Created in 1996, anderson architects is an award winning, multi-disciplinary firm with the expertise to plan, design and manage projects requiring the integration of diverse disciplines such as architecture, urban design and interior space planning. Prior to creating anderson architects, Mr. Anderson was a founding partner in the award-winning firm of Anderson/Schwartz Architects (ASA) from 1984 to 1996. Mr. Anderson has taught architectural design at Yale, Columbia, Carnegie-Mellon, and the Parsons School of Design. The scope and breadth of work has continued to expand and has won numerous awards from ID Magazine, Architectural Record, BusinessWeek and the New York Chapter of the AIA. Further, the firm’s work has been published in Europe, Japan and the United States. architecture, planning & interior design Throughout the design process at anderson architects, our focus is tailoring a structure to fit our clients’ specific needs while accommodating a “loose-fit” architecture. We look for opportunities to continue developing ideas and strategies common in all of our work, while recognizing the inevitability of growth and change in a company or institution, affecting both the building and the space within. Working with straightforward, honest materials that age well and are appropriate to their specific uses, our work emphasizes the inherent strengths found in the program, the site, and the building. From public spaces and special facilities to furniture and fixtures, we endeavor to enhance the end users’ environment as well as to create a design solution that is both remarkable and satisfying. Evolving from an interpretation of the site, a developed program and an understanding of specific local conditions and materials, the physical elements of our design integrate the new with the familiar. We combine reality-driven practical skills with a creative design vision to translate this union into a successful physical solution that responds to given economic realities and schedules. We design with the intention of serving the client well, enriching the program and creating a “place” that is a result of the conversation between architect and client, project team and program, architecture and site. firm organization The structure of anderson architects is based on a team approach which reflects our commitment to our clients. Ross Anderson works directly with the client throughout the course of the project, and collaborates closely with the Project Architect and designated staff members who have the experience and knowledge most relevant to the project. All team members research and develop ideas while the Project Architect is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project. The in-house team remains intact from start to finish. This continuity ensures attention to detail along with a constant and familiar relationship with the client. The client will continue to meet with the design team on a regular basis to explore ideas and discuss alternatives. A view toward the specific goals of the project and communication among the project participants are always emphasized as a means of ensuring that the objectives are met. making the place The architectural philosophy of anderson architects is rooted in research. We address each project in terms of its specific site, program, history, cost imperatives, schedule and aesthetics; we bring these forces together to initiate the process. This research, together with clear conceptual ideas and a palette of project-specific materials, begins to suggest metaphors and images that further inform the project and create a framework for addressing the building program. By analyzing these ideas with the client, we engage in a dialogue as a collaborative effort to develop the unique aspects of, requirements for, and influences on the project. At the outset of a project, we incorporate the findings from interviews to generate a comprehensive program and from that an approach to the project. The relationships between the programmatic elements contribute to the nature and quality of interactions: the spaces are organized and developed to anticipate shifting, combining, and re-combining of spaces as needs and functions change or as new ones evolve. Working with existing guidelines and conditions as well as any additional objectives from planning committees, we strive to understand the working culture of our clients and bring that vital DNA to the undertaking.