STATE STREET ARCHITECTURE, LLC
Firm philosophy
The Process of planning and building facilities for a building, consists of working with an Architect and the Client’s Building and Planning committee(s), and other representatives to define a site or a building that works practically and that is both desirable aesthetically, and achievable within the budgetary constraints of the Client and its community. This process must depend on the committee's strengths in defining the overall program goals for the Client, as well as their ability to work with the Architect to manifest these goals in a manner that is consistent with their vision. We bring a collaboration of people and their talents to all projects. All projects take into consideration location, orientation, sustainability, structures, aesthetics, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, accessibility, green space and environmental impact.
Our strengths and qualifications are summarized in the following paragraphs.
The depth and range of our services brings strength to the process. As the prime consultant to you, we are responsible for coordinating both creative and technical aspects of the planning and the building program. Our services can be presented in three key areas; building design, planning and leadership of the coordinated design team. These areas of service are critical to the success of any program.
Our team has considerable experience with building design and site analysis as shown throughout this website. The character of the buildings, setting on the site, the quality of light throughout, proportions and scale are design elements which affect the experience of place. While subjective, these elements are a vital background for the end user’s experience, and our design services increasingly focus on this area as the project proceeds.
Our services include the design of interior spaces, consisting of color and finish selections, sound and amplification needs, assistance with furnishings, fabrics, and coordination with other designers involved in the unique placement of appointments.
Our services provide for executive leadership over a team of architects and consulting engineers, each with its own special discipline. Coordination of engineering consultants' work is a profound and important role for the architect to play on behalf of the Client. As prime consultant to the Client, our firm is the manager for the process to produce a coordinated design within budget and time schedules established by the Client.
Our qualifications and our ability to provide the above services are based on knowledge and experience developed in providing master planning and building design over the past 11 years, through work at State Street Architecture and previous experience gained through work at other architecture firms in the Tampa Bay Region.
Knowledge and Experience in Master Planning and Building
Our experience is based on services provided to clients via State Street Architecture and via key individual’s work at other Tampa Bay architecture and planning firms.
Knowledge and Experience in Commercial Design and Planning
We work with the Client to attain the highest level of compliance with the unique character of the site and its orientation, the building orientation to the rest of the surrounding context, and other individual elements in relation to buildings and site(s).
Knowledge of Local Planning and Zoning
We offer a unique knowledge of our local community, in the areas of planning and zoning regulations. We are familiar with and work in harmony with building officials, fire marshals and other permitting authorities. These established relationships within our local communities are key elements in the development of any project.
Our qualifications include in-depth knowledge of building and life safety codes which govern church design. In addition we understand ADA regulations, which are a key element in providing a cohesive and useable facility for persons of all ages and abilities. A successful project must also include serious recognition of cost and design impacts generated by life safety codes in all occupancy types. Our services include a recognized fire/life safety and code compliance consultant as an integral part of our practice.
Construction costs can be volatile, and can increase dramatically due to factors beyond our control, or the control of anyone involved in your project. Due to this volatility, it is important for the architect to understand building costs and the impact various choices have on the construction budget for a project. Short-range savings can be offset by long-range costs, i.e. insulation vs. energy costs. As the industry more and more leans towards sustainable designs / “Green Designs”, we are also constantly educating ourselves in new forms of design and construction. LEED Accreditation has become a key focus to the firm and State Street Architecture has to date one (1) in-house LEED AP designer - Johanna Ossmann, AAIA.
We also bring a highly unique vision of building methods to the process of designing buildings with low life-cycle costs. Our increasing interest in Forensic Architecture via specialty sub-consultants (the study of why and how building systems fail) gives us the ability to prescriptively avoid long-range retrofit and maintenance problems.
Knowledge of Building Methods developed over years of study and involvement with Contractors, Builders, Construction Managers, and Developers, is only to be augmented when combined with a visceral and intuitive knowledge of the actual practice of fastening member to member, steel to concrete, roof to wall, etc.
DARREN LEROUX, AIA - PRINCIPAL
- Univ. of South Florida, Master of Architecture
- Florida State University, Bachelor of Business Degrees - Marketing & Accounting
Registered Architect, State of Florida, #AR92346
Mr. LeRoux was
born in Vancouver, Canada and moved to Clearwater, Florida in 1978, where he
Graduated from Clearwater High School. He attended Florida State University and
completed undergraduate degrees in Marketing and Accounting and then went on to
complete his Master of Architecture Degree at University of South Florida.
Mr. LeRoux has extensive experience in Commercial, Retail, Multi & Single Family Residential, Master Planning & Remodeling of existing commercial and residential structures.
Over 10 years experience in the field of Architectural design, building systems coordination and drafting.
Mr. LeRoux spent 2 months studying abroad in the Spain Design III Studio while at the USF School of Architecture & Community Design - Summer 1998.
3rd Place Winner of Tampa Builders Exchange Mail Box construction and Design Competition Fall 1997 University of South Florida School of Architecture and Community Design.
Winner of the 1998 Floy Damon Award – University of South Florida School of Architecture & Community Design.
2003 AIA Tampa Bay Presidents Award - in recognition of Outstanding Contributions in the Establishment of ARE Courses.
Notable Projects:
Osprey Ridge Retail Building, Lithia, Hillsborough County, FL
Completion December 2007
Fishhawk Crossings West Retail Building, Lithia, Hillsborough County, FL
Completion March 2008
Wickham Park Amenity Center, Orlando, FL
Completion April 2007
Ventura Village Amenity Center, Venice, FL
Completion December 2007
Special Activities:
Nicaraguan Christian Relief Ministries, collector & player of Guitars, enjoys Tennis, snow skiing and waterskiing.
State Street Architecture works with REAL building as partners to ensure the highest quality projects - please visit the REAL building website for services offered by them
