Welcome

Our multi-year celebration honors five decades of impactful design, a shared legacy with Arrasmith, and a community of clients, partners, and people who made it all possible.

50 Years of Schmidt Associates – Founded in Indianapolis in 1976, shaping healthcare, education, and civic spaces across the Midwest and beyond.

100 Years of Design in Kentucky – Honoring the legacy of Arrasmith, whose Kentucky expertise and people have deepened our reach and strengthened our practice.

 

Design That Lasts

We’ve dug deep into our archives to build a visual timeline of the projects, milestones, and people that made us who we are today. From hand-drawn sketches in the 1970s to community-centered innovation today, we’re sharing the decades that defined us.

Foundations & Futures: By the Decade

Our CEO reflects on each decade alongside key leaders who helped shape the firm.

The 1970s with dean illingworth

In this first chapter, we travel back to 1976 when Schmidt Associates was born from a bold idea, one chair, two employees, and a deep belief that architecture should serve people first.

The 1980s with wes harrison

In the second chapter, we step into the 1980s—cassette tapes, big hair, and a decade that wasn’t afraid to reinvent itself. For Schmidt Associates, it was the era of finding direction.

The 1990s with kevin shelley & steve schaecher

In this third chapter, we step into the 1990s, a decade of dial-up connections, AutoCAD debuts, and a firm that was growing up fast. For Schmidt Associates, it was the era of intention.

Archibabble 101

After 50 years of design, we’ve picked up a language of our own. Welcome to Archibabble 101, where we break down the buzzwords, big ideas, and building terms that shape how we collaborate, create, and design for the future.

CHARETTE

First up: charette—a word rooted in rapid collaboration and big thinking, and a core part of how we work.

MASONRY

We’re back to break down classic masonry techniques quoins and corbelling and why they still show up in the work we do today.

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  • Founders Grove Tribute

    As a living tribute to the leaders who built our legacy, Schmidt Associates launched Founders Grove, a tree-planting campaign honoring the individuals who shaped our firm and the communities we serve.

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  • Meet Our People

    The story of Schmidt Associates has always been about people. Hear from employees across the firm as they reflect on the culture, collaboration, and purpose behind the work we do.

    WATCH THE VIDEO

  • "Having been part of nearly four decades of this journey, I see this anniversary as a celebration of the people, projects, and impact we’ve built together."

    Mary Ellