Willoughby Arts Collaborative Time Capsule Plaque Placed

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Willoughby Arts Collaborative Time Capsule Plaque Placed
The Willoughby Arts Collaborative Art Time Capsule was buried in July 2023 in front of ThenDesign Architecture's historic office building. The capstone and plaque were placed to officially mark the spot that will be untouched until 2070.

Willoughby Arts Collaborative Time Capsule Plaque Placed

The “Art Time Capsule” project was created by the nonprofit Willoughby Arts Collaborative in 2020. It was buried in front of ThenDesign Architecture’s office building in historic downtown Willoughby in July 2023. The capsule contains thirty entries from local artists, South High School students, and Andrews Osborne Academy students and will remain sealed for the next 46 years.

WAC Time Capsule Buried at TDA in July 2023

Community, Collaboration, and Creativity

According to the WAC website, their Vision is “To improve the lives, livelihood and living of residents, visitors and businesses in and around Lake County through a robust connection to and a genuine investment in arts and culture.”

The collaboration with TDA was a natural fit due to aligning philosophies. At TDA, we believe creativity and collaboration are hallmarks of a thriving community. We are thrilled to partner with the Willoughby Arts Collaborative to support this exciting project and are honored to preserve the capsule’s safety for the next several decades.

The Art Time Capsule’s resting spot is ideally suited. The TDA offices are located in the renovated Memorial Junior High School, which has stood in the community for almost 100 years.

On February 23, 2024, a capstone plaque created by AC Wellman here in Willoughby was set atop the same spot to officially mark the time capsule’s location. The 10″ x 6″ bronze plaque was precision tooled using a new CNC router and inscribed with “Willoughby Arts Collaborative Time Capsule 2070.” After the plaque was machined, it was painted, lacquered, and attached. The limestone was sourced locally from a farm in Madison, Ohio, and weighs approximately 145 pounds.

“It is a privilege to be an active member of this community, especially for projects that help bring people together,” said Rick Serio, owner of AC Wellman. “We thank Willoughby Arts Collaborative for allowing us to participate in this historic event.”

WAC Time Capsule Plaque Created by AC Wellman Placed

A Historic Stone Set at a Historic Place

Representatives from AC Wellman placed the capstone on the brisk, sunny afternoon. Willoughby Arts Collaborative Board Member Paul Garcia and President Pat Carroll Bonander were on site to direct the installation.

In an interview with the News-Herald, Paul said, “Maybe it won’t mean so much to us today, but in 20, 30, or 40 years, I’d like to think it’ll start getting more exciting. The real treasure will be when it actually opens up.”

The boxed metal Art Time Capsule will not be opened until 2070.

"Our initiative was to show people in the future what Willoughby as a community through art was about."
President Pat Carroll Bonander
Willoughby Arts Collaborative

This is one example of how a sense of community can be fostered through creativity and cooperation.

If you would like to learn more or become part of the team, please get in touch with us.

Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

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Marc Cebrian

Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.

Creative Fun with a Canvas Art Project

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Creative Fun with a Canvas Art Project
Thirty blank canvas tiles became a mosaic of hues, shapes, and textures, forming a collective rendition of our logo for display in Memorial Junior High School, ThenDesign Architecture’s headquarters.
Expressing your creativity is just another way of communicating who you are to the world.”
Carly White

“Sip N Paint”

As part of TDA’s ongoing mission to promote creativity, teamwork, and collaboration among staff, team members participated in a Canvas Art Project. The goal was to render thirty separate blank canvas art panels to form a mosaic of hues, shapes, and textures that would ultimately form the TDA logo.

To encourage well-being as part of the TDA experience, an Events and Culture Committee organizes team-building events throughout the year. “Expressing ourselves artistically helps us remember our roots and reminds us why we entered the creative field,” said committee member Kelly Legan. “We can get engrossed in the daily grind, but sometimes we need to step back and recapture our creative spirit.”

Fellow member Carly White led the activity, “Here at TDA, one of our continued goals is to give the staff opportunities to take their mind off work occasionally,” she said. “Everyone is super-busy on various projects, so providing fun ways to take a little break and get together was important to us.”

TDA staff members were invited to an activity to enjoy drinks and snacks while exercising their creativity. Armed with acrylic paint and brushes and powered by imagination, participants designed their individual canvases however they felt.
"We always love a good party at TDA. This was another way to celebrate our company’s culture by unwinding with paint and snacks.”
Carly White

TDA Encourages Creativity

By its nature, architecture requires creativity and attention to detail and is grounded in real-world considerations. Since much of architectural design is focused on the human experience, there are many opportunities for various artistic disciplines to combine and improve a space’s overall impression. Educational design is similar and requires input from many stakeholders to make a successful project.

This Canvas Art Project was a way to incorporate the perspective of our designers into a singular piece. Carly noticed an added benefit, “It was a wonderful opportunity for personal bonding. People were hanging out and getting to know each other while painting. That was cool to see.”
“We can sometimes get caught up in the work of creativity and lose touch with the fun of it.”
Kelly Legan

Product of Collaborative Efforts

After completing all thirty tiles, they were assembled and secured with a wooden frame, which will be featured in a gallery space in our office. The final product is a collaboration between dozens of designers from TDA.

Carly noted, “Even though we had the TDA logos as the unifying element, as I watched each person paint something completely different, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. But once all the tiles were assembled, you could see something unique was created.”

Kelly was pleased with how the canvases turned out, “The finished piece is a vibrant representation of who we are as a staff. TDA has a culture that encourages collaboration and relationship-building. The Canvas Art Project brought unique individuals together to create something special.”
“TDA is a creative place. This Canvas Art Project is a representation of our culture, and the finished piece stands as a reflection of that.”
Carly White

This is one example of how a sense of community can be fostered through group exercises, encouraging both group and individual creativity. 

If you would like to learn more or become part of the team, please get in touch with us.

Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.

ThenDesign Architecture, Working Together with Core Values

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ThenDesign Architecture, Working Together with Core Values
"Core values are critical. They guide us in decision-making, problem-solving and even how we form relationships--both internally and externally," commented Chris Smith, president of TDA. Team members met in an interactive workshop to collaborate and define behaviors common to the values at TDA.

ThenDesign Architecture Values Workshop

“Decades ago, we founded a firm that was employee-centric and this came at the time when that was a radical idea,” commented Robert Fiala, founding partner of ThenDesign Architecture. “He continues, “Several years ago, our leadership team started exploring aspirational words that identify our core values. Today we are talking about what these words mean for our behavior, and how we live them out on a daily basis.”

As a firm that routinely works with school districts, their communities, and other public entities, collaborating with a diverse group of people is commonplace.

Our team of architects, interior designers, construction administrators, communications, and administration staff gathered on June 28th to participate in a workshop facilitated by Dr. Bethany Klynn, PhD., president of Insight Leadership Consulting. The session was designed to explore the behaviors attached to the shared values exemplified in our work. As an opportunity to engage with and learn from each other, the session provided an avenue to better identify our individual strengths and ways to work together.
“Core values are critical. They guide us in decision-making, problem-solving and how we form relationships - both internally and externally.”
-Chris Smith
President of TDA

Core Values are Important to Organizations

Dr. Klynn recognizes that defining and ascribing behaviors to core values is essential for many reasons. “I think core values are important to a company because they appear in so many ways. They appear from an individual’s behaviors, to how teams work together, to how you show up in front of clients, and why people are attracted to your business.”

“Sometimes, these traits identify why teams stay together for so long. They say, ‘This is just what really matters to me.'”

At the end of the session, Chris Smith, president of TDA, remarked, “All of us can see how we lived our core values today. We saw signs of leadership when people came up to speak, the creativity in our answers, and teamwork and collaboration as we developed ideas together. It is fascinating to hear the diversity of opinions on these topics, which strengthens what we do.”

Common values bind teams together in the office and also contribute to an active and fun working environment. Activities outside work also serve as an opportunity to show our values in action.
"Values matter most when they are in action."
Bethany Klynn, PhD
President of Insight Leadership Consulting

Core Values are Important to Individuals

Organizational values are important to cohesive teams but an individual’s personal values also contribute to their team. Many times our personal values connect with the organizations we work for. Bethany continues, “It is important to understand your personal core values and recognize they will change. Sometimes they shift at different stages of life or when you learn something new. They will drive how you make decisions and respond in certain situations.”

