students’ most desirable on-campus accommodations. The facade of the building “reinforces the continuity of Victorian houses surrounding the site,” helping the college blend seamlessly into its community.

“The Townhouses,” as termed by the school, houses 100 stu-dents in duplexes or lofts, each with a living room, internal stair, several bedrooms and bathrooms and a small kitchen. The lower levels feature state-of-the-art recreation, study and support facilities, all wired to the campus computer network.Dedicated to bringing green concepts to Chicago’s urban sprawl, Doytcheva and Sitton push for greener projects ahead. “We are the ‘messengers’ of concepts, ideas, philosophy and innovation,” Doytcheva said. “We influence the quality of life.” ALT

BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE • BOSTONCONSERVATORY • CALIFORNIA SHAKESPEARE THEATRE • CARNEGIE HALL • ZANKEL HALL CELEBRITY CRUISE LINES • DENVER ART MUSEUMHAMILTON BUILDING • US CAPITOL VISITORCENTER • EMERSON COLLEGE, PARAMOUNTTHEATRE • HAYDEN PLANETARIUM • UC SAN DIEGOPREBYS MUSIC CENTER • FOX CALIFORNIATHEATRE • MGM MIRAGE CIRQUE DU SOLEILLOVE • SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GREENMUSIC CENTER • MESA ARTS CENTER GRIFFITHOBSERVATORY PLANETARIUM UC DAVISMONDAVI CENTER FOR THE ARTS • NAPAVALLEY COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTERSAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ARTMGM CITYCENTER, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL VIVA ELVISSAN FRANCISCO WAR MEMORIAL OPERAHOUSE • SANTA FE OPERA • CSU NORTHRIDGEVALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • SIGNATURE THEATRE CENTER • CYPRUS CULTURAL CENTRESAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSICPHILADELPHIA ACADEMY OF MUSIC VERIZON WIRELESS AMPITHEATRE AT ENCORE PARK

SAN FRANCISCO NEW YORK MINNEAPOLIS

www.auerbachconsultants.com [email protected]

AUERBACH • POLLOCK • FRIEDLANDER

Performing Arts/Media Facilities Planning and Design

Wisteria VinePhoto courtesy of PleinAire Design Group

INSIDE: PLEINAIRE DESIGN GROUP

WEST

When Kevin Small plans a new project, he starts by holding a formative meeting with his client. For the first half hour, he lets them do all the talking. They might not use the correct jargon to express their ideas precisely, but as a landscape designer, it’s up to Small to listen and translate their thoughts into a mastery of design.

“It’s not about me,” said Small, owner of PleinAire Design Group in Santa Maria, Calif. “It’s about get-ting the client to where they want to be. It’s their home and their life and each client is different emotionally and aesthetically. I’ve had numerous clients tell me that they selected me because I listened to them when other designers told them what they needed.”

After studying design at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Small joined Eriksson, Peters & Thoms, now known as EPT Landscape Architecture, in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. At EPT, Small honed his technique, and learned to prioritize the client’s desires and let them create their space. While his studies had focused on designer-centric design, working with EPT showed him an approach that pushes the designer’s ego aside.

“Each client is unique. I don’t have a style. If you look at my portfolio, every project is differ-ent because every client is different,” Small said.

Small has one requirement for all designs, which he refuses to compromise, even for high-profile customers. Eco-friendly design, required in drought-threatened California, is important to Small both professionally and personally. He relies mostly on personal knowledge, with go-to experts on-call, like biologists and botanists, for more complex projects.

Habitat restoration is especially sensitive in the rural areas and creeks surrounding Small’s office. Looking over these areas, PleinAire is driven towards its mission to preserve environmental integrity and discourage invasive species, especially along vulnerable coastal dunes. Small designs with native plants to maintain ecological integrity and sensitivity for the animals.

The words “habitat restoration” can sometimes bog down a project from the beginning as it faces government agencies. Small doesn’t let this obstacle block his environmental aims. PleinAire recently set up a monarch butterfly habitat on a housing development project along the species’ migratory path. Though the clients didn’t know about the

THIS PAGE: Giving guests an arrival that reflects the clients

home is always an integral part of design.

TOP OPPOSITE PAGE: This quiet fountain of Bacchus

with the surrounding grape arbor gives the clients a

tranquil foreground to the dramatic whitewater ocean

views beyond.

SECOND: Located in a vineyard garden this arbor and

firepit gives the client a place for private tastings.

BOTTOM LEFT: With expan-sive ocean views beyond,

this Hawaiian themed home required a lush tropical

landscape to set the scene for guests as they arrive.

BOTTOM RIGHT: A peek through the redwood grove

gives a view into a children's reading garden where every-

thing is scaled to a child's point of view.

by Rebecca Rodriguez

PLEINAIRE DESIGN GROUPROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET FOR CLIENTS AND THE GREEN CARPET FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

west | landscape design

60 Spring 2011

habitat plans, everyone was pleased in the end. “Once the project was approved, I told the developer and he

was happy because of what it would do for sales,” he said. “Here was an opportunity to do the right thing, in a way that made life easier for everyone.”

Small’s firm has been around for 20 years, offering full-range landscape architecture services, including water management, arborist consulting and landscape management. He has worked on custom residential, commercial, public works and planned com-munities, with additional experience in plant appraisals, habitat restoration and drought tolerant and native plants.

PleinAire clients are primarily gained through word-of-mouth and Small’s travels throughout California. Some clients are from Canada and Mexico, and need work done on vacation homes. One client hired PleinAire for a project while on vacation in Mexico, and was able to work remotely with contractors and oversee funds.

“When the client returned home it was all lit up and everything was finished. I remember the client saying to me, ‘There’s just one thing about this project that surprises me; you made it so easy,’” Small said, recalling the client’s words. “Only two checks were written; one at the start, and one after completion.”

Small recalled an engineering firm hiring him for his low maintenance.”They tell me what to do and I take care of it,” he said.

Small has no desire for a big office in Los Angeles. On the central coast of California in Santa Maria, he is surrounded by beauty, minutes from the ocean, oak forests and vineyards. He lives in an area where people prioritize exteriors, and believe outdoor activity improves quality of life.

“It’s all about being outside and enjoying the environment and outdoors,” he said, adding that nearby San Luis Obispo was recently rated the happiest city in America by the Oprah Winfrey show.

People flock to the area, seeking homes that reflect the bucolic beauty and quiet. “There is a sophisticated population here that can appreciate what I do,” he said. “They have an aesthetic sense and understand the value of what I do for them.”

Showing his eye for detail, Small said the small details of design are just as important as the big picture. He recalls designing a little Monet’s garden and a column with wisteria for a painter client’s office complex.

“We all enjoy a little glimpse of beauty, and I enjoy the moments of happiness I can give people. That’s when I get joy from what I do,” Small said.

Business is thriving. On any given day, Small has 12 to18 concur-rent projects in different stages. Happy with his firm, he has no aspirations for a large corporate office.

Small gets to know clients on a personal level, understands their needs and delivers a tranquil, soothing, natural environment. ALT

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Architecture Leaders Today 61

Ferrante KoberlingConstruction

We would like to thank Jess andBill at Make Architecture for theircontinued support. We wish youall the best.

Ferrante Koberling Inc. is a full service construction rm specializing in hospitality, retail, office tenant improvement, adaptive re-use, commercial landscape and custom residential.

Los Angeles San Francisco San Diego

www.ferrantekoberling.com323.206.1663

west | regional marketplace

62 Spring 2011

INSIDE: MEISNER & ASSOCIATES, R.S. BICKFORD & COMPANY,CUSTOM AQUARIUMS BY DESIGN, GMK ARCHITECTURE

M IDWEST

The Corrigan HousePhoto courtesy of GMK Architecture, inc.

Meisner + Associates/Land Vision began pioneering the landscape architecture and planning of greater Cincinnati in 1979. The firm’s designers solve a breadth of industry challenges, from small urban projects, such as university campuses, hospitals, cemeter-ies and gardens, to completing Ohio’s largest green roof and land-use vision plans that span over 100 square miles. Their work has impacted the Ohio and northern Kentucky region.

Specialization in urban planning, master planning and site design, reliant on detailed contract documents, requires a multi-talented staff. Planning land-use visioning, water-shed analysis and vast green infrastruc-ture assignments demands a broad-stroke, expert eye. Detailing complex construc-tion sites requires a thorough mechanic. Through every phase of each project, Mei-sner’s team leaves no detail overlooked. Research and science is essential to the firm’s work. Each project begins by evaluat-ing natural resources, potential water and air quality issues, sustainable materials, storm water management, long term cost savings and technical innovations. The firm brings custom solutions to each project and carefully weighs relationships between conservation, growth and development. “We adapt to the different scales of our projects, local ecologies, natural resources, history and cultural resources,” said Gary Meisner, president. “When you’re working on projects in the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley areas, you’re dealing with the history of glacial

process, the evolution of plant and animal ecologies, resource extraction and urban growth. Soils range from sand and gravel in Michigan to heavy clays in southern Ohio, so there’s variance, both in climate and soil condition that you have to deal with. You need to look at the science carefully before planning and designing.”Beyond science, the firm excels in its ability to service a wide client base. Ready for any challenge, Meisner

by Marylyn Simpson

MASTER PLANNING: THE GREENEST IN OHIOMEISNER+ASSOCIATES/LAND VISION

THIS PAGE & OPPOSITE TOP: Ohio Governer’s Residence, Bexley, Ohio. Ohio’s diverse landscapes and First Families provide the design framework for the governor’s residence's garden master plan. From the Lake Erie dune garden to the prairie, woodland and Appalachian gardens, the site tells a unique story of Ohio’s ecology and natural history. Each of Ohio’s First Families have made an imprint upon Ohio’s cultural history. Those stories are interpreted hand-in-hand with the stories of ecology, native plants and agriculture within this learning garden. Photo courtesy of Meisner + Associates/Land Vision.

midwest | landscape design

64 Spring 2011

MEISNER+ASSOCIATES/LAND VISIONThere, he sharpened leadership skills while managing a staff of architects, landscape architects, planners and horticulturalists and working with signature consulting landscape architects. Assignments involved all aspects of city design. Meisner revived residential districts, redeveloped the downtown, restored aging business districts, envisioned new transportation improvements -- from roads and bridges to green streets -- advanced living sound walls, adapted buildings for reuse, improved old canals and bikeways and drafted historic preservation plans. After his experience in Akron, Meisner joined an existing Cincinnati office, where he began Meisner and Associates. With its masterful staff, the firm offers expertise in architec-ture, industrial design, planning, landscape preservation and restoration, town planning, cemetery history and design, sustainable technologies and 3-D animation. Focused on government and institutional projects, including urban design, historic sites and urban cemeteries, Meisner emphasizes the importance of creating a learning experi-ence with each project. The firm prioritizes the needs of the client, but also serves the general public experiencing the work first-hand. “We enjoy making urban design and

says he welcomes projects that are intellec-tually demanding. Sometimes this leads to assisting a client in assessing the return on investment for proposed improvements and development, or assisting a municipality to assess how to capture positive return on conservation, urban growth and land use change. Adapting to these client driven challenges has allowed for company expansion and develop-ment, both fiscally and geographically. Using this philosophy, the company plans for future growth and develop-ment opportunities while maintaining a keen eye for projects connected to con-servation and preservation of sensitive ecological, archaeological and historical sites. Meisner was inspired to pursue a career in landscape architecture after his studies at Michigan State University exposed him to the works of such notable designers as Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, Mexican architect Luis Barragan and Japanese American environmental artist and sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Internships at Detroit’s Huron-Clinton Metro Authority, Fairfax County Virginia’s Park District and the City of East Lansing shaped his design perspective. After graduating, Meisner launched his career in Akron, Ohio as a city design administrator.

LEFT: The Fernald Restoration Project, Ohio. For decades, Fernald produced nuclear bomb materials secretly on Ohio farmland until it was determined that people were getting cancer, soils were contaminated and the water table was polluted. The findings led to a multibillion dollar clean up and Meisner + Associates / Land Vision assisted UC, The Department of Energy, and Glaserworks with the design of landscape restoration at the new visitors center. Trails, new wetlands, prairie and reforestation were part of the site's transformation. The visitor center is a mini-museum that tells the story of what is now a 1,000 acre preserve. This was Ohio's first LEED-Platinum project. Photo courtesy of Meisner + Associates/Land Vision. Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy, file photo.

landscape design | midwest

Architecture Leaders Today 65

historic preservation a learning experience,” Meisner said. “Good design is functional and aesthetically beautiful, but also sustainable. A great design is so much more. It can tell an important story through the landscape, site architecture and art. As a story, the design is engaging and educating the public on a higher plane. Much of the public space design we are involved in includes learning, some-times symbolic and subtle and sometimes more textbook. This is what place-making is about. It’s design with a capital “D” and sustainable design is more than just a passing fad.”Sustainability is what has kept Meisner a step ahead. With a primary client base of government, institutions and sustainable organizations looking at alternative energy and native landscape solutions, Meisner and his team yield expertise in sustainable design, natural resources, plants, soils and alternative energy to create design solutions that are functional, efficient, enduring and aesthetically pleasing. As many designers are just now realizing the importance of sustain-ability, Meisner and his team have made it a focal point of their designs for decades. In aesthetic illustration, their visual therapy gardens at hospitals is “…an emerging art form that is based upon both sustainability and art,” Meisner said.

“Whether you define sustainability as reducing energy cost in buildings, planning environmentally responsible sites, lower-ing operational costs or reducing impact on water management, it’s important to know that sustainability is more than words. It’s action. Clearly there has been a very thoughtful evolution over the past 15 years to

discuss sustainabil-ity at the forefront and look for more holistic solutions to urban - suburban planning and design that include truly sustainable ideas that improve public health, safety and welfare. Our philosophy has been to leave the “definitions” to the histori-ans later; explore all the possibilities now.”

