SIEGEL & STRAIN ARCHITECTS design places that engage and inspire people. These design principles guide our approach to every project:
- Great projects are tied to place and tuned to climate;
- Sustainable design is a fundamental aspect of good design;
- Simple, elegant, and well-crafted design has enduring value;
- Close collaboration leads to better buildings and stronger communities.
We have worked with extraordinary clients over the last 30 years on a wide variety of projects, master planning large sites, and designing a wide range of new buildings, rehabilitations, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation projects. Many have been recognized with awards for design excellence, innovation in sustainable design, historic preservation, and research that sets new standards for our profession.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Siegel & Strain Architects has long been a leader in sustainable design and we aim to raise the bar with every project. We design resilient and net-zero energy projects that are non-toxic, minimize embodied carbon, capture and reuse water, restore habitat, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. We are actively engaged in sustainable design advocacy, research, and education, serving on boards, advisory panels and advocacy groups, and sharing our knowledge and experience with students and colleagues.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Historic preservation and sustainability go hand-in-hand: we document and preserve cultural resources and we reuse the important manmade and natural resources embodied in existing buildings. Our historic preservation skill set ranges from evaluation and documentation of historic resources to adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of historic structures, and is augmented by our extensive experience with the specialized codes, standards, and review processes required for historically significant buildings.
DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY
Community projects are an investment in community values. Our civic projects are collaborative community-wide efforts that build consensus and support, and embody community aspirations. This kind of engagement has led to buildings – city halls, libraries, and community centers – that people cherish and make their own.
DESIGN FOR RECREATION & RETREAT
We apply our expertise in site-sensitive and low-impact master planing and building design to the kind of places where people come together to learn, play, and build community – outdoor learning centers, parks, camps and retreat centers, visitor centers, and recreational facilities at all scales in both urban and remote settings.
DESIGN FOR LEARNING
Students spend as much as half of their waking hours in education facilities. We work closely with educators to design projects – daycare facilities, K-12 schools, university buildings, and environmental education centers – that enhance educational opportunities and make every project a teaching tool.
DESIGN FOR LIVING
We bring simplicity, economy, ecology, and elegance to the design of our housing projects. From zero-net energy homes and live/work lofts, to affordable and market-rate apartments, to camp cabins and dormitories, our residential projects are designed to create comfortable living spaces, connected to place, climate, and community.