“It is important to live your values now, but it is important to pay attention to how they evolve over time.”

Ultimately, team members who exemplify common values accomplish more together and create a stronger team.

Robert Fiala has recognized this after years of building successful teams. “Values create community, and that is what we are doing here today. We are a village and community. One of the discussions that came up consistently was how all of us exemplify our principles without ever having to explain them to each other.”

“Today was about having a discussion and putting words to them.”

He was encouraged by the engagement, diversity of opinions, and the direction of the firm’s future. “It was great to see that what we created so many years ago is very much alive today.”

Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in a corporate video environment and brings a production mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the Ohio parks system.

ThenDesign Architecture Attends Ohio School Board Association Capital Conference

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ThenDesign Architecture Attends Ohio School Board Association Capital Conference
The OSBA Capital Conference in 2022, brought together educators, board members and educational stakeholders to Columbus for networking and educational sessions.

Exhibition at the Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) 2022 Tradeshow

The Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) Capital Conference and Trade Show is a premier educational program that takes place in Columbus Ohio. Bringing together, superintendents, board members, treasurers and operations staff, the conference is focused on providing practical solutions to district challenges, a focus on academic achievement and supporting staff who issue critical support to all students in Ohio. Spread over 3 days, the conference offers opportunities for continuing education sessions, networking and information on new technologies and products to support schools districts.

This year, TDA was glad to support our educational partners and exhibit at the capital conference. We appreciate the many visitors who stopped by our booth to connect with our architectural staff and share stories from their districts over the last year.

While offering a variety of services, from master planning to facilities assessments, architectural design services and communications, we would love to continue the conversations, so feel free to reach out with further questions.

Scenes from the Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) Capital Conference

The ThenDesign Architecture Team
Columbus Convention Center, OSBA 2022
Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference
Crowd outside the Main Auditorium at OSBA
The OSBA Tradeshow
The OSBA Tradeshow
OSBA Logo
Tradeshow at the Capital Conference
David Axner Speaking on the last Day of the Conference

The BEAT Brunswick Students Covering the Ohio School Board Association

In addition to the many keynote speakers and activities throughout the days, it was a pleasure to see The BEAT students from Brunswick City Schools in action generating media during the conference. In addition to interviewing speakers and dignitaries during the conference, they provided a window into the many activities that took place at the conference. The Beat which is a program dedicated to exposing to media operations such as writing news stories, on-air interviews, editing and shooting informational programs in Brunswick and Medina County.

The BEAT students Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) Capital Conference

"Facilities as a Catalyst for Change," Presentation with Wickliffe City Schools

This year, Wickliffe City School District Superintendent Joseph Spiccia, Director of Strategic Innovation Julie Ramos, Director of Operations and Human Resources Bradley Leyrer, and Claire Bank, RA spoke to conference attendees on how Wickliffe’s new PK-12 Campus is helping the district “reimagine education” in their district.

Superintendent Spiccia commented: “This facility project is a journey we have been on since 2017 and a rare opportunity we had to take. It is unusual to rebuild an entire campus while marrying that to the significant educational change in our district. We are just beginning to see the fruits of it.”

While a project of this size is challenging, the team showed how with good stakeholder engagement, a focus on incorporating staff and community feedback and good architectural design can serve as a catalyst for educational change.

For the district, this was a natural progression as they looked forward to best educating students and preparing them for their careers and lives after school.

To learn more about how these strategies could be employed your district and community, reach out to the Wickliffe team at their website.

The Wickliffe Team presenting "Facilities as a Catalyst for Change"

"This facility project is a journey we have been on since 2017 and a rare opportunity we had to take. It is unusual to rebuild an entire campus while marrying that to the significant educational change in our district. We are just beginning to see the fruits of it."
Mr. Joseph Spiccia
Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools

To learn more about ThenDesign Architecture or the work at Wickliffe City Schools, feel free to reach out.