Looking ahead, Meisner said, “Success is not about changing what professionals know. It’s knowing how to rely on the ageless, basic principles of good planning, and adapting them to today’s world. Sun wind, rain, snow, oceans, rivers, flora, fauna and earth are still with us today. We will always need to consider these basics and plan ahead. A brighter future will be one that relies more on conserving natural resources and reducing energy use. Future growth, development and the success of landscape architecture will be with those who “listen to the land best.”Always a step ahead, the Land Vision designers continue to expand their approach to maximizing natural resources and tackling daunting projects. In today’s communication savvy world, Meisner and his team have new dreams for the future, hoping to launch their landscape influence across the globe. “In a shrinking world with an expanding communications network, perhaps we can influence change in a wider circle. Perhaps we can bring meaningful change to others. The only real success in planning and design is to better serve our clients and the public.” ALT

MELINKMelink is a premier developer of large

commercial solar PV systems and provides roof-mount, ground-mount and carport solutions. Melink also manufactures a 2kW pre-engineered solar PV system to promote mainstream renewable energy technologies. Melink walks the talk with a LEED Platinum headquarters and near-zero energy. For more information visit www.melinkcorp.com.

THIS PAGE: Community Mercy Medical Center, Springfield, Ohio. In collaboration with Champlin Architects six urban blocks were turned into a unique landscaped campus of alles, garden terraces, therapy gardens and Ohio's largest green roof, to uplift spirits and provide places to sit, relax and retreat from the pressures of hospital life. Photo courtesy of Meisner + Associates/Land Vision.

THE VERDIN CO.Family owned since 1842, The Verdin Company

specializes in the design and manufacture of bells, bell and clock towers and street clocks. Verdin recently acquired Canterbury International, a leader in site amenities. Together, Verdin and Canterbury offer the finest in original design creating focal points and art forms for public spaces. For more information on Verdin, visit www.verdin.com.

midwest | landscape design

66 Spring 2011

“Many of my colleagues ask how I can put up with residential clients, who are typically a couple or family who often disagree on one infinitesimal detail or another,” said Scott Bickford, founder and principal of R.S. Bick-ford & Company. “I’ll turn around and wonder how they can work with large corporations and conglomerates behind walls of red tape. To me, the personal relationship involved in residential projects produces a much more rewarding project, and likewise a much more successful project.”

These sentiments express the reputation that R.S. Bickford & Company has maintained over the past 30 years. Bickford has built his success upon a foundation of dedication to the ideals and values so many architects only talk about. In spite of, or perhaps because of, having never worked in an architectural firm outside his own, Bickford’s uniquely personal journey to the heart of every project, no matter how large or small, has yielded a ceaseless flow of clients throughout even the most disheartening economic times.

Like many architects, Bickford completed his

degree and immediately joined a small local firm. His degree in architecture from Kansas State University was granted in 1978, and that year he began gaining experience as a working architect. However, things were certainly not as they seemed.

As his boss was rarely in the office, Bickford was left with no one to turn to for any tech-nical questions on his designs or the firm’s plans. Naturally, he turned to the people who would have some of the most relevant advice: the contractors and builders for the projects.

Time and time again, Bickford reached out to the contractors and builders for whom he was developing construction documents. As lasting relationships began to build, the con-tractors and builders began to hold Bickford, exclusive of the firm’s reputation, in the highest regard. After a year of employment, Bickford discovered that his employer was not actually an architect, licensed or otherwise. The pro-fessionally dangerous prospect of working for an unlicensed, yet operational architect was unacceptable for Bickford.

He left the firm with no concrete future in

mind. But as he received frequent calls from the contractors and builders with whom he had built relationships and with demand knock-ing at his door, he decided to begin supplying that demand. In 1979, Bickford acquired his own license and founded Residential Design Studio. In 1989, now with a handful of partners, it evolved into R.S. Bickford and Company.

“After I had left the firm, I dove headfirst into an economic recession with no prospects for employment,” Bickford said. “I have always been of the mindset that you should only draw what you know how to build, and being a young architect, I had many, many questions. I learned to talk with builders on a personal level and I learned firsthand how they work and what they need. Several of the builders I’d worked with so closely before kept asking me to do drawing after drawing for them, and I was certainly in no position to refuse.”

The firm was founded on personal relation-ships, practicality and flexibility and over the years it has developed a legacy of the finest craftsmanship. Bickford has come to under-stand that to capture a client’s ideal personal

A PersonAl TouchFocusing on people above buildings, R.S. Bickford & Company has been designing residences

around the country that mean just a little bit more to everyone involved.

by Joel Cornell

custom homes | midwest

Architecture Leaders Today 67

midwest | custom homes

68 Spring 2011

custom homes | midwest

Architecture Leaders Today 69

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOG HOMES

Located in the heart of Montana’s Bitterroot Valley is one of the most trusted names in log homes. Over three decades ago, Rocky Mountain Log Homes was built on the belief that a log home is very personal. RMLH values and stresses innovation in every aspect of their company. From harvesting only dry-standing timber to precise milling techniques to Old World handcrafting, these procedures result in the most beautiful, functional homes in the world. Learn more about the Rocky Difference at www.rmlh.com.

ROCK COTTAGE GLASSWORKS

Rock Cottage Glassworks is an American glass blowing studio that specializes in the design and fabrication of custom lighting fixtures. RCG works with designers, architects and homeowners to create artistic lighting for hospitality, commercial and residential settings. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted work of art. For more information, please visit www.rockcottageglassworks.com.

space, the architect must have a personal and rigorous approach to design.

“I’ve been quite frequently told that our best strengths are in listening and understanding,” Bickford said. “I tend to get more involved in a client’s life than most other architects might. I think it’s because of my own desires to make sure that when we begin to work on a project, I am truly working to fulfill the client’s own interest and desires, even desires of which they might not yet be aware. We are always asking questions about the client’s intended use, lifestyle, aesthetic style and their need for different forms of functionality. It can be a meticulous and at times onerous process, but in the end, the final result is always greater for it.

“From builders, we frequently hear the most surprising complements. The one that strikes me the most interesting is that the builders say our plans are easy to build with few ques-tions. I never knew that could be a problem; I thought immediately buildable construction documents went without saying. My style of design has always taken into account the fact that the client’s desires and the builder’s needs always come first. Perhaps that’s why I have never adopted one specific preferential style, because not every client is going to want the

midwest | custom homes

70 Spring 2011

UNITED HEATING, COOLING & PLUMBING

United Heating, Cooling & Plumbing was founded by brothers Joe and Jerry Lambert and best friend Mark McWilliams. When they started United in 1990, they did so with one fundamental premise that still holds true today: do what you say you’re going to do. United Heating, Cooling & Plumbing never wavers on their commitments. For more information, visit www.unitedheating.com.

same thing. Without that personal relation-ship, the project will have far less meaning to all parties involved.”

While Bickford and his firm have always worked hard to maintain proper relationships with clients and builders, differences do arise. One particular element of design that he pri-oritizes differently from client to client is the focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.

“On one hand, we’re at a point in society where every client, builder and designer must say that

they want to be green or use sustainable materi-als” Bickford said. “Not that anyone doesn’t want to be green, but often when it comes down to priorities and budgeting, that’s not always at the top of the list. The design process involves balancing desires, budget and expectations with the client’s priorities in mind. Often we can show that by using sustainable products we can meet the client’s priority of budget and also fulfill the desire for low maintenance and being green.” ALT

custom homes | midwest

Architecture Leaders Today 71

Whether it's a simple 20-gallon aquarium in an office waiting room or a huge, thousand-gallon specialty aquarium for a custom home, the Kansas City-based company Custom Aquariums by Design has done it.

“The largest project we’ve ever done was probably a 3,000 gallon shark pond in a custom home,” said Chris Owens, owner and founder. “The owner had sharks, stingrays, puffer fish and all kinds of interesting odd-ball creatures.”

Owens grew up in the pet industry. His parents opened their own pet store in 1973, which is still in business today. When his parents’ shop got busy, Owens’ father had clients complain about having to clean their fish tank. What started as a little job to make some spending money when he was 16, developed into a full-time job throughout college. In 2005, Owens launched his own business, branching out from his parents’ company in order to focus solely on aquariums. Aquariums

by Design covers the Kansas City area and stretches as far north as De Moines and as far south as Oklahoma City. Owens stays involved with every aspect of the business from management responsibilities like schedules and accounting to installation and design.

Through word of mouth and referrals, the company has maintained a strong client base of both residential and commercial projects over the years. Deciding what the client wants is the always the first step.

“We sit down with a client with research and information,” Owens said. “Some people want a more hands on tank. They might like to scuba dive. Others don’t have specifics in mind. We try to steer them in the direction of a very sustainable, healthy combination of fish and corals or whatever it might be.”

Once the plan is laid out Owens and his team order the aquarium and outsource the fish from all over; they often come as far as the

Custom Aquariums by Design

Adding that little extra something to a home or office, Custom Aquariums by Design offers their clients not just amazing service but the beauty and magic of the ocean.

by Amelia Doenlen

architectural products | midwest

72 Spring 2011

Fiji Islands or the Mediterranean depending on the client’s desires. From there, the inside of the tank is designed and the fish arrive and are acclimated on a schedule that Owens sets with the client. Routine maintenance schedules for care and cleaning can also be set up.

Owens believes quality and customer service really sets his company apart from competitors.

“A lot of the products that we use are private label products of a very high quality,” he said. “The aquariums that we use come from the same companies that build a lot of the zoo and public aquariums around the country.”

Custom Aquariums strives for the most natural approach to each project. “We try to recreate Mother Nature as closely as possible. And as simple as that sounds, when salt water aquariums came about people tried to sterilize the environment and that wasn’t as good for the fish. We try to create something as natural as possible which cre-ates a healthy environment for the fish," Owens said. "When the fish are happy the customers are happy.”

One of their most precarious projects was for a custom home built by Bickford & Company. The house is built into a hill and a local haul-ing/rigging company was called in to lift the 1,000 pound aquarium over and around then house, then through the downstairs window to the installation site. The tank will sit empty for about a year until the building is completed. Then, Owens will pick back up and within a few months, the aquarium will be up and running for when the clients move in.

Like so many businesses, however, Custom Aquariums has felt the economic shift over the years. “We aren’t putting in aquariums like we used to,” Owens said. “While people are still building homes, they aren’t going to install a five or $10,000 aquarium project to save on costs.”

In addition to decreased custom projects, aquariums in corporate offices and lobbies have also decreased. “When a company needs to cut costs,” he said, “things like aquariums are often the first thing to go. We try to work with the clients on pricing plans for servicing. About half the time we keep the client and half the time we don’t. Some people just have their minds made up.”

Owens feels confident about the future of his company, despite the economy right now. “In the immediate future we are just trying to maintain the status quo,” he said. “No matter what the economy we always get new clients here and there. Continued growth is always what we are going for and nowadays, things are just slow growing. In the next five to 10 years, our goal is to expand to out-of-town markets.” ALT

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The Nature of Design

Embracing both technology and the beauty of the outdoors, GMK Architecture, inc. uses the inspiring scenery of Wisconsin to create pleasing, state-of-the-art designs for their clients.

by Amelia Doenlen

THIS SPREAD: Graber, private residence. Photo by Jim Wildeman.

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s technology has advanced over the years, architects have learned to roll with the punches. New

computer software literally brought another dimension to the table and while the

advancements have both posi-tives and negatives, Jim Gempeler, co-founder of GMK Architecture, inc., believes that it has played a crucial role in “taking down the cur-tain” between architect and client.

Gempeler remembers the days when model-ing was done entirely by hand and, in order to show a client a 3-D version of the plan, he had to construct the cardboard model himself.

“Nowadays with 3-D modeling,” Gempeler said, “you can really use those programs from day one to keep the client more involved in the decision making process. They can see what impact they are going to have on the composition right away and that keeps them more engaged.”

Gempeler grew up on a farm in southern Wisconsin. His mother used to take him to see notable buildings in nearby cities. Gempeler credits his background as the cornerstone of his architecture career. “On the farm, I learned very early how to fix and build things and how to be pretty resourceful as far as making things work to serve a function or purpose.

Gempeler, Bill Montelbano and Russ Kowalski started GMK Architecture, inc. in 1984. Gempeler and Kowalski run the firm today. Over the 27 years they have been in business, the firm has adapted to changes in the industry. Starting as, what Gempeler described as “general practice” architects, the firm has become more specialized. Both Gempeler and Kowalski have embraced their specialties and the firm now operates two distinct studios. Kowalski runs the commercial and retail studio while Gempeler focuses on custom residential and vacation homes.

“I’ve always found residential work to be very interesting,” Gempeler said, “because people tend to get more passionate about what they do when they are talking about houses that they will be growing in and raising a family in. One of the biggest rewards for me has been that you start out with a client, and end up with great friends.”

The two studios have somewhat different requirements as far as technology. When the firm started, they were drawing everything by hand and building models. As computer software has developed it’s given the firm more options. Today, the commercial studio uses AutoCAD as its main drafting program whereas the residential studio relies entirely on Revit due to its greater ability to produce 3-D models and illustrations.

“The tools available today are a huge change from when we started,” Gempeler said. “The biggest thing is how the technological tools connect the client to the project. It lets them understand everything and see everything better,

TOP LEFT: Graber, private residence. The interior living room in this home features exposed wood beams and high ceilings. Photo by Jim Wildeman.

THIS SPREAD: Corrigan, private residence. The lakeside home features an interior stone wall with a fireplace, large windows and exposed wood ceilings, creating a natural but inviting living space. Photos by Jim Gempeler.

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THIS SPREAD: The living room fireplace in the Corrigan residence.

which in return allows us to do more sculptural buildings and more complex compositions. I think it’s hugely unfair to hand a client a two-dimensional sketch or plan and expect them to be able to take everything that is in our mind as architects and understand it.”

