Phillips Sekanick Architects Widens Project Range
WARREN, Ohio – With changes in market conditions, funding availability and financing, Phillips Sekanick Architects has pursued projects that extend outside its traditional market areas.
Over the past several years, the Warren-based firm has slowly included a wider range of public projects, says Bruce Sekanick, principal architect.
“While the design process and the development of construction documents are similar to other work, the bid process and project administration include additional requirements and restrictions not seen in the private sector,” Sekanick says. “This stronger emphasis on public work, combined with a new focus on design-build and other delivery methods, has proven to be a successful formula for the firm.”
With a balanced approach to projects, the firm looks to continue its growth in 2023.
Work will continue on the Warren City Schools Wellness Center project, and the firm will continue to work with long-time clients such as Covelli Enterprises and Panera Bread, Sekanick says.
The firm also sees expanded collaboration with other design firms and contractors at the local and national levels as a source for future growth.
The firm was founded in Warren in 1916 under the name Keich Architects and has gone through a variety of names and partnerships over the years. In 1990, it was renamed Phillips Sekanick Architects to reflect the change in ownership and management. The firm is led by five registered architects with a staff that varies between 12 and 14 employees throughout the year.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the firm has worked with its design team to create a more flexible work environment.
“Through the introduction of technology that enhances design and project document production, the firm has also embraced a new culture that allows for greater flexibility both in and out of the office,” Sekanick says.
In 2022, the firm received first-place recognition by AIA Ohio, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects, as a top-performing Early Professional Friendly Firm for its support of emerging professionals within the profession in Ohio.
The firm provides support for the AIA locally and at the state level. Sekanick serves as president of the AIA Ohio Foundation, which provides scholarships and grants focused on advancing the profession. The firm also has invested in community service through pro bono work for a variety of nonprofit entities throughout the area.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