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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One Key Characteristic Needed by all Architects in Educational Design

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One Key Characteristic Needed by all Architects in Educational Design
Educational design is a rigorous process that involves dedication, technical ability and skill. Developing successful school facilities takes years of work, between district representatives, architects construction professionals and the community. A vast array of talents are used in this type of work, but one key characteristic is needed for any architect in educational design.

One Key Characteristic

“One of the first questions, I ask a potential new employees is, “Why do you like this type of work?” We already know everyone likes collaboration and autonomy, but I want them to dig deeper than that.” says Angela Staedt, PHR, SHRM-CP, Human Resources Director at TDA. Educational design is a rigorous process that involves dedication, technical ability and skill. Developing successful school facilities takes years of work, between district representatives, architects construction professionals and the community. A vast array of talents are used in these projects, but one key characteristic needed for any architect in educational design.

Angie continues, “You can have the most amazing talent in the world and be technically impressive, but if you don’t have curiosity that fuels dedication, then you may not be a good fit in this industry.”

This characteristic informs everything we do as creative professionals and allows us to drive forward despite challenges. We accomplish more than we think because of it. And it is the defining characteristic of our best educators and administrators, so there is no surprise it’s in our architects too.

“Those people who deeply think about this characteristic and explore how it impacts them, they will succeed here. Working collaboratively and autonomously is great,” Angie answers, “but those who are passionate towards education, architecture and communities–they will succeed.”

TDA and What We Do

ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) is an architecture, planning and construction firm, located in downtown Willoughby, operating out of the renovated Junior High School building. During our over 60-year history, we have worked with over 120 passionate school districts in Northeast Ohio, partnering with them to develop unique, innovative, architectural designs that improve the education for the students and communities. Our work is characterized through facilities planning, new construction, building renovation and much more. Our staff is as unique as the districts we serve, and each one brings perspectives and experiences that complement the districts we work with. However, even though we are a diverse team, the one characteristic, passion, fuels all our educational designs.

Join our team!

ThenDesign Architecture is looking for collaborative, innovative team members for a variety of roles including Architects, Revit Modelers, IT Managers, Interior Designers, BIM/Revit Managers. Apply today!

Contact Angie at hr@thendesign.com.

"Passion" - A Key Characteristic

The meaning of the word “passion” has morphed significantly over the years, with it more recently surging in popularity. It is characterized as an “intense enthusiasm for something.” However, even though it now takes a much more positive tone, originally it was derived from the Latin root word “to suffer.”

This somewhat paradoxical meaning makes sense when we understand that our “passion,” that enthusiastic drive, is what helps us make sacrifices to push forward a good cause.

Author Brad Stulberg, describes this condition in his book “The Passion Paradox,” Using the lens of high-performance athletes, he explains that our challenge is to balance a burning desire to achieve, with “overwhelming our sense of balance.” He believes that “Passion isn’t a one-time thing. It is an ongoing practice,” in other words, we are constantly balancing the extremes of drive and sacrifice. That paradox is present in passionate people. Their desire to advance their cause, bleeds into everything they do. “Your passion should not come from the outside. It should come from within.”

This one key characteristic, passion, is a key indicator of success in architecture, especially around educational design. Whether a project manager, or intern, passion is what allows us to succeed.
"Many times we find that once architects start working on educational design, they discover their passion for this work. It's about giving to the generations of young people who will experience their architecture."
Chris Smith
President

What Does our Staff Say?

“This isn’t just something I believe, it isn’t something that comes from an HR book, but everyone from the administrative team to our designers have shared this common thread.” From her unique position in HR, Angie recognizes this characteristic in every team member she works with. “It’s coming from our staff who regularly work together as a team. They drive towards the same goal and develop close relationships with one another as well as our clients.

“Passion” is one key characteristic needed by all architects in educational design.

Claire Bank, RA – Project Manager

  • “I wanted to be in a field that benefited the community, designing buildings that benefited its users. Schools are ingrained in their community and have always served as hubs in some form. Now we are seeing more community aspects woven into them…A lot of people don’t realize how passionate I am about education. I taught Architecture at Kent State for a period of time and I’m also involved in the ACE Mentor Program. I am always trying to find other ways, besides designing schools, to weave education into my work. Maybe it’s genetic, my parents were educators, but I try to weave education into my career as much as possible.”