From the preliminary stages of design to the construction phase of a project, plans are always printed in full-color, even the construction docu-ments. Gempeler feels that it is important to communicate to all parties the final outcome of the project. In his mind, a picture truly is worth a thousand words and there isn’t any reason to keep the design details from the people physically put-ting it all together. The firm provides 3-D camera angles and perspectives on the same document that has elevation dimensions for the contractors.

“It’s a more model intensive approach through and through,” Gempeler said.

Based in Madison, Wis., GMK designs projects throughout the state with some regional work stretching into neighboring states. While most people think of Colorado or Florida as quintes-sential vacation home destinations, Gempeler is adamant about the beauty of his home state. The diverse topography throughout the state as well as the lakes and streams and majestic forests have been rewarding to GMK in the way of business.

While the beauty of the landscape plays a role in the design of the house, so does the climate. Gempeler pointed out that it is crucial to know the environment you are designing for. Temperature swings in Wisconsin range from 105 degrees to 20 below zero, putting strains on a building that architects in more temperate climates would not have to consider.

“Every climate has its gremlins that local experts have learned how to handle, and in designing for different climates, you better take that into account,” Gempeler said. “The vacations spots have certainly offered some very interesting and fun projects over the years. More than once we’ve started doing a vacation house for someone and they end up having so much fun and loving it so much that they don’t want to leave and it becomes their permanent residence.”

“Clients move here because they want the land-scape to be part of their lives and part of their living environment,” Gempeler said. “In the residential work that we do we try to dissolve that transition of indoors to outdoors and we want it to be gradual and transparent. As a design philosophy, we’re just trying to get out of the way of nature. We aren’t trying to compete with the natural beauty of the environment, but connect with it. We want to make window walls and not windows in a wall. We like to get out of the way and let the natural beauty be part of the home as much as possible.”

It’s a love of the great outdoors coupled with a passion for beautiful design that yields GMK the opportunity to create breathtaking homes that embrace the best of both worlds. ALT

THIS PAGE: Shephard, private residence. Designed with sweeping views of the mountains in mind, this home is perfectly situated to offer beautiful vistas from each room. An outdoor patio features a pool, while the interior pays special attention to natural elements and finishes. Photos by Jim Gempeler.

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LOPEZ CONSTRUCTION& DESIGN INC.

Lopez Construction & Design, Inc. is a full service general contacting company specializing in high-end residential and commercial construction. A multi-generational, family owned and operated corporation, they thrive on projects that challenge and excite. Chuck Lopez, president, has been building in Western Colorado for over 35 years. Hard work, honesty and integrity are the foundation that this company has been built on. By merging Old-World craftsmanship and new technology, Lopez Construction & Design, Inc. has become a leader in Western Colorado’s construction industry. Partnering with Energy Star, strategic subcontractors and vendors, they are leading the way in energy efficient construction.For more information on Lopez Construction please visit www.lopezcd.com.

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Don Stevens, Inc. has been providing reliable, quality distribution services for nearly half a century. Their legacy of excellence has firmly established the company as the premiere distributor for over 400,000 square miles covering North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

“Especially throughout the Midwest, but also nationwide for our lodg-ing customers, we have minimized logistical problems for many of our customers by having seven fully stocked warehouses,” said lodging sales manager Dale Boyer. “We started in the early 1960s headquartered in Eagan, Minn., a suburb of St. Paul, as reps within the food service industry. Many of our clients are spread out over vast distances throughout Minnesota and surrounding areas, which made acquiring their equipment a logistical nightmare. What we've established is giving them overnight access to the equipment, replacement parts and the service they need to keep their businesses strong.”

Since their founding, Don Stevens, Inc. has drasti-cally expanded their services, their products and their reach. In 1988, the company became a major player as a distributor within the lodging and hospitality indus-tries. Through their partnership with Amana Package Terminal Air Conditioners, they have set up an entirely separate sales and service division to fully support this market. Today, they are one of the few distributors offer-ing both air conditioning and food service equipment

to the lodging and hospitality industries. “Our goal is to have the right product available, at the right time, every

time, at a fair price. We realize from time to time an unforeseen situation may arise,” Boyer said. "Whether it’s our fault or no one’s fault at all, we promise to resolve the situation immediately for our clients. We learned a long time ago that what you sell is only as good as the level of service you provide to your customer base."

Currently planning to extend their range even further throughout the country, Don Stevens, Inc. has uniquely qualified employees with the experience to meet the needs of any customer, any time, anywhere.

DON STEVENS, INC.A TRUSTED DISTRIBUTOR TO THE LODGING, FOOD SERVICE AND HVAC MARKETS.

by Joel Cornell

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LOPEZ CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN INC.

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Lopez Construction Quarter Pg.indd 1 11/5/2010 3:28:36 PM

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INSIDE: WYK ARCHITECTS, SDS ARCHITECTURE, REEDER CONSTRUCTION, LLW ARCHITECTS, TURNER, RAMIREZ & ASSOCIATES,

TURNER & TOWNSEND, BENDER & ASSOCIATES

SOU TH

The Hampton Inn, Mobile, Ala.Photo courtesy of LLW Architects

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WYKby Joan Tupponce

“Our company roots date back to the early 1900s,” said James Swiger, president of WYK Associates. “We have over 100 years of draw-ings in our files and archives.” With a century’s experience under its belt, it’s natural for a firm to have dozens of stand-out projects to showcase.

Forefront in WYK’s history is the West Pike Street government parking facility in Clarks-burg, W.V. The project won a 2007 Merit Award from the West Virginia AIA. Now a Clarksburg hub, the multi-use pavilion hosts a variety of events, from farmers markets to weddings and private parties.

“This block within the historic district of downtown had fallen to years of blight and neglect,” Swiger said. “We teamed with local architect Ralph Pedersen, for his extensive demolition and historical experience. We tore down everything but two corner buildings on the block.”

Prior to demolition, the State Historic Pres-ervation Office undertook a historical study and review of the building.. The new project added underground utilities and a storm water management system.

Topping the upper level of a two-tier park-ing facility, WYK added a translucent-paneled “band shell.”

“We designed the facility in a way that the railings can be removed on the center portion to use it as a stage for public events,” Swiger said.

In efforts to preserve the historic district, WYK created an inconspicuous facility design, complimentary to adjacent properties. “We used brick and limestone so it blended,” he said. “We also used stamped asphalt paving to create a brick pattern in the driving aisles.”

During WYK’s design phase, the firm helped the city see the project as more than just a parking garage. “As discussions went further it was determined it would be more useable to create a town square atmosphere,” Swiger said. “It worked very nicely.”

The Christie-Cutlip Office Complex, in the prestigious Charles Pointe Development off Interstate 79’s technology corridor, offers another spotlight on the company’s design

ASSOCIATESdesigning buildings that fit peoples' needs

THIS SPREAD: Bank of Gassaway. Natural daylight at the drive-thru canopy provides same level of detail to vehicular users as walk-up customers inside the building. The lobby of the bank features a unique brick entry “cylinder”.

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CONTRACTING ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

CEC congratulates James Swiger and WYK Associates on their achievements. The WYK and CEC team enjoys an ongoing working relationship. CEC is a structural and miscellaneous AISC steel fabricator using a state-of-the-art 3-D modeling system and CNC automated fabrication equipment. The provide quality, on-time sequenced deliveries throughout the eastern states. For more information on CEC, please visit www.cecsteel.com

expertise. This two-story, 12,000 sq. ft. office complex,

completed in 2007, was one of Charles Pointe Development’s first erected buildings. Promi-nent along the skyline, the complex is highly visible from the Harrison-Marion Airport and Route 279 connector to the airport. “The client wanted a building that was timeless in character; something that would endure, with quality materials and design,” Swiger said.

WYK’s durable designs incorporated large glass expanses around the arched entrance. “We wrapped the building with two bands of brick detailing, using different colors and pat-terns,” Swiger said. “Inside, we used glass blocks in the stairwell to create visual interest and allow natural daylight to come into the space.”

The firm also designed a clock tower for the building, to add to its prominence. “It also functions to provide the time for everyone in the development,” Swiger said.

Charles Pointe’s complex includes many green elements, such as large overhangs to provide shade in summer and to harness the sun’s warmth in winter. All offices in the building have operable windows for natural ventilation.

“We used high-efficiency lighting throughout the project,” Swiger said. “The ceilings had high acoustic values to prevent sound transfer from one office to another.”

Dark-tinted windows were used to reduce solar heat gain during the summer and to cre-ate privacy from the outside. “It also made the detail of the window stand out more by having

THIS SPREAD: West Pike Street Parking Facility. This facility was recently named “Jackson Square” in honor of Stonewall Jackson, whose birthplace was located directly behind. The structure serves multiple functions and fits in nicely with the historic fabric of downtown.

BELDEN BRICKBelden Brick, a nationally recognized leader

in brick manufacturing since 1885, is proud to offer an extensive line of face brick and clay brick pavers. Belden’s products are long-lasting because of their durable nature and fade-resistant color. They deliver a permanence that remains unmatched by any other building material. Belden products have an outstanding reputation for performing well under the most demanding of climates and conditions. Belden has a product that is sure to add beauty and elegance to any style of architecture. With hundreds of colors, sizes and textures to choose from, you won’t have to compromise aesthetics for durability.

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We designed the facility in a way that the railings can be removed on the center portion so it can be used as a stage for public events.

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a dark glass,” Swiger said, noting that the green design also carried over to the parking lot. “The light fixtures shine straight down on the park-ing surface so they don’t allow light pollution.”

When it came to complex’s flooring, WYK utilized terrazzo tile with 70 percent recycled content. The building’s design also included two outdoor decks on the second floor and a patio off the ground level.

“It was a fun project to work on,” he said. “The owners really wanted to do things right. We spent special attention to detail.”

Not all projects are easy from the start. Swiger recalls the challenges faced in designing a new branch of The Bank of Gassaway. The bank had to be built on a commercial strip, highly visible from I-79, including a McDonald’s, an antique mall and a car dealership.

“They needed a building that would stand out within the context of the commercial strip,” Swiger said. “They wanted a very unique building that would be identifiable as a bank during day and night.”

Since many of the strip’s buildings were metal or painted brick, WYK designed an attractive

brick façade for The Bank of Gassaway. “It was a nice use of materials and colors,” Swiger said. “There are a couple historic towns a few miles away, so we pulled some details from those and put them into the building.”

WYK used different colors of brick and stone in the project and installed large translucent skylights over the drive-thru and in the lobby. “We were trying to make a strong connection with the vehicle and the building,” Swiger said. “We created natural light in the drive-thru so it doesn’t feel closed in.”

The design also included a very distinct entry “cylinder” that gives the impression of strength and security from the exterior. The light-flooded lobby is centered on axis with the vault. “When you walk in, the first thing you see is the vault,” Swiger said. “It makes a statement of permanence and security. We wanted to play up the presence of the vault.”

WYK also utilized green features in The Bank of Gassaway project, including a high-valued insulation on roof and walls, long overhangs, carpeting and floor finishes with recycled mate-rial, and paperless drywall to reduce mold. The

firm also used high-efficiency lighting through-out the building with dimmable switching in each office. “We used high reflective acoustic ceiling tile that reflects light off the ceiling,” Swiger said. “It also reduces the chance of glare. It’s a more comfortable lighting.”

Beyond design specifics, the firm surmounted the site’s size challenges. “It’s a tight site,” Swiger said. “We wanted to allow room for landscap-ing and to have some tie-in to the setting. I think we were able to do that by making a very efficient floor plan.”

In the end, WYK satisfied its clients desire to stand out along its commercial strip. Over The Bank of Gassway’s main entrance, WYK added a clock, harkening to the banks of yesteryear. “The clock can be seen from the interstate,” Swiger said. ALT

Our company roots date back to the early 1900s. We have over 100 years of drawings in our files and archives.

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THIS PAGE: The Christie-Cutlip Building. An assemblance of traditional materials are detailed to reflect the rich archi-tectural heritage of the region. The project features intricate brickwork and beautiful glassblock.

Photos courtesy of WYK Associates

Growing up in Mexico, Sergio De Los Santos began dreaming about architecture as a small child. In 1996, when he founded SDS Archi-tecture in the United States, his dreams came true. Now president of SDS, Sergio was never questioned putting into practice his architec-ture degree from the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, in Monterrey, Mexico.  De Los Santos came to the U.S.in 1980, spent 12 years with HKS, a large architecture � rm based in Dallas and served as vice president and director of Latin America services for Aguirre Inc. Today, his � rm provides building assessment services and program management. SDS Architecture’s � ve person team has expertise in all phases of project management and design.

While the company’s coverage ranges from sports facilities to multipurpose high-rise commercial buildings, most of SDS’s projects fall into the educational sector. De Los Santos oversees several school projects currently developed by sta� architects. One such project is remodeling North Lake College. “� e col-lege was built about 35 years ago. Due to their changing and growing needs, new buildings have been added to the campus. As a result, a lot of pockets of unused space were left behind in older buildings,” De Los Santos said. North Lake College in Irving, Texas is part of the Dallas County Community College District. “We helped the campus repurpose the various spaces to ful� ll the school’s current and future needs. � at was our goal,” he said.

North Lake project is a design/build e� ort. � e renovation consists of approximately 40,000 sq. ft. of existing areas, with a construction budget of about $3.5 million. SDS teamed up with Phillips/May Corporation and was the

prime architect for the project. Another of SDS’ education projects was the

D. A. Hulcy Middle School in Dallas, Texas. � e school was originally built in 1970 as three-story brick masonry building. � e renovation of the school entailed many interior and exterior upgrades, including replacing the roof, a new sprinkler system, restroom and shower over-haul, renovation of the ceiling, transformation of the science lab, and other technology work. Overall, the construction cost was $1.8 million.

A combined education project renovated two Dallas-based schools, Julius Dorsey Elementary School and B.H. Macon Elementary School. Completed in 2008, the renovation addressed various interior and exterior upgrades, includ-ing building envelope, ADA and critical MEP upgrades, restrooms renovation, lighting recon-struction, grease trap improvement, interior and exterior doors and windows replace-ment, irrigation system and new playground equipment. SDS served as prime architecture consultant for the $2.2 million project.

