By Bruce Sekanick
Principal, Phillips Sekanick Architects
WARREN, Ohio – Phillips Sekanick Architects played a key role in a wide range of projects in 2024, with the Warren G. Harding High School Wellness Center leading the list.
The 136,000-square-foot, $34 million center in Warren, which includes athletics, educational and medical elements, has been touted as one of the top-rated facilities of its type in northeastern Ohio.
Phillips Sekanick continues to work closely with Warren City Schools and its administration in making more improvements at the campus. The Warren project is just one of the educational projects the firm is handling.
The firm is the criteria architect on Trumbull Career and Technical Center’s equestrian barn in Champion, which is nearing completion. Several other school projects, in various stages of design or analysis, have been developed by the firm. A project for the University of Akron is planned to begin construction later this spring.
Phillips Sekanick is leading the design efforts on the restoration of the 1923 Niles Masonic Temple. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, has received state and federal historic preservation tax credits. The firm was brought in by the owner as part of the grant application process to document the building’s condition. Currently in the early stages of design, work will become apparent this summer.
Phillips Sekanick has been involved in other local historic preservation tax credit projects, including Brite and the Heritage Galleria in downtown Warren. And the firm has worked with the state historic preservation office as part of improvements to the Kinsman House in Warren and the upcoming Morgan History Center addition to the Trumbull County Historical Society.
While many projects completed in 2024 focused on meeting the needs of businesses and government, Phillips Sekanick was also part of projects that enhanced communities.
Brought in as a design consultant, the firm worked closely with other design professionals in the development of Lincoln Plaza for the city of Salem. While the project was funded through state and local sources, the firm’s services were provided pro bono to the city. Staff worked with city officials, community supporters and the state to bring to fruition the small park at the city center.
In 1998, Phillips Sekanick Architects began to work with Covelli Enterprises on a then-new concept, Panera Bread restaurants. This work provided the opportunity to extend the firm’s market reach along the East Coast. As the firm worked with Covelli Enterprises, it explored new markets and built relationships outside of the Mahoning Valley. Phillips Sekanick has continued to expand its presence in Florida, North and South Carolina, and more recently Virginia and Maryland.
These expanding markets enable the firm to temper variable market conditions. This expansion, which is principally focused on food service, also allows the firm to expand services both within and outside Ohio. These projects include an expansion of franchises as well as food service centers on the Ohio Turnpike.
In 2026, Phillips Sekanick will celebrate 110 years. Guided by principals Kim Phillips and myself for the past 36 years, the firm expects to reinforce our expanding markets while focusing on new technologies such as AI.