Ken Monsman, RA, NCARB, CCM, LEED AP BD+ C – Construction Administrator

  • “There is nothing like seeing students using the spaces we designed at their school. Sitting in class during academic time, using the collaborative areas during lunch and after working in little groups on projects. The space is very flexible and useful for them. Architecture has a profound impact on people. Whether you are experiencing the building as visitor or you use it regularly. It’s very exciting to have a big influence on students by designing their schools. It’s very fulfilling and I’m grateful to have made the decision to join TDA. It has been a good experience for me, there are great people, good management and great projects.”

Cynthia Haight – Interior Designer

  • “The design of schools is more important today than ever. We have to give our youth a place where they can truly learn and provide their teachers a place that is easy to teach in. That’s the only reason why I feel so passionate about this type of design, it’s fantastic.”

Adam Parris, RA – Project Manager

  • “When we are given a design problem by a client and solve it, we are appreciated by them. However, you don’t see all the people that are benefited by that space afterwards. In my mind, the best praise you can give to a project is someone who walks in the building, enjoys their time there and walks out feeling like they’ve done what they came to do, and want to come back. Seeing people enjoying the space drives me to continue designing.”

Mackenzie Kicher – Architectural Intern

  • “Being at TDA was the first time I was exposed to educational design. You most likely went through school but rarely thought about how it works, there’s just so much to it. Designing a science lab is completely different than designing a room for preschoolers or kindergartners. As a student, there is only so much that school can teach you, you just need to get into an office and see how it works. The experiences I have had, I didn’t even know I needed them to be a good architect. Now going back into school, I feel much more passionate about these spaces and confident since I learned them firsthand.”
"Working collaboratively and autonomously is great, but those who are passionate towards education, architecture and communities - they will succeed."
Angela Staedt, PHR, SHRM-CP
Human Resources Director

Developing this one key Characteristic - Passion

“Staff stay at TDA because they enjoy the people they work with almost as much as what they do every day. One common factor people love it here, is that they realize they are doing something for a much bigger cause creating purpose.” Angie has heard the same comments from many designers at TDA, “It’s something bigger than what they could do alone, it makes a difference in a community for decades, so our work is meaningful.”

If you have a passion or curiosity for educational design, our team would love to connect with you. Passion is a characteristic that can be developed over time but often comes from within. We have found that even if someone isn’t familiar with educational design, once exposed to it, their own passion is ignited and they see the tangible difference they can make in education.

“So this is a continual process, as we develop new skills we can take inspiration from others who have tried things a little differently. Those who drive design forward, and who are passionate about what they do, there is limitless possibility.”

If you are passionate for architecture, and improving the education in communities, both now and for decades to come, we want to hear from you. We are looking for passionate individuals, so visit our Careers page and see how we can work together.

Reach out, and let’s develop a future centered around the passion for good educational design.

Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.

Coming Together, Despite Being Apart

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Coming Together, Despite Being Apart
Despite the social isolation and challenges that faced our creative team in 2020, ThenDesign Architecture continues to find ways to come together, despite being apart. In mid-February our team got together for cross country skiing and enjoying the winter weather in Chapin Forest, which is one of the Lake Metroparks in Ohio. The multipronged approach of being outside, getting exercise, and seeing familiar faces is an example of our culture in action: collaboration, exploration and discovery.

Coming Together, Despite Being Apart

Despite the social isolation and challenges that faced our creative team in 2020, ThenDesign Architecture continues to find ways to come together despite being apart. In mid-February we got together for cross country skiing, hiking and to enjoy the winter weather in the unique forested environment of Chapin Forest, of Lake Metroparks in Ohio.

While we are known for regularly hosting in-person activities, over the last year we have committed ourselves to the safety of our staff and have largely worked remotely. However, as we are able, we still enjoy participating in outdoor activities that reinforce our culture of collaboration, exploration and discovery. Even though we are still largely separated, we strive to find ways to come together, despite being apart.