While the � rm considers educational build-ings its forte, SDS has also renovated and constructed correctional facilities, restaurants and sports facilities in Texas, and across the U.S. and Mexico. SDS has tackled high-pro� le projects such as serving as associate architect for the American Airlines Center. In addition, SDS was part of multinational architectural teams for the City Center of MGM Mirage in Las Vegas, Nev. and a soccer stadium for the Santos Laguna team in Mexico.

One of SDS’ largest projects was the mixed-use high-rise building at the MGM City Center in the heart of Las Vegas. At the core of the Las Vegas strip, the building’s futuristic design is

WITH 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, THIS DALLAS-BASED FIRM HAS A UNIQUE BLEND OF EXPERTISE THAT LEAVES ITS EVERY CLIENT SATISFIED. by Felicia Willis

PHILLIPS MAYKnown for its delivery of quality, innovation and

performance, Phillips May is recognized among the top 100 general contractors in the State of Texas. They are a cooperative, solution-oriented professional team, sensitive to schedules and budget goals. Their commitment to continuing business relationships and client satisfaction results in 90% of their business being from repeat business or referrals. Their clients include such major public entities as the DISD, DFW International Airport, DART, and UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Phillips May is a minority-owned general contractor certified by the NCTRCA, and their markets include K-12, Higher Education, Municipal, Healthcare Facilities, Transportation, and Retail. For more information please visit www.phillipsmay.com

SDS ARCHITECTURE

described as a city within a city. � e structure has its own convention center, theater and police and � re stations. � e surrounding area comprises a quarter-mile stretch, with 2,800 residential condo units, 66 acres of cafes and two 400-room boutique hotels along a bou-levard built to the exact dimensions of New York City’s Park Avenue. At the center of this Manhattan replica is a 4,000 room hotel/casino. � is hotel/casino has broken records in the � eld of construction expenditure. It provides shopping, dining and entertainment, specially designed for the residents of the city within a city. � e team at SDS provided construction documents support for this hotel/casino project as part of a multinational team of architectural companies.

Another astronomical project was the Estadio Corona sports facility, which opened its doors in Torreon, Mexico in July 2009. � is sports venue is home to the Santos Laguna soccer club. Its standard capacity is 28,000 people, 20,000 for special events, and is located on the Territorio Santos Modelo sports complex. Territorio Santos Modelo’s educational and entertainment ele-ments feature Corona Fan Restaurant Sports Bar, Club Santos Laguna Club House, Football School and Academy Santos Laguna, o� ces of Club Santos Laguna, a gym, the � rst hotel in Latin America with a view to a stadium, mall and entertainment, University of Sports and a parking lot with 2,504 spaces. At the reigns of the project, SDS oversaw project management assistance and construction documents support.With over 25 years of experience in the archi-tecture � eld, SDS brings a unique and valuable blend of expertise to its customers. And while the backbone of SDS remains educational architecture, the company isn’t pigeonholed in the industry. In its newest endeavor, SDS is upgrading the Greyhound o� ces and bus terminal in downtown Dallas. “We are trying to penetrate the transportation market,” De Los Santos said. ALT

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ALL PART OF THE FAMILYFOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, REEDER GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, INC. HAS ENDEAVOREDTO TURN CLIENTS INTO FAMILY.

by Joel Cornell

Wes Reeder began working as a framing carpenter in the 1960s through the late 1970s. After gaining a wide range of experience in construc-tion across many sectors in the Dallas - Fort Worth, Texas area, Wes took that experience, applied it and decided to strike out on his own. In 1986, Wes founded W.R. Contractors.

Over the course of just a few years, the company grew within the area by leaps and bounds. The Reeder name was always preceded by its reputation for honest, quality work, all done with a familial and heartfelt dedication to doing the best work possible. Four years later, in 1990, the company grew beyond even its own means and restructured. That year, the company incorporated and Reeder General Construc-tion, Inc. was born.

“We’ve always been dedicated to our clients and our work in the same way that we are to each other,” said vice president, and Wes’ son, Lane. “As a family owned and operated company, we always feel like there’s a bit more dedication involved on our part. When your own last name is on the business card and the business license, you work a bit harder than anyone else might in your position.”

Lane’s lifetime of experience in the industry and with the company exemplifies the best that family owned businesses can offer.

“All throughout middle school and high school, I spent much of my time working in even the slightest capacity on the company’s jobsites,” Lane said. “Whether I would just collect all the trash and scrap, or sweep up a job at the end of the day, I was constantly learning in a construction environment. I received my education from the University of Texas in architecture and in business, during which time I continued working in various capacities for Reeder. Upon graduation, I worked my way up as an apprentice, an assistant superintendent, before serving as superintendent on one the biggest job we had ever done.”

To date, the large majority of Reeder General Construction, Inc.’s proj-ects take place in the education sector. Although their range extends far into residential, commercial, institutional and industrial projects, nearly 90 percent of their projects within the past 10 years have been construction on school buildings in the area.

“Every project type in every sector has a deadline,” Lane said. “But in the education sector, students will be starting school here in the fall, one way or another. The deadlines are much more strict than most other

project types, and there’s a lot of difficulty to overcome in working in an occupied space. Not all renovation projects can wait until the summer to begin, so it takes a special dedication to be able to work abnormal hours in abnormal settings. This is where Reeder excels.”

Reeder General Construction offers a full suite of services to their clients, outside of general contracting services. In addition to total construction management services, the company also performs con-struction manager risk positioning services for owners of a project, in the education sector or otherwise. Lane’s brother, Cole, has been leading the company’s business development sector, further expanding the company’s reach and scope.

“For us, family culture means commitment to not only build great buildings, but to create an atmosphere that fosters lasting relation-ships. Our work with SDS Architecture has been a great example of this. Sergio [de los Santos] has been one of the best architects we’ve worked with in the educational sector. They always understand what we need and what the project needs. Sergio always maintained as much of a personal involvement as we always do, and it has been fantastic to work with someone with the same dedication as we have.”

With a heavy emphasis on accountability, integrity and dedication, Reeder General Construction has built up their scope and their repu-tation in a way that sets them apart from the rest as the most honest, hardest working contractor in the area.

“Our clients may come to us as family,” Lane said, “but they always leave a part of the family.” ALT

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Built in the heart of TexasA deep history of military experience runs through the veins of Turner, Ramirez & Associates, and today the firm has diversified to include a range of government and religious projects as well. by Joan Tupponce

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Throughout his life Jack Turner has maintained a passion for architecture and the military. Over the past 53 years, he’s combined the separate and distinct fields, both personally and professionally.

Hailing from the University of Texas, Turner began his Navy career in 1953. He founded the Texas-based architecture firm, Jack Rice Turner & Associates, Inc., in 1958, and served as a reserve officer for 37 years after active duty.

In 2008 the firm changed to Turner, Ramirez & Associates, when Philip Ramirez became partner. Ramirez had moved up with the com-pany from his start as a high school intern.

Since starting the firm, Turner has tackled a variety of projects, including several military facilities, throughout Texas and New Mexico.

Earlier in his career, Turner was also involved in land development. His firm built the first

condominium projects in Laredo, McAllen and Harlingen, Texas, and three additional condominiums in Corpus Christi.

Over the years, projects have included 48 medical buildings throughout Texas, eight small county hospitals and three large shop-ping centers in Texas and Virginia.

“We did a lot of work up and down the Rio Grande River,” Turner said.

One of Turner’s most noteworthy projects was the La Posada Hotel in Laredo. “We built it around two swimming pools with Mexican fountains,” Turner said. “It had Spanish décor. We did a second one in McAllen.”

Other company projects include police sta-tions, county jails, restaurants and the first grey-hound racetracks in Texas; one in Corpus Christi and one in Harlingen. “We’ve also worked on five or six historical projects such as the [Victorian

landmark] Fulton Mansion which was built in 1856,” Turner said. “We also restored the oldest house in Corpus Christi, the Centennial House.” Currently, the firm is working with the sisters of the Pax Christi on constructing a liturgical retreat center at their headquarters in Corpus Christi. “This will be an exciting new chap-ter of their mission here in Corpus Christi,” Ramirez said.

Through their work at the center, the sisters are committed to strengthening participants’ faith by spreading their spiritual beliefs and providing a sacred place to renew faith.

“This project represents the realization of a long-standing vision of Pax Christi founder, Mother Teresa Santoyo, to establish a liturgical retreat center in Corpus Christi,” Ramirez said.

The 10,500 sq. ft. chapel represents the heart of the center and will serve as the main congregat-

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Architecture Leaders Today 97

ing space for worshipers. A 75-foot, free-span dome arcs over the chapel altar.

Additional buildings support the project’s retreat function. A 35,000 sq. ft., two-story dormitory building will house guests, with suites of one to two-beds and a full private bath.

The 8,097 sq. ft. reception hall will serve as a full-service cafeteria and meeting area. Also, a 5,374 sq. ft. auditorium and a 2,465 sq. ft. administration building, will house a check-in area and a religious goods gift shop. Construction is estimated to begin in the second quarter of 2011.

Among other specialties, Turner, Ramirez & Associates’ is an expert designer of military projects. In 2005, the firm completed the Austin Army Aviation Support Facility at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. “The Texas Air National Guard uses this facility to train Blackhawk helicopter pilots and to provide protection for the state’s capitol,” Turner said.

As the first phase of a 60-acre master planned military complex, the facility includes a 95,921 sq. ft. rotary wing operations and support facil-ity, a 43,407 sq. ft. unheated rotary wing storage facility and a 25,146 sq. ft. fixed wing operations and support facility. More than 1 million sq. ft. of aircraft tie-down areas and taxiways were constructed surrounding the complex.

“We’ve done 20 other military projects around Texas. “Including the Dallas Naval Air Station to train the Singapore Air Force to fly CH-47 Chinook helicopters,” Turner said

Turner, Ramirez & Associates’ has now turned their design skills and experience to the special-ized design of Armed Forces Reserve Centers and Joint Vehicle Maintenance Facility projects. Most recently, the firm completed the Design and Construction Administration Services for the Northwest Houston Armed Forces Reserve Center and Joint Vehicle Maintenance Facility. The 124,382 sq. ft. facility is designed to meet training and operational needs of multiple Texas Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units. Standing as a showcase of the firm’s ser-vices, the Reserve Center consists of unit storage areas, an assembly hall, administrative offices, medical sections and educational classrooms.

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THE GARLAND COMPANY

The  Garland Company, Inc. is proud to have partnered with Turner Ramirez and  Associates on a number of military, federal and commercial

projects since  1990. The Garland Company's 200 locally-based service representatives deliver high-performance roofing solutions and support to meet a wide range of waterproofing and aesthetic challenges. For more information visit www.garlandco.com or call toll-free 800-321-9336.

The 29,839 sq. ft. Joint Vehicle Maintenance Facility supports and maintains military vehicles attached to the Texas Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Units operating out of the adjacent Armed Forces Reserve Center. The Vehicle Maintenance Facility contains educational classrooms, vehicle maintenance bays, tool and part storage areas, repair shops and administrative offices. Moreover, the facil-ity has subsidiary flammable and hazardous material containment areas, unheated stor-age buildings and vehicle lube and inspection ramps. It meets anti-terrorism standards and LEED Silver standards.

Currently the firm is completing the second and final phase of the 60-acre master planned military complex at Austin-Bergstrom Interna-tional Airport. When complete, the project will consist of over 425,000 sq. ft. of built structures totaling $64 million in overall construction.

Currently under construction, the 209,128

sq. ft. Armed Forces Reserve Center is the centerpiece of the complex designed to meet the training and operational needs of multiple Texas Army National Guard units, the U.S. Army Reserve and U.S. Marine Corps Reserve units. The Armed Forces Reserve Center, like the Northwest Houston project, is accompanied by a 45,830 sq. ft. Joint Vehicle Maintenance facility and subsidiary support elements. This facility has also been designed to meet anti-terrorism standards and LEED Silver certifica-tion. Completion is anticipated in June of 2012.

When working on military centers, Turner operates with steadfast confidence. “My two careers have come together in the last few years with these large military projects,” he said. Turner, Ramirez’ blend of private and governmental work has allowed the firm to continue its legacy of great architectural proj-ects throughout the State of Texas and elsewhere. ALT

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By utilizing 63 offices staffed by a workforce 2,400 strong operating in 29 countries around the world, Turner & Townsend has the scope, resources and talent to provide professional cost and asset control, consultancy and project management services of the highest caliber. In working with all parties at all levels within the process of design and construction, Turner & Townsend is poised to optimize business and operations for clients within any sector, from national or municipal governments to multinational or local corporations.

While most of Turner & Townsend’s clients tend to work on the design side of a project, these projects can range from oil and gas production to IT and from banking and commercial development to airport expan-sion. This extensive range of services is fully supported by their equally diverse personnel.

“We’ve always endeavored to never specialize in a single sector or industry,” said Houston, Texas branch’s senior consultant and estima-tor Gwendy Taylor. “We do everything we can to maintain a wide array of professional services. In that way, we’re always able to do work not just in the Houston area, but around the world. We're able to manage a vast array of projects in Russia and California and England, all from our office here in Houston.”

Taylor boasts a portfolio that reflects the diverse assortment of services provided by Turner & Townsend. She and her staff have served in advi-sory and estimation roles on projects for hospitals, Homeland Security, border patrol and NASA. She has also handled four of the six biosafety level four research facilities that the company has managed.

“What we do in the Houston office is exactly what we do in our offices around the world,” said vice president Judith Baker. “Each branch remains autonomous so that they can perform in a way that is better suited to their individual location and situation.

“Most small business can have some occasions where they’re quite desperate for cash flow or support, which can have a negative effect on day to day business decisions. As an independent branch of a larger

company, we’re able to have access to the entire company, all procedures and assets included. We have an international skill base around the globe that gives us a vast amount of reach and diversity. All this enables us to avoid the many pitfalls and tight spots that can plague smaller firms with less global access.”