TDA and Greenland Cross Country Skiing and Hiking at Chapin Forest

The Challenges of Isolation

Social Isolation is a killer … literally. In 2017, the Oxford Academic ranked the “lack of social connection” against a variety of established lifestyle risk factors. While the report was revisited in 2020, they found that the effects of “isolation” are similar to that of obesity, physical inactivity, air pollution and in some cases, it exceeds the health risks associated with smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

There is no doubt that “social distancing” has impacted the efforts of creative teams, especially those in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering industries. The sudden lack of in person meetings, not showing up at “the office” and talk face-to-face with colleagues has posed many communication challenges.

Furthermore, remote work often means a disrupted home schedule. If we are parents, we automatically became full-time teachers, cafeteria workers and crisis managers, juggling learning schedules, lunch breaks, and work-related deadlines. Seriously, how many times have we had our own “quarantined co-workers” (spouses, children, and the occasional dog or cat) “helpfully” join our client meetings to provide their opinions? The lines between work and home are blurring and we have to remember to find ways to practice self-care and manage these new sources of stress.

This informs our multipronged approach of combatting these challenges, so we strive to get outside, get exercise, and see familiar faces. That only helps our creative teams.

Our Team Along with Family Were Included

Chapin Forest

Located in Lake County, as a part of Lake Metroparks, Chapin Forest features 6 miles of trails through mature forests full of beach, maple, oak, tulip and hemlock trees. Initially the park was purchased in 1949 by Frederic Chapin, who donated it to the State of Ohio and under a lease agreement, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, it is now managed by Lake Metroparks. The rocky outcroppings of Sharon Conglomerate were formed 300 million years ago, and guided hikes are regularly offered for guests to see some of the restricted ledges.

Hiking in the park allows visitors to experience the “Sharon Conglomerate ledges,” from where Lake Erie and the Cleveland Skyline are visible on clear days. This winter, in the evenings the “Arbor Lane Loop Trail” is lit which is a 1-mile trail for evening walks. During the day, snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals are available at the lodge and an outdoor fire allows guests to warm up and enjoy snacks.

So, when the team decided to explore this natural environment, it was nothing new for us. Led by a number of our experienced outdoor trailblazers, and a skiing instructor, it was natural to continue getting together, despite being apart.
"People come to TDA to find community and make a difference. People stay here because they know that they are contributing to a greater purpose."
Angie Staedt
Human Resources

A Company Culture That Promotes Collaboration, Exploring and Discovery

Angie Staedt, the Human Resources Director at TDA, cites our company culture as a major factor driving the business and staff growth. She states, “People come to TDA because they know that there’s a purpose here. The vision of “enriching lives through design” came a long time ago by the partners of our firm, Chris Smith and Bob Fiala. Bob particularly had the vision years ago to set our culture before many companies emphasized it. That culture remains today.”

It’s not just the shared vision improving the lives of teachers, students and education through architectural design, but improving ourselves by engaging with each other, building on one another’s strengths.

Angie continues, “At TDA, individuals get together as a group and in team building exercises or other group events. We try to mix individuals in teams that they don’t usually work with to get broader experiences. We spend a lot of time collaborating in group activities, design charrettes or other outdoor activities. One of our favorite events is our staff patio lunches, where we come together to cook a meal which may be a Hawaiian Luau theme or something similar. We love those opportunities to bond and enjoy good food.”

Collaboration is embedded into the fabric of what makes us successful.

“People come to TDA to find community and make a difference” says Angie. “The most successful individuals are the ones who chart a path for success in serving our clients by building relationships and on expanding their own careers. People stay here because they know that they are contributing to a greater purpose.”

We invite you to engage with us and see what makes our team different.

Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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Buildings in a Landscape – ACE Mentor Program

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Buildings in a Landscape - ACE Mentor Program
ThenDesign Architecture actively participates in the ACE Mentor Program in Cleveland, Ohio. In a recent session, Jeff Henderson highlighted the different ways architects situate buildings in a landscape. He simplified this complicated concept for high school students, identifying six commonly used ways structures can shape the activity in a landscape.

ThenDesign Architecture is a proud participant of the ACE Mentor Program in Cleveland, Ohio. The ACE Mentor Program is an afterschool, educational program that exposes high school students to the architecture, construction, and engineering industries. Partnering with schools across the United States, including the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, designers from TDA recently explored how situating buildings in a landscape can impact the overall activity on a site. Jeff Henderson explained 6 ways that buildings in a landscape can shape this space and experience.

ACE Mentor Program

The ACE Mentor Program of America is an afterschool program which was crafted to attract high school students to the architecture, construction, and engineering industries as well as the skilled trades. With over 70 affiliates across 37 states in the continental United States, the program is mostly based in metropolitan areas and allows students to explore different design projects within the industry. Many firms who partner with the ACE Mentor Program, provide a well-rounded experience allowing students to see the many facets of our interconnected industry.

At TDA, several of our designers participate in this important program. We have seen the impact this educational initiative has on students who are interested in the field.

6 Types of Buildings in a Landscape

As an illustration in his presentation, Jeff modeled 6 ways to situate buildings in a landscape and how this will affect the site.

  • Object: When a structure is placed in the center of a landscape, it is seen as an “object.” This means that the building is the most important element on the site. This gives the architecture more visual presence over any other pieces on the site. When creating designs where the building is an object, it is often set apart and above the landscape, creating a clear separation between the two.
  • Street: When structures are placed in a tight row across from each other, they define a streetscape in the landscape. This street creates a thoroughfare that emphasizes movement, directing traffic and occupants to pass through the space. Usually, streets designed in this manner don’t allow for easy pedestrian traffic.
  • Boulevard: When the structures are pushed back, it allows for an additional street with landscaping in the middle. That larger space gives the street more of a sense of “place.” Often there are opportunities for plantings and additional pedestrian activity alongside the streetscape.
  • Park: With the streets moved outside, this allows the space in the middle to be used for purely pedestrian use. A park atmosphere is created since it is protected from busy traffic and can be used for a range of human activities. The structures adjacent to the park can easily access its interior with minimal effort.
  • Focal Point: Once the park area is enclosed, the landscape is now even more protected by the structures that ring it. This is a courtyard arrangement and visual emphasis is placed on the activity that happens inside this ring. This arrangement makes the interior park the most important aspect of the landscape.
  • Integrated Landscape: In this arrangement structures are actively engaged in the landscape. It’s possible for an occupant to experience both the structure and landscape at the same time. It opens up a range of architectural possibilities like installing a green roof or introducing plant life more extensively into the building.
"Our goal is to simplify complicated processes and make them easy for anyone to understand."
Jeff Henderson
Architect

While there are many other ways to situate buildings in a landscape, these major categories are commonly found in both urban and suburban developments. However, these strategies don’t just affect large developments, they can also be employed when designing schools and other educational facilities. At the start of each project, we have the opportunity to rethink how the structure engages with its landscape to promote a district’s learning goals and further their student’s education.

Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.

A Different Perspective on Architectural Drawing – ACE Mentor Program

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A Different Perspective on Architectural Drawing - ACE Mentor Program
ThenDesign Architecture has proudly participated in the ACE Mentor Program for years. This year, we taught a session on the importance of communication through architectural drawing. In order to best engage high school students in a distanced format, the team needed to come up with a unique way to demonstrate these architectural conventions.

ThenDesign Architecture is a proud participant of the ACE Mentor Program in Cleveland, Ohio. The ACE Mentor Program is an afterschool, educational program that exposes high school students to the architecture, construction, and engineering industries. Partnering with schools across the United States, including the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, designers from TDA recently explained the importance of communication in our field. For this engagement session, Jeff Henderson, Claire Bank and James Cowan built a “super-sized” architectural canvas to emphasize why we need to take a different perspective on architectural drawing.

About the ACE Mentor Program

The ACE Mentor Program of America is an afterschool program which was crafted to attract high school students to the architecture, construction, and engineering industries as well as the skilled trades. With over 70 affiliates across 37 states in the continental Unites States, the program is mostly based in metropolitan areas and allow students to explore different design projects in the industry.