Near to Houston, Texas is the new Austin-Bergstrom Armed Forces Reserve Center and Vehicle Maintenance Facility, one of the Houston branch’s larger federal projects. When architecture firm Turner & Ramirez began the initial design phases, they immediately brought on Turner & Townsend for their world class project management and cost control services.

Turner & Townsend worked with Turner & Ramirez to finalize agree-ments and documentation, find the most cost-effective materials and specialty services, ensure the application of government standard secu-rity features and conduct research to find cost appropriate materials to achieve the desired LEED certification.

“We have never been concerned with growth,” Baker said. “Our aim is to provide perfection in all our services. From there, growth springs naturally for us and our clients alike.” ALT

by Joel Cornell

THROUGH THEIR GLOBAL REACH AND IMMENSE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, TURNER & TOWNSEND GIVES CLIENTS THE SURE FOUNDATION OF WORLD CLASS BUSINESS CONSULTANCY, DELIVERY AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

GLOBAL ESTIMATORS

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For almost two decades LLW Architects, Inc. has kept up with the industry’s highest standards, and perfected their unrivaled customer service. Since 1993, LLW has focused their business efforts on hospital-ity architecture, a rapidly expanding field within the architecture industry.

Founding partner, Paul E. Lague started his architecture career in the hospitality industry 28 years ago. He and then co-worker Dell Livingston decided to combine their knowledge, skills and connections within the industry to establish their own hospitality architecture firm. Amidst fierce competition, LLW’s commitment to their clients puts the company in a class of their own. “There are a lot of hotel architects out there who do what we do all day long. It’s not rocket science, but here’s what separates us from the other architectural firms. We provide a level of service to our clients that goes far beyond what other architects do in the industry,” Lague said. “We strive for quality drawings and customer satisfaction. Whether it’s a phone call, a question they have, or a problem that needs to be resolved, we strive for instantaneous response. Ultimately customer satisfaction is really what it’s all about.”

Livingston and Lague realize they’re not selling architectural products that can act as tangible testaments to their expertise. Rather, they’re selling an experience. Top-notch customer service and business-to-

Memphis-based architectural firm LLW Architects, Inc.integrates new-school business strategies with top-notch customer services, making LLW a stand-out hospitality architectural firm for over 20 years.

THIS SPREAD: Hampton Inn and Suites on Beale Street, Memphis, Tenn. Bordering the legendary blues alley, this hotel has plenty of views of Downtown. The ground level has retail that ties the hotel to the local community. The lobby and breakfast area features dark woods and comfortable chairs.

by Marylyn Simpson

ofTitansService

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QUAKER WINDOW PRODUCTS

Since 1949, Quaker Window Products has been a leader in the window and door industry. From commercial to residential projects, replacement and historical rehab to new construction, Quaker's products run the gamut of styles and applications with a special focus on energy-efficiency and LEED design. For more information on Quaker Windows and Doors, visit www.quakerwindows.com

client communication are what solidifies the firm’s world class reputation. Knowing the wants and needs of both clients and travelers is the first step to maintaining successful client relationships. From the overall aesthetics of a building, down to the shower’s water pressure, LLW creates a use-ful, efficient and customer-preferred hotel.

“There’s a wide variety of hotels out there, so our goal is to provide a product beyond the basics. It’s got to feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. It’s not just having hot water for a shower ; it’s providing all the amenities that the most sophisticated traveler expects.”

Another of LLW’s priorities for design-ing top-of-the-line hotels is evolving with technology. LLW is always in search of the latest technological advances. He explains that cutting-edge technology keeps LLW one

step ahead of the competition. “We know the hotel developer is more sophisticated today than they were ten years ago,” he said. “They demand a quality product and assume we’re going to use the most current and up-to-date materials, design methods and information technology. We keep an eye on the traveling public to give them what they want.”

Currently, LLW’s clientele base reads like a “Who’s Who” of internationally recog-nized hotel chains. From Hilton to Star-wood, LLW has extensive experience and an award-winning background in provid-ing top architectural designs. Boasting unique interpretations of chain hotels, LLW incorporates their unique design into each building. Whether fusing the exterior of a hotel with their urban surroundings like

THIS PAGE: Hampton Inn and Suites, Mobile, Ala. Use of traditional materials, stucco, wrought iron, and brick in a transitional design helps tie this property to the downtown environment. Balconies are prevalent on two streets which are on the Mardi Gras parade route.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Homewood Suites, Daphne, Ala. A small site, adjacent streams and wetlands forced the design to a more urban and compact footprint. Grouping windows and minimizing floor transitions allows for this seven story T- shaped building to fit better into its environment without being over powering. Following hotel franchise requirements for a gabled lodge was challenging with a compact verti-cal design. The two-story breakfast area, with three different lighting levels, makes guests feel like they’re in their own home.

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they did in the Hampton Inn and Suites in Mobile, Ala.- or creating a highly energetic lobby to illuminate the interior like they did in the Hilton Garden Inn Portsmouth, N.H. – LLW pride themselves on being able to balance a sense of creativity and indi-viduality with each hotel, while satisfying the brand’s prototypical requirements and hotel standards.

With hotels throughout the United States,

Caribbean and Mexico, LLW shows no signs of slowing down. They are anticipating the opening of their latest project, Hilton Garden Inn in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico this spring. Modern, with a sophisticated contemporary style, the hotel compliments the design of the adjacent convention center and restaurant, part of a $40 million new development. While loyal to North America, LLW hopes to expand their international

reach to Asia and South America. “We’re still all about North America because that’s our bread and butter, but we know the North American market is slow. We’ve got to move into some other areas just to stay ahead of the pack,” said Lague. With the current economic climate, North America has provided LLW a new set of challenges. From a plummeting construction industry to a slowing hospitality industry, LLW has

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PRIDE CONSTRUCTIONPride Construction was the general contractor on the 123-room Hampton Inn and Suites

at Corolla, N.C. The project was designed by Paul Lague of LLW Architects and consisted of a three-story concrete block and precast plank structure with EIFS and Hardiplank exterior

walls, totaling 94,000 sq. ft. and a cost of $8.8 million. Located on the remote Outer Banks of North Carolina, there was no available local workforce so all labor had to be imported. Throughout the 12-month construction time, it was evident that Paul Lague had extensive hotel construction experience. LLW Architects have continued to be an important player in the hotel architectural marketplace and Pride Construction continues to enjoy their great relationship with this quality firm. For more information please visit www.prideconst.com or call 901-854-8683.

reassessed their priorities and returned to their roots, remembering, in the end, personal and professional customer service is what makes or breaks a firm. Aggressive against the recession, LLW strives to give clients more for their money with additional complimentary services. Lague said their aggressive strategies have proven successful.

“Our firm continues to be in business because we know we have a quality product and we’ve got a list of clientele as dedicated to us as we are to them,” Lague said. Mea-suring LLW’s success off of their reputation from the last two decades, Lague credits the firm’s expansion, not to advertising, but to old-fashioned, word-of-mouth referrals and repeat clients.“When we get word-of-mouth referrals, it means a lot. Our reputation continues to prevail from each of those referrals,” Lague said. “Without a good reputation we’re not much. Every time we start a new job, we think about what aspects of the previous hotel design we can improve on to satisfy our clients even more. For us, it’s all about customer service. That’s really what we are.” ALT

HOTEL RESOURCES GROUPHotel Resources Group (HRG) is an industry leader in specifying, supplying and installing

doors, frames, hardware, bath accessories and specialty items for diverse clients nationwide. Since 1992, HRG’s focus has been on hospitality, healthcare and select commercial projects, from new construction to renovations. One team, start to finish, that’s HRG. For more information on Hotel Resources Group, please visit www.gohrg.com or call 901.854.6607.

THIS SPREAD: Hilton Garden Inn, Portsmouth, N.H. Located in the heart of

historic downtown. Use of classic brick and stone with a modern interpretation.

Large storefront windows at the main level are inviting. Lobby bar and lounge has large storefront windows overlook-ing the streets. Even though the indoor

pool and spa is located in the basement level, there is plenty of light and interest.

All photos courtesy of LLW Architects.

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BENDER

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Renovating the Florida Keys

Specializing in historic preservation of pub-lic, commercial and residential architecture, Bender & Associates has become a premiere architecture firm not only in their home-base of Key West, but throughout Florida. This is thanks to its cutting-edge, energy-efficient techniques, as well as its uncontested design philosophy, which incorporates sustainable design with historic preservation.

With a small but mighty staff, president Bert Bender and his three LEED accredited professionals have tackled restoration as well as new architectural projects, including restoration of the Key West Custom House for the Key West Art and Historical Society, and three lighthouses in South Florida: Key West, Cape Florida and Jupiter Inlet. The firm completed Phase 1 of a report for the state’s Division of Historical Resources, “Sustainable Stewardship, The Environmental Benefits of Historic Preservation in Florida,” on the application of LEED standards to historic sites. They are currently working on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the his-toric Gainesville Railroad Depot, originated in 1860, currently designed to LEED Gold with a potential for Platinum

Having started his career in architecture

by Marylyn Simpson

WITH OVER 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, PRESIDENT OF BENDER & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS, BERT BENDER, HAS BEEN BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO SOME OF THE

FLORIDA KEYS’ MOST BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Cape Florida Lighthouse, Key Biscayne, Fla. Prior to renovations, the tower had been abandoned for 100 years. Two thirds of the tower was missing 1 wythe of brick and in many areas, 2 wythes were missing.

THIS PAGE: Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West, Fla. Listed as one of Florida’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, Fort Zachary Taylor is a historic masonry fort constructed between 1845 and 1862. Built to defend the entrances to the Gulf of Mexico, the fort served in various capacities for the U.S. Army from the Civil War in 1861 to the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960’s. The fort is designated as a National Historic Landmark, and is one of only a few dozen sites in Florida accorded this level of recognition. The fort was altered in 1898 in response to the new rifled canons and the start of the Spanish American War. The three-story building was reduced to one. The south and west casemates shown here were reinforced with massive concrete batteries that could withstand the new weaponry.

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under the guidance of architectural giant Paolo Soleri, Bender was introduced to the world of responsible sustainable design through Soleri’s concept of “Archology, City in the Image of Man.” Historic preservation was the natural offshoot of this sustainable design philosophy. Combining his experi-ence with Soleri, having aided in Soleri’s development of the prototype city, Arco-santi, located in the high desert plateaus of Central Arizona, Bender combined his Acrosanti experience with his appreciation of growing up in the inner city of Chicago, formulating his unique design philosophy.

“I got involved in historic preservation because I saw a tremendous asset in the character of these historic buildings. Historic preservation was the natural expansion of my interest in conservation and sustainable

design. In doing so I developed this interest and expertise,” Bender said.

Nearly 35 years after his first encounter with historic preservation, Bender continues to look for new ways to integrate new green techniques into his work, while preserving the aesthetics that make each building so unique. Having worked on buildings dating to the early 19th century through post World War II, Bender and his team continually work to develop strategies to overcome architecturally limiting challenges.

“The greatest challenges faced in Florida are environmental. The biggest problem in adapting modern facilities to historic buildings is dealing with humidity issues, so it’s more of a technical problem. Air-conditioning systems draw moisture through the walls, which leads to mold and mildew

problems. Additionally, opening walls to provide vapor barriers or insulation would destroy the very resource that needs to be protected,” Bender said.

Bender and his team have created solutions to restoration and preservation challenges, keeping true to the company’s environmen-tally conscious philosophy. This plays out

BELOW: Mansion At Tuckahoe, Martin County, Fla. Reha-bilitation of the Leach Mansion located at Indian RiverSide Park. Constructed in 1938 as a seasonal residence, the main building is an example of Mediterranean Revival architecture. The restoration of the exterior and two main floors of the mansion to their original configuration, char-acteristics, spatial relationships, proportions and details recaptures the important architectural features of the Leach Mansion. The mansion serves as a venue for various events, including weddings, conferences and socials. Photo by Randysmithphoto.com

OPPOSITE PAGE: Jupiter Lightstation, Jupiter, Fla. Bert Bender stands at the top of the Jupiter Lighthouse.

I got involved in historic preservation because I saw a tremendous asset in the character of these historic buildings. Historic preservation was the natural expansion of my interest in conservation and sustainable or environmentally responsible design. In doing so I developed this interest and expertise.

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in their continual quest for historically-preserved-meets-eco-friendly strategies. “From a sustainable stand point if you have salvageable materials it doesn’t make sense to tear down and start over. We analyze what strategies we can use to make a building as sustainable as possible, including geothermal systems or strategies for A/C that haven’t been used before, such as incorporating reclaimed water into geothermal systems. We look at what’s most energy efficient,” Bender said.

Taking advantage of the economic down turn and the heightened awareness of reusing old material, Bender stresses the importance of sustainability and reusing materials that would otherwise be discarded. “If you

CONTRACTING SPECIALISTS INC.Since 1996, Contracting Specialists Inc. has steadily emerged as a full-service leader in specialty

construction, providing clients throughout the East Coast with proven and innovative solutions for their concrete repair, masonry restoration and waterproofing challenges. Visit ContractingSpecialists.com to view project profiles, discover best practices and request a free bimonthly e-newsletter.

ABOVE: Key West Custom House, Key West, Fla. The 1891 house is one of the most significant historic buildings in Flor-ida. The Richardsonian Romanesque edifice is one of the few examples of this significant style in the state. A 10 year effort resulted in restoration, including recovering significant brick, brownstone and terracotta detailing. Almost complete, this image shows the original post office which now serves as the main gallery of the Key West Museum of Art and His-tory. Original details were recovered or replicated, including the cast iron column capitals and bases, decorative plaster and antique heart pine floors. Photo by Goodwin Heart Pine.

RIGHT: Historic Gato Cigar Factory, Key West, Fla. The 1926 factory represents a significant part of Key West’s history. The Navy claimed the building for services during World War II, abandoned it in the 1970’s and conveyed it to Mon-roe County in 1990. The rehabilitated building was adapted for use as Monroe County and State of Florida offices.

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THIS PAGE: Pigeon Key, Marathon, Fla. The 1935 Labor Day hurricane, a powerful Category 5 storm, that killed over 400 people, also destroyed the Overseas Railroad. Pigeon Key with its location at the 7 Mile Bridge, half way between Key Largo and Key West once again became the hub of activity for construction of the Overseas Highway. That three-year long project used the original railroad bridges and bed to lay the highway that still serves the Keys today. This building was used as the Assistant Bridge Tender’s residence. Pigeon Key is the island camp constructed at the turn of the 20th century by Henry Flagler to support construction of his overseas railroad connecting Key West with the Florida mainland. Pigeon Key is unique not only because of its historic importance, but also its ambiance and feeling of being “frozen in time.”

choose to live in the inner city, your entire life could focus within that particular area. Everything you do in life to sustain yourself is in your neighborhood; reducing your reliance on the automobile, for example. When you do that you have a much more positive impact on the environment. Liv-ing in a smaller or historic home, you use less energy and contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. It’s more about lifestyle choices rather than using what’s marketed as the latest and greatest thing,” Bender said. ALT

Living in a smaller or historic home, you use less energy and contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. It’s more about lifestyle choices rather than using the latest in what’s being marketed as the latest and greatest thing.

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Steel Fabrication SpecialistsWe fabricate structural steel and miscellaneous metal products for the construction industry.

Contracting Engineering Consultants400 Fort Martin Industrial ParkMaidsville, WV 26541

Phone: 304-598-3055Fax: 304-598-3107Web: cecsteel.com

Steptoe & Johnson Building

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INSIDE: PIERI & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS, GLASSTRA ,CMS ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN, ANDREU WORLD AMERICA

INTERNATIONAL

Charlie Palmer, South Coast PlazaPhoto courtesy of CMS Architecture & Design

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In late January, Vincent Pieri, principal of Pieri & Associates Architects, was soaring high, having just landed a big LEED Gold project with a German pharmaceutical company. As the premier green builder in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a country in dire need of environmental protection, Pieri is blazing the trail for eco-friendly architecture.

The new design/build project with Sartorius Stedim Biotech, has an ambitious goal to create Puerto Rico’s first LEED certificated pharmaceutical bio-tech company. Only five other buildings in Puerto Rico are LEED certified.

“We went the extra mile to get this project, like David in a field of Goliaths. We put on a good show,” Pieri said, adding that their German clients were very excited about the eco-friendly design. “They went crazy over it. We’re a small firm, but we know what we’re doing.”

Since 2004, Pieri & Associates Architects’ five employees have been offering design devices and project management with a determined focus on green design consulting. For Pieri, building to LEED stan-dards is as integral to high-quality architecture as sound designs.

“Being green is being smart. An eco-friendly building comes out of project management and design excellence. But most architects don’t want to bother with it,” Pieri said. “I don’t want to design a building that’s bad for the environment. Architects are supposed to be optimistic and positive people.”

A thorough and aggressive approach to green objectives is central to the Sartorius project. Given the site’s urban access, Pieri plans to work with the local municipality of Yauco to provide a shuttle service to the office building for employees. Plans also include restoring the site’s habitat, landscaping surrounding meadows and gardens with native and adaptive plants. But the cornerstone of the eco-friendly design will be feeding “the beast.” a monstrous cooling tower, servicing air conditioning needs for the 30,000 sq. ft. manufacturing area, the 20,000 sq. ft. support space, and the 10,000 sq. ft. office and front office space. The projected reverse osmosis system will use rain water to feed plants and power plumbing, utiliz-ing roughly 12,000 gallons per day. The reverse osmosis system will save a significant amount of money in the long run and conserve water, of high environmental concern to Puerto Rico, Pieri said.

LEED certified designing is much more than drawing pretty pic-tures. It centers on high functionality and conservation, with such priorities as .efficient heating and cooling. The Sartorius building will feature a highly reflective roof with 500 solar panels, and additional exterior and interior lighting fixtures. Inside, the building’s large

San Juan Company Goes For the Gold When it Comes to Design and Ecological Preservation

by Rebecca Rodriguez

THIS PAGE: Regional Justice Center, Aibonito, Puerto Rico. The proposal for a 155,000 sq. ft. LEED compliant regional justice center for a design/build/operate competition for the Puerto Rico Justice Department. The project team addressed the life cycle issues of the site and facility, as well as its connection to the surrounding community and ecosphere. It features 25 percent energy savings, 30 percent stormwater reduction, a habitat preservation buffer area, heat island reduction, 50 percent water savings and 20 percent recycled content materials.

PIERI & ASSOCIATES Architect

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windows will fill offices with natural light, improving employee morale and connectedness to the environment. They will also enjoy views of highly colorful, historic buildings built into the adjacent mountainside. Light pollution is a major environmental issue for the Caribbean, impacting nocturnal animals such as bats, which pollinate the land. Satellite photos, highlighting the region’s pollution, show an especially strong glow from Puerto Rico. Pieri plans to use appropriate, environmentally-sensitive lighting along the sidewalks. Hesitant to ship products like gypsum board from China, Pieri is looking into using more local materials, made of 100 percent postindustrial, recycled content with no formaldehyde or other hazardous chemicals.

“It’s important for architects to know where the materials come from,” Pieri said. “We have to consider, ‘Can it be reused and returned to nature after its use?’”

The main lobby of the Sartorius features an entryway with a solar screen. Once inside, the building is mostly glass with a lay-

ered space containing a waiting area and conference room with a breezeway leading to a garden. Welcoming visitors, the confer-ence room displays a wall of products and a window showing off a section of the manufacturing facility. Multi-layered space and open windows connect the building with the outside environment, complementing the fundamental eco-friendly design of the struc-ture. There is a separate, open area of office space for employees, while managers have contained offices, which have windows and striking views. In addition, there is a separate commissary for employees to gather for lunch al fresco.

“We spend so much time indoors. We need to connect with the outside world, which means proper ventilation. We don’t want to feel locked up,” Pieri said. “We need adaptable building construc-tion that considers where materials come from, how they’re used, where they go later, how they affect human health and how much light gets into the building.”

As of January, the company was finishing a LEED certification

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for a 500-room Marriot hotel – the first LEED Certified hotel in Puerto Rico. In addition to a hospital, the company started a new FBI headquarters slated for San Juan which will probably achieve LEED Gold. According to Pieri, the building will be a “spectacular” urban project, tackling many preservation and energy efficiency issues.

On occasion clients need a slight push to get a higher LEED rat-ing. But, a higher certification doesn’t have to mean a 20 percent higher cost.

“I look to where I can save to get the gold. We knocked off a significant amount of money and the LEED score didn’t change,” Pieri said, referring to a recent project. “Sometimes it’s hard for clients who haven’t gone through the LEED process before. It’s different for them.”

On a multi-million dollar job, $7,000 is a small price to pay for eco-friendly elements. Moreover, simple changes can cut a lot of costs,, like using zero-VOC paint rather than regular paint. Customers wanting to save $30,000 by cutting down insulation may not consider the insulation will save exponentially more on electricity bills for years to come. Pieri likes to sit down with the contractor and revise the numbers if they seem high. Involving the contractor from the beginning can knock a substantial amount of money from the project and increase the LEED score, Pieri said. Clients are easily spooked by architects who are pushy about green building in initial meetings. Pieri advocates for probable operational savings, the language of a businessman stressed out about financing a building.

“If you talk in business terms, you can get clients interested in green building. If I go the wrong way I won’t even get to first base. I won’t even get to bat. And the environment isn’t going to

get better unless business is engaged,” he said.Preserving the environment is a goal close to Pieri’s heart, whether

on the business front or on the personal side. He has been in the U.S. Green Building Council since 2004, serving as a founding member as well as president of the board. The council currently has a program offering free green construction education to at-risk individuals, including criminal offenders and or high school dropouts. Pieri is also helping design and landscape a Haitian orphanage to LEED standards. It’s a challenge to incorporate LEED techniques in a country without running water or sanitation. He is in charge of neighborhood elements, such as street lighting, which Haiti sorely lacks. With 500,000 orphans and 85 percent of the earthquake’s rubble still on streets, Haiti is one of the most at-risk locations in the world. Pieri readily offers his LEED skills to aid relief and urges anyone interested in “Project Haiti” to visit the USGBC website. ALT

OPPOSITE PAGE: The Marriott Courtyard Convention Center Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Located in the new Convention Center District, this 300 room, 200,000 sq. ft. project is the first Marriott property outside of the continental U.S. to attempt LEED certification. Pieri performed LEED Guidance and Administration. It features over 27 percent energy savings, over 50 percent potable water savings and over 30 percent stormwater load reduction.

(ABOVE) Cardinal Park Concept at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Mo. Pieri designed this project. The “Cardinal Park” concept for the Northern parcel remnant of the old Busch sta-dium was developed after a call from Pieri's brother, who thought it shameful that, after the Ballpark Village development debacle, this historic parcel would be used merely as surface parking and a softball field. The arcade canopy design is composed of a series of modular translucent tensile fabric structures that follow the outline of the former Busch stadium foun-dation walls. Their combined form is intended to recall the arched shell canopy of the former Busch Stadium. Below the triangular fabric pieces are rectangular fabric elements. During the day, the canopies provide shade and cover from rain. At night, the fabric is back-lit from above to illuminate the entire canopy arc.

All photos and renderings courtesy of Pieri & Associates.

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Jose Manuel Trapote, founder of the interna-tional aluminum manufacturing and installation company Glasstra, has over 30 years of experience in the field. Starting as a small family business, Trapote opened Glasstra with his brother Adolfo in the 70’s. They started working with just alu-minum and glass crystals but have grown into one of the biggest aluminum companies in Puerto Rico with an annual income of around 12 million and growing.

A common name in the Puerto Rico business market, Glasstra provides high-quality products and service to its customers.

“We are always building relationships with our customers,” Trapote said. “We have a lot of experience and always do things the right way to make sure that everything is according to the customer’s needs. We are always willing to go out of the way to make the client happy.”

Besides constructing their own materials and selling them to general contractors, Glass-tra also helps architects by helping them stay current with new products used in the market that relate to aluminum. Their work includes windows, sliding windows, doors, commercial storefronts and high-rise buildings and they have completed some of the biggest projects in Puerto Rico. They craft custom pieces for projects based on its individual needs.

One very complex project for them was the Puerto Rico convention center. The building has dramatic curves and was a complicated under-taking. Other projects include the terminals of the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport as well as the Molecular Science Building of Puerto Rico University. While Trapote knows that every project has its ups and downs he believes that through attention to detail and careful study of the project, mishaps can be prevented and the final product will be very satisfying.

As the economy fell, Glasstra, like many other businesses in the area, had to downsize. Usu-ally there is a staff of 30 in the factory. Despite the cutbacks, Trapote still believes that it is important to provide continued education for his employees and sends them to seminars to keep up-to-date.

In looking toward the future, Trapote is optimis-tic and would like to see the company increase its volume by roughly 30 percent. “In all the years that we have been in business, we have always had a good flow of jobs. I hope that the economy improves because I have a lot of new ideas for the company that will help us grow and diversify.” ALT

The Highest Quality in Aluminum and Glass

by Amelia Doenlen

OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES, GLASSTRA HAS GROWN INTO PUERTO RICO’S LEADING ALUMINUM AND GLASS MANUFACTURER AND INSTALLATION SPECIALISTS, COMPLETING A VARIETY OF DIVERSE AND BREATHTAKING PROJECTS.

international | hospitality

124 Spring 2011

President and CEO of CMS Architecture and Design, Chris Smith, is proud of his modest beginnings. He graduated from Syra-cuse University in upstate New York with a Bachelor’s degree in architecture. Armed with a background in high-end residential design and construction management, he joined the Rockwell Group as design direc-tor and managed a studio team responsible for producing the high-profile project of Nobu, New York.

“My first job was a little Japanese restaurant called Nobu in TriBeCa. It was a very hands-on job,” Smith said. “From there I moved my residence to TriBeCa and purchased a building with a few other guys. I opened my own restaurant there in 1997 with Drew Nieporent, a friend I worked with on Nobu who is currently the managing partner there.”

Smith and Nieporent opened City Wine and Cigar Company, which Drew managed until the smoking ban went into effect and they had to close. “Ever since then, we’ve formed a niche in the hospitality business, mostly restaurants and hotels.”

Established by Smith in 1991, CMS is a full service architectural and interior design firm specializing in hospitality, restaurants and entertainment, as well as high-end residen-tial design. The firm has been afforded the opportunity to build structures around the world which are considered by experts in the field to be unsurpassed in workmanship. Destinations such as Chicago, Boston, Boca Raton, Costa Mesa, Las Vegas, Tyson’s Cor-ner, New York City and Scottsdale as well as Waikiki, Tokyo, Jakarta and Kuwait can all boast buildings designed and constructed by CMS Architecture and Design.

As architect, owner and operator of his own restaurants, Smith has several success-

with a love of food and passion for design, CMS Architecture founder Chris Smith found his niche in the industry

by Felecia Willis

beyond

above

THIS SPREAD: Charlie Palmer, South Coast Plaza. The lower level wine room in the two-story lobby. Photo by Doug Gifford.

hospitality | international

Architecture Leaders Today 125

ful restaurant design projects to his credit. With an enthusiasm for design and a love of food and wine, he created and developed his own restaurant concept, an American style bistro called DYLAN Prime in partnership with Drink Tank.

Smith also acted as architect and developer on two upscale residential and mixed use urban development projects in TriBeCa. The Dietz Lantern building is a mixed use build-ing where DYLAN Prime is located, as well the32-unit, 110,000 sq. ft. Cobblestone Lofts.

CMS Architecture and Design has big plans for the future. In moving forward, the company has set its sights on mixed use master planning. “Developers anchor retail spaces with venues like restaurants, bowling centers, entertainment complexes and other venues. So we find that CMS is often in the beginning development phases of those plans. We come in as an anchor designer, and a lot of developers have asked our input to help them plan for those types of venues,” Smith said.

In acclaimed recognition, Smith was cho-sen by the New York City Mayor’s office to

THIS PAGE: (TOP) ZED, Chicago. View from rooftop bar showing trellis cabanas, clerestory looking at bar below, outdoor see-thru fireplace and atrium. Photo by Mitch Tobias. (LEFT) ZED Mizner Park, Boca Raton, Fla. The bar features a board-formed poured concrete bar die with walnut top. The trelis of Western red cedar continues to the outdoor bar and lounge. The outside bar features a custom-designed water feature which defines the intimate lounge areas under the trellis along the street. The fireside dining lounge in the left foreground with a see-through fireplace looks into the wine room. Photo by Robert Brantley.

OPPOSITE PAGE: ZED, Chicago. The view at central harvest station looking towards Chef’s table. Photo by Mitch Tobias.

international | hospitality

126 Spring 2011

hospitality | international

Architecture Leaders Today 127

participate in the Design Workshop for Lower Manhattan. The focus of the open forums was to model three potential futures for Lower Manhattan: Global Office Center, Creative Hubs and Livable Neighborhoods. The plan also aims to help members of the community to understand the policy deci-sions associated with each. The thesis of the workshop is currently being used as a guideline for the work being done by the Lower Manhattan Development Corpora-tion around Ground Zero.

Being involved in the planning for this project is a proud undertaking by Smith, and for CMS Architecture and Design, it is evident that the sky is the limit. ALT

THIS PAGE: INOX, Tyson’s Corner, Va. The view at the entry and the live edge walnut bar top. Photos by Eric Buechel.

IAN INGERSOLLIan Ingersoll, a self-taught furniture maker,

learned his trade through reproducing Shaker furniture and now leads a guild of fine furniture makers in northwestern Connecticut. He supplies furniture to the hospitality industry including many of Chris Smith’s commercial and residential projects. For more information on Ian Ingersoll, please visit www.ianingersoll.com or call 860-672-6334.

international | hospitality

128 Spring 2011

Andreu World is a truly global company, conducting business in 70 countries with multiple offices around the world. Head-quartered in Valencia, Spain, with the primary U.S. office in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, Andreu World sources wood

from their own forest in Ukraine to manufacture fine tables and chairs out of their three factories across Spain. The start of this company begins in 1955, when the Andreu family lost their wood furniture factory to a poor economy. Francisco Andreu, only 17 at the time, who had clocked many hours as a cabinetmaker with his father soon thereafter changed the focus of their company to chairs and tables, starting the company all over again from scratch. Today, despite their 300 employees globally, Andreu World is still family owned and operated.

“Architects and designers are our main focus,” said Daniel Ortiz, sales manager for Andreu World America. “About 30 to 40 percent of our business is hospitality, 20 to 30 percent is corporate and the rest is comprised of institutional, residential and retail clients.”

Many of the company’s employees focus on creating unique pieces out of their factories in Spain. While an internal design team exists to work on new projects, many designs originate from designers that are in their own design houses.

“One of the key things that sets us apart from our competition is our extensive ability to customize our offerings,” Ortiz said. “Andreu World utilizes designers from design houses all over the world to partner on products for its customers. This results in very original and unique designs. Many of these designs have won awards. Probably one of the most famous is the Andrea Chair, a three-legged metal chair designed by Josep Llusca that is featured in the Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. Recently, we created the Smile Chair that won Best Dining Chair by Wallpaper Maga-zine in London. A lot of our projects have been featured in architectural magazines as well. It is our unique, independent designs and our ability to customize for individual projects that are our strengths. We also offer a full range of seating styles like varying widths, collar-back, etc. This gives the architecture and design community an ability to play with our furniture.”

And perhaps the greatest part about this com-pany’s beautifully crafted furniture is that it comes at a reasonable price. “We focus on high design for a low cost,” Ortiz said. “However, the environment is very important to us. We are primarily a wood furniture manufacturer. We operate the steward-ship of our forest. Everything from the planting of the trees to the cutting down, we are involved in. This made it very easy to certify our wood as FSC. This is really important when considering LEED. We use non-VOC glue. We don't use heavy metals. Additionally, we're pursuing other green certifications.”

Offering superior service is very important to Andreu World America. One of their largest projects to date in America has been Trump Tower Waikiki, which ordered about 2,300 chairs.

GLOBAL BEAUTIFICATION, ONE CHAIR AT A TIME

ANDREU WORLD AMERICA:

by William Coleson

ZED 451 RESTAURANT, CHICAGO. (ABOVE) Fireplace with two wicker Manila Lounge chairs in mahogany finish with wicker cane arms and back designed by Lievore, Altherr, Molina. Chosen by CMS Architecture to create an inviting lounge area.

OPPOSITE PAGE: (TOP) Large dining room: Lineal Comfort armless dining chair with sled base upholstered in a faux leather. Faux leather was chosen as this restaurant made eco-friendly choices in design and architecture. Designed by Lievore, Altherr, Molina. (BOTTOM) Lineal Comfort chairs in brown are also used in the private dining room just off the main dining room.

All photos by Mitch Tobias.

architectural products | international

130 Spring 2011

by William Coleson

“The logistics of getting the chairs there were challenging. Keeping the lines of communication open and maintaining high levels of service were really crucial to delivering the project well,” said Ortiz. “Another key project was for the U.S. House of Representatives. They really wanted good quality long-lasting chairs. We offer a five-year warranty, however we design products that are meant to last a lifetime.”

Andreu World America is currently finishing a project for the Philip Morris headquarters, utilizing the same type of chair that was used in the ZED project in Chicago by CMS Architecture. They are also about to finish installations on the Cosmopolitan Hotel and the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.

“Since we have only been in the U.S. for five years, our current marketing focus is on further increasing the brand awareness of Andreu World America,” Ortiz said. “We do a lot of grassroots direct marketing. We go to the design

firms. We communicate the quality of our products. We want that direct feedback. When we advertise, it is more from a branding standpoint. We showcase the really great projects that we have been able to do.”

In terms of future plans, Andreu World America’s focus is to continue growing and to continue branding their business.

“We have some new retail partnerships that we are working on for boutique style stores. In this way, we will have the ability to have our furniture shown to everyone.” said Ortiz. “Additionally, from a technical standpoint, we are working with more plastics and metals, creating outdoor friendly furniture. For the last two to three years, improving our technical ability to deal with plastics has been a large focus, since we have a tradition of hand-crafting wood furniture. So we are introducing new processes to be able to deal with the technical challenges of producing plastic based products.” ALT

international | architectural products

Architecture Leaders Today 131

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ARCHITECTURE/CONSTRUCTION

Portal Openings7996 Hembree LnWindor, CA 95492707-695-3368

Philco Woodworking4561 Mission Gorge PlcSan Diego, CA 92120619-516-4253

Milgard Windows916-869-1281

Stan Johnson Pool Construction Inc117 Anna DrWindsor, CA 95492707-620-0904

Multi-Media Interiors4421 Park Blvd Ste 202San Diego, CA 92116619-296-4664

BD Engineering, LLC1825 Swarthmore Ave/Unit BLakewood, NJ 8701732-886-5432

BDI Construction7270 NW 12th St/Ste 200Miami, FL 33126305 592-1210

AF New York22 W 21st St/5th FLNew York, NY 10010212-497-5243

Pro-Tone Contracting148 Lawrence PlcNew Rochelle, NY 10801914-632-3690

Howard Mechanical3214 61st St.Flushing, NY 11377718-777-0900

Montrose Surveying CO116-20 Metropolitan AveRichmond Hill, NY 114187188490600

Soul Renovation Solutions101-B Trotter StNixa, MO 65714417-929-1424

Candi’s Heating and AirPO box 229Republic, MO 65738417-848-5105

Contracting Specialists Inc.1600 N Powerline RdPompano Bch, FL 33069978-388-8652

Rock Cottage Glass6801 Farley StMerriam, KS 66203913-262-0107

Integrated Electronics9847 Lackman RdLenexa, KS 66219913-663-336

Rocky Mountain Log Homes1883 Highway 93 SouthHamilton, MT 59840406-721-0785

Custom Aquariums by Design5944 Broadmoor St

Mission, KS 66202913-722-3000 x 4

United Heating & Cooling301 Duck RdGrandview, MO 64030816-761-5262

Gecko Landscape & Design2624 S Copper Ridge Cir.Steamboat Springs, CO 80487970-871-4280

Four Points Surveying970-819-1161

Johnston Burkholder Associates930 Central StKansas City, MO 64105816-421-4200

Henderson Engineers8325 Lenexa DrLenexa, KS 66214913-742-5000

Phelps Construction Group315 Wooton St/Unit KBoonton, NJ 7005973-402-0004

Ian Ingersoll422 Sharon Goshen TpkWest Cornwall, CT 6796860-672-6334

Andreu World222 Merchandise Mart Plaza/Ste 10-132Chicago, IL 60654312-464-0900

Chamberlain Construction CO.2864 Hartland RoadFalls Church, VA 22043703-698-1715

T6, Inc.101 Green Meadows Dr. South/Ste 110Lewis Center, OH 43035614-880-2555

DA Lighting Studio3335 Stockbridge AveLos Angeles, CA 90032323-387-2494

Northern American Weathermakers8475092173

Ted Docteur Ironworks406-370-4250

Timber Builders1853 South Camas LaneHamilton, MT 59840406-363-0855

San Marino Security Systems2405 Huntington DrSan Marino, CA 91108626-285-7778

Norwegian WoodSheila Ruham Ruham942 Grand AvenueBrooklyn, NY 112117182188880

Michael Allen Inc.440 Broadway/2RBrooklyn, NY 11211718-782-8490

TMP Consulting Engineers52 Temple Place

Boston, MA 2111617-357-6060

Western Pacific Electric23615 137th Dr. SESnohomish, WA 98296360-669-3959

Matson Carlson & Associates15658 Point Monroe Dr NEBainbridge Island, WA 98110206-447-9558

Dynamic Productions149 Main StNanuet, NY 10954845-624-5101

Bizier Electric733 Washington St.Brighton, MA 2135617-787-0023

Lopez Construction & Design3032 E 1/2 RdGrand Junction, CO 81504970-434-5954

Albert M. Higley Co.2926 Chester AveCleveland, OH 44114216-861-2050

Century Builders229 Red Coach Dr/Ste 104Mishawaka, IN 46545574-277-4171

Sweetwater Interiors212 West Washington StGoshen, IN 465265745343989

Bob Millers Appliance Co.2700 S Main StSouth Bend, IN 46614800-789-1614

Square 1 Builders56199 Parkway Avenue. Ste 1Elkhart, IN 46516574-3898-010

Vandemark & Lynch, Inc4305 Miller RdWilmington, DE 19802302-764-7635

Terzano Cabinetry25 Ruta CtS. Hachensack, NJ 7606201-373-9500

Cortland Contracting Corp976 McLean Ave/Ste 289Yonkers, NY 10704914-523-3118

Horizon School Division No 676302 56th StTaber, AB 0403-223-3113

Hidi Rae Consulting Engineers Inc.240-11012 Macleod Trail SECalgary, AB 0403-271-0100

Architectural Fenestration100-3 Patco CtIslandia, NY 11749856-488-4242

Goldstein Associates/GACE Consulting Engi31 West 27th St, Fl 6NY, NY 20001

advertiser index

212-545-7878

AIC212-343-2773

Alan Court & Assoc34 Park PlEast Hampton, NY 11937631-324-7497

Carpen HousePO Box 554Little Falls, NY 13365877-396-3302

Summerhill Landscapes6 Shaw RoadSag Harbor, NY 11963631-725-0005

Upstate Door26 Industrial StreetWarsaw, NY 14569585-786-3880

SRK Pools370 Montauk HighwayWainscott, NY 11975631-537-3750

Imperial Gunite Corp81 Commercial AveOakdale, NY 11769631-287-2455

Fountainhead Construction2228 Montauk Hwy/Ste 5Bridgehampton, NY 11932631-537-6841

HzW Environmental Consultants6105 Heisley RdMentor, OH 44060440-357-1260

Paul J. Ford & Co.250 E. Broad St./Ste 1500Columbus, OH 43215614-221-6679

LR Nelson Engineers6765 West Russell Rd/Ste 200Las Vegas, NV 89118702-798-7978

Mincey Marble4321 Browns Bridge RdGainesville, GA 30504800-533-1806

Quaker Windows504 Highway 63 SouthFreeburg, MO 65035573-744-5211

Thomas Builders855 W. Wilson St.Niota, TN 37826423-568-2134

Starrett Electric110 West CourtDyersburg, TN 38025731-442-0890

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Adamo & Assoc Structural Engineers21060 Homestead Rd/Ste 120Cupertino, CA 95014408-523-1200

Ferrante Koberling1040 N. Laurel Ave # 8Los Angeles, CA 90046323-206-1663

Tortoise Industries3052 Treadwell StreetLos Angeles, CA 90065323-258-7776

Hess Mechanical9600 Fallard CtUpper Marlboro, MD 20772301-856-4700

Tucker Construction1725-D Little Orchard StSan Jose, CA 95125408-287-1424

Elk Mountain Construction Co.1950 N. WillowCookeville, TN 38501931-372-7424

Conditioned Air241 South StMacon, GA 32106478-742-8768

Super Enterprises1877 McFarland PkwyAlpharetta, GA 30005678-393-9188

Zandur80 Nottingham Dr.Nottingham, PA 19362610-932-4390

Arborite385 LafleurLasalle, QC 0514-595-2661

The Melink Co.5140 River Valley RdMilford, OH 45150513-965-7308

Verdin Company444 Reading RdCincinnati, OH 45202513-241-4010

Palacio Collaborative1425 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW/Ste 7Atlanta, GA 30318404-609-9006

Shan Engineering, Inc9039 Katy Freeway/Ste 216Houston, TX 77024832-615-9308

Stony Bridge Landscaping1800 Cornwall RdLebanon, PA 17042717-274-3595

Fresco Green Building SupplyPO Box 622Columbia, PA 17512717-618-4636

Tom Orner200 Gale StMechanicsburg, PA 17055717-576-9435

Hall Planning & Engineering322 beard St Tallahassee, FL 32303850-222-2277

JMR Electric137 Thames Rd EastExeter, ON 0519-235-1516

John Swallow Associates366 Revus Ave/Unit 23Mississuaga, ON 0905-271-7888

Bondfield Construction407 Balsaltic RdConcord, ON 0461-667-8422

Flynn Canada6435 Northwest DrMissasauga, ON 0905-671-3971

Wallace Int’l705-434-2837

Alumicor290 Humberline DrToronto, ON 0416-745-4222

Knell’s Door & Hardware2090 Shirley DrKitchener, ON 0519-743-4344

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MTE Consultants520 Bingemans Centre DrKitchener, ON 0519-743-6500

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Urban Planning Concepts2624 Airpark Dr.

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FACE Associates1420 Beverly Rd Ste 230McLean, VA 22101703-760-0490

Monarc Construction2781 Hartland RdFalls Church, VA 22043703-641-8500

Interior Investments205 w. Wacker Dr/Ste 1700Chicago, IL 60606312-212-5126

Herner-Geissler400 N Hermitage AveChicago, IL 60622312-226-3400

Dovetail Millwork5414 Waterford RdRixeyville, VA 22737540-937-7741

WoodWorking Wonders5250 Raleigh StDenver, CO 80212720-300-9400

Masterpiece Stair2250 S. Jason St.Denver, CO 80224303-922-5700

Academy Roofing1610 JasperStAurora, CO 80011303-360-0708

Superior Enterprises871 Thornton Pkwy Ste 184Thornton, CO 80229303-472-7749

Morning Star Elevator11641 Ridgeline DrColorado Springs, CO 80921719-635-7960

C&F Enterprises57 Snowmass DrLivermore, CO 80536970-372-7438

J&S Structural Engineers10551 Barkley St/Ste 601Overland Park, KS 66212913-549-4701

Thos. Rewerts & Co.4550 Main St/Ste 216Kansas City, MO 64111816-531-2666

Choicewood Companies3300 Gorham AveSt. Louis Park, MN 55426952-924-0443

Graystone BuildersPO Box 1768Bridgehampton, NY 11932631-537-1414

Gilkey10160 Virginia AveChicago Ridge, IL 60415708-229-2340

David Conner & Assoc.1509 W Swann Ave/Ste 255Tampa, FL 33606813-258-1997

advertiser index

Phillips/May Corp4861 Sharp StDallas, TX 75247214-631-3331

Reeder General Construction109 Aviator DrFort Worth, TX 76052817-439-2022

Boro Plastering95 Hopper St/2nd FLWestbury, NY 11590516-746

Integrated Comfort Systems267 Cortlandt StBelleville, NJ 7109866-749-6331

B&H Restoration3455 Vernon BlvdLong City, NY 11106718-274-5598

St. John’s Woodworking68 34th StBrooklyn, NY 11232718-499-0584

Charles W. Beers, Inc.PO Box 133, 175 Post AveWestbury, NY 11590516-334-2045

Capitol Fire Sprinklers Co. Inc5151 59th Pl.Woodside, NY 11377718-533-6800

Ferra Designs, Inc.63 Flushing Ave/Unit 135Brooklyn, NY 11201718-852-8629

PCI Industries21717 Rebublic StOak Park, MI 48237248-542-2570

Rich Duncan Construction200 Hawthrone Ave SESalem, OR 97301503-390-4999

STUDIOHOWEPO Box 1564Amagansete, NY 11930646-621-1121

AV Design Group52 Sherwood RdHampton Bays, NY 11946631-728-6600

Resource Furniture969 Third AveNY, NY 101552127532039

Schield Family Brands (Weather Shield)PO box 309/One Weather Shield PlazaMedford, WI 54451715-748-2100 x3723

Standards of Excellence6085 State Farm Dr/Ste 200Rohnert Park, CA 94928650-591-2337

Cool Painting Inc8946 Sage RdOakland, CA 94605415-359-4551

Breen Engineering, Inc.1983 West 190 St/ste 200

Torrance, CA 90504310-464-8404

Turner & Townsend1 Westchase Cntr;10777 Westheimer/Ste1160Houston, TX 77042281-496-5615

The Garland Company, Inc.3800 East 91st StClevelan, OH 44105800-762-8225

Belden Brick CompanyPO Box 20910Canton, OH 44701330456-0031

CEC Steel400 Ft. Martin Industrial PkMaindsville, WV 26541304-598-3055

Double D Engineering72 Otis StSan Francisco, CA 94103415-551-5150

Audio Video Excellence17 Gramercy PlThornwood, NY 10594914-747-1411

Concord Sheet Metal1666 Willow PassPittsburg, CA 945659256808723

Great Bay Contracting41 Degnon Blvd Ste ABayshore, NY 117066316655091

Gerold Brothers Builders81 Keyland CtBohemia, NY 11716631-589-5492

International Construction4205 Hardscrabble RdColumbia, SC 29223803-699-5106

Diamond Lad Scaping26 N Commerce StLiberty, SC 29657864-449-3525

Wilson Painting743 Wilson RdNewBerry, SC 29108803-924-3131

Executive ConstructionEddie Yandle803-462-0884

Eric Gunter ConstructionEric Gunter803-319-4501

Creative Outdoor Designs, Inc803-732-3620

Columbia Siding & Windos656 Frink StCayle, SC 29033803-791-5969

H&H Contractors101 Morning Lake DrLexington, SC 29072803-513-9623

Wilkerson Insulation Company1611 Sain Andrews Terrace Rd

Columbia, SC 29210803-513-5438

Terratec, Inc1350 Methodist Park RdWest Columbia, SC 29170803-791-8888

Jim’s Welding803-739-2555

Capitol DesignPO Box 532White Rock, SC 29177803-808-1600

Total Flooring, LLC803-794-1848

Aqua Seal MFG & Roofing1144 Walter Price St.Cayce, SC 29033803-936-0420

Southern Vistas, Inc.2825 Commerce Dr.Columbia, SC 29205803-256-0559

Apax Glass4146 S 70th East AveTulsa, OK 74145918-65-7601

Architectural Flooring LLC31 South Adair StPryor, OK 74361918-824-8544

Harrison Orr4100 N. WalnutOklahoma City, OK 73105405-528-3333

Mitchell Acoustics & Drywall, Inc3721 S. Missouri AveOklahoma City, OK 73129405-677-8400

Trussway Ltd8850 Trussway BlvdOrlando, FL 32824281-733-8459

Blue Haven Pools of NC10020 Industrial DrPinceville, NC 28134704-889-1300

GEO Services163 Business Park Dr./Ste 15Lebanon, TN 37087615-547-9314

Madison Swimming Pools1416 Dickerson RdGoodlettsville, TN 37072615-865-2964

The WorkmanPO Box 110723Nashville, TN 37222615-244-8262

FL Crane/FLC Imports508 South Spring S/PO Box 428tFulton, MS 38843901-277-9122

AET1722 Indian Wood CircleMaumee, OH 43537734-730-2724

MidSouth Steel, Inc16949 Highway 1Harrisburg, AR 72432

870-578-9276

SM LawrenceJackson, TN 38301731-423-0112

Simplex Grinnell6423 Shelby View Dr/Ste 107Memphis, TN 38134901-3860532

Razorback Concrete Co.211 North Sixth StWest Memphis, AR 72303870-735-8610

McCombs Steel Co.117 Slingshot RdStatesville, NC 28677704-873-7563

Viridian100 Gamble RdLittle Rock, AR 72211501-227-0648

Engineering Design Consultants9700 Village Cir./Ste 200Lakeland, TN 38002901-462-3040

Environmental Excavators2303 Hackney RdGreenbriar, TN 37073615-207-3610

OrtexVirgil Hicks80 Fesslers LnNashville, TN 37210615-256-7381

India Globalization Capital, Inc4336 Montgomery AveBethesda, MD 20814301-983-0998

ZZ Consulting1086 North 900 EastShelley, ID 83274208-357-5571

SuperTile4226 Scone StHouston, TX 77084832-250-4244

Xella Aircrete900 Schneider DrCibolo, TX 78108210-402-3223

CMS USA5072 Steadmond DrHouston, TX 77040713-690-6868

Solidarity Contracting10100 W. Sam Houston Pkwy S/ Ste 340Houston, TX 77099281-495-6777

Standard Electric Co.PO Box 43216Louisville, KY 43216502-253-9885

L&W Construction CO.1132 S Rangeline RdCarmel, IN 46032317-846-6134

M&M Cosmetic Sealants1411 Ormsby LaneLouisville, KY 40222502-445-8612

advertiser index

Padgett, Inc.901 E. Fourth StNew Albany, IN 47150812-206-8620

Walker Mechanical1400 W. Jefferson StLouisville, KY 40203502-636-0002

Alcoa Concrete & Masonry4908 46th Ave/Ste BHyattsville, MD 20781301-699-9300

Senate Masonry3750 University BlvdW Ste 200Kensington, MD 208953018160013

Triangle Fence CoRonda, NC 12345336-9843961

Mike Adams Plumbing601 M and M Ranch RdGranbury, TX 76049817-573-4414

Peterson Mfg. Co.PO Box 664Denison, IA 51442712-263-2442

East Texas Canopy11221 Cr. 2130Whitehouse, TX 75791903-839-2091

Millcon15280 W. State Hwy 29Liberty Hill, TX 78642512-289-8550

Valley Security Co.88 Riverwood Dr.Oswego, IL 60543630-554-1090

Ontility3403 N. Sam Houston Pkwy/Ste 300Houston, TX 77086281-854-1407

Schletter3761 E Farnum PlaceTucson, AZ 85706520-289-8721

ENERGY

CleanEdison12 Debrosses StNY, NY 10013888-513-3476

Total Service IncPO Box 818Pomtotoc, MS 38863662-841-0251

Daikin1645 Wallace Dr/Ste 110Carollton, TX 75006972-512-1982

Gary Dounson & Associates2830 NW 41st St/unit DGainesville, FL 32606352-375-8593

Geoscape Solar7 Farmstead RdShort Hills, NJ 7078973-210-4277

Pfister Energy, Inc80 E. 5th StPaterson, NJ 7524973-653-9880

Pro Custom Solar5234 Kaitlyn Ct.Princeton Junction, NJ 8550732-310-6052

Waterfurnace453 South Catherwood AveIndianapolis, IN 46219260-478-5667

South Central3055 State StColumbus, IN 47201812-376-3343

The Solar CompanyNicole Wonderlin20861 Wilbeam Ave/Ste 1Castro Valley, CA 94546510-888-9488

Minnicks Heating & Cooling301-953-2820

Don Stevens Co980 Discovery RdEagan, MN 55121651-452-0872

Clark & White Landscape2930 Westwood Blvd #203Los Angeles, CA 90064310-463-3766

Alexander Metals, Inc497 Cave Rd.Nashville, TN 37210615-256-6070

Sundek (Superior Concrete Resurfacing)PO Box 1705Goodlettsville, TN 37070615-822-7134

Oxford Designs615-337-2669

Drops- Everything106 Cummings Ct.Antioch, TN 37013615-333-0401

Prestige Bath Refinishing9295 Keen RdWestmoreland, TN 37186615-427-1485

TerraScape2870 Old Fort PkwyMurfreesboro, TN 37128615-893-5125

Wolfe & Travis Electric2001 Gladstone AveNashville, TN 37211615-244-6800

Waterstone Construction2418 Eugenia AveNashville, TN 37211615-313-7299

Waste Management1428 Antioch PikeAntioch, TN 37013615-429-7825

Creative Concrete1213 Natchez RdFranklin, TN 37069615-752-5272

Superior Fire Protection113 Park S. Ct.Nashville, TN 37210615-254-8507

Manning Materials509 Lingon DrNashville, TN 37204615-248-1001

Sudberry Millwork443 Atlas DrNashville, TN 37211615-331-4076

Nashville Carpet Center515 4th Ave SouthNashville, TN 37210615-244-9591

CED-Riverside2970 Durahart St.Riverside, CA 92507909-987-8900

Nello Wall Systems6685 Santa Barbara RdElkridge, MD 21075443-253-8811

Electron Solar Energy2801 NW 6th AveMiami, FL 33127800-726-4981

Alternative Ecological ResouresMichelle Benero939-397-7018

ESGMeram El Ramahi4655 Rosebud LaneNewburgh, IN 47630812-492-3734

VendRick367 Collar Price RdBrookfield, OH 44403330-448-4600

JW Didado Electric580 Vernon Odom BlvdAkron, OH 44307330-374-0070

Bradford White725 Talamore DriveAmbler, PA 19002215-641-9400

Pauly Jail Building CoPauly Jail Building, CO 317-580-0833

Steel Ceilings, IncGrant Snowden451 E. Coshocton StJohnstown, OH 43031800-848-0496

Landscapes Inc88 Rogers LnRichmond, VT 5477802-434-3500

Lighthouse Solar4 CHerry Hill RdNew Paltz, NY 12561845-417-3485

Next Energy Corp1110 Burnett Ave/Ste EConcord, CA 94520925-798-0600

MBB Enterprises of Chicago3352 W. Grand AveChicago, IL 60651773-278-7100

Artisan Engineering10 Robin LnCharlotte, VT 5445802-425-4350

Sundoor Solar125 Research PwkyMeriden, CT 6450203-630-7077

Sustainable Energy Group13790 Gas Canyon RdNevada City, CA 95959530-273-4422

advertiser index