The program brings together more than 4,100 professionals, high school teachers and students at events, with each one covering a different aspect of the architecture, engineering and construction industry. Trade professionals deliver educational sessions, engagement activities and take students on site visits to help them better understand how the built world is shaped. ACE also awards approximately $2.5 million annually in scholarships to those who are pursuing industry centered careers.

Interestingly, more than 70% of ACE seniors enter a skilled trade program or enter college with an industry-related major. According to ACE’s student surveys, the majority of students passing through the program felt motivated to attend college and picked up skills and knowledge that weren’t covered in their formal education.

At TDA, several of our designers, have participated in this important program. We have seen firsthand the difference it makes.

"Just as a writer uses words to create a verbal story, an architect uses drawings to tell a creative visual story."
Jeff Henderson
Architect

A Different Perspective on Architectural Drawing

Jeff Henderson, a 12-year ACE mentor at John Hay High School in Cleveland, who presented this year’s session on drawing commented: “Architectural drawing is really about telling a story. It’s a story about a building. Just as a writer uses words to create a verbal story, an architect uses drawings to tell a creative visual story.” A foundational principle of architecture is that a designer must communicate their ideas to a client or other professional on a collaborative team. To be a leader in this industry, we must be able to communicate effectively.

For Jeff, the importance of drawing touches on three vital areas–learning, thinking and communicating. He states: “For me, drawing is a form of learning. When architects see a building or walk into a space, they suddenly shift into “architect mode” and they begin asking themselves questions. “Why does it look like that?” “Why did they use that material?” “How was that detailed?” It is said that inspiration comes from anywhere and that is absolutely true. So, we analyze good buildings and good spaces and record them through drawings and notes. The second part is that drawing is a form of thinking. It is in the process of drawing where you start to think about the design of a building and it becomes a process of testing, looking at different ideas and making decisions to move the design along. The third portion is that drawing is a vital tool for communication. The ability to clearly communicate designs, visually and verbally, to clients or stakeholders is crucial. That is probably the most important skill an architect can have.

“Behind the Scenes” Setup

As a firm dedicated to educational design, we continually think about unique ways to engage students, educators, and communities. While these sessions are normally conducted in person, during this time of distanced learning and remote workshops, the mentorship team devised a new way to communicate architectural drawing conventions.

They devised a setup that involved suspending a high-definition camera, with a wide angle lens 10′ in the air in our unfinished office building. Then we laid out (3) 4’x8′ sheets of wall board side by side creating a “life sized canvas” that was 12′ wide x 8′ high. The team then took turns sketching plans, sections, elevations, and perspectives on the sheets to demonstrate how designers use these different types of drawings to communicate their ideas.

In the presentation, Jeff used these examples to illustrate how a simple drawing can communicate a complicated architectural idea.

This unique presentation method allowed us to engage with students in a novel way, forcing them to take a completely different perspective on architectural drawing and its impact on communication. For Claire and James, longtime ACE Mentor participants, they found the exercise helped them see drawing in a new light. It gave the whole team an opportunity to think through the best way to engage a remote audience using technology, while underscoring the necessity of drawing throughout the architectural process.

For Claire, education has always been a focus of her career, “So I try to find other ways, besides designing schools, to weave education into what I do with my career. I think ACE brings architecture and its related fields to schools that may not focus on it as much. Especially serving schools in Cleveland, we are focusing on developing skills that could lead to opportunities for underprivileged communities, leading to more diversity in the industry.”

Similarly, James learned about educational design through mentors involved in the ACE program. This led him to a love of this kind of design. “What’s funny is I didn’t know I would be as passionate about educational design until I got to TDA. They had a mentorship program through ACE and I started to learn more about them. Once I got here, I started understanding the impact within a community, and that’s something I wanted to be a part of. It’s very exciting to see the groundbreaking, then openings and kids running into a new school. You can see how it impacts someone’s life.”

We are committed to bringing a different perspective on architectural drawing, educational design and developing new ways to engage with communities on their projects. We look forward to providing new vantage points for the next round of high school students entering the AEC industry.

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Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Recent Posts:

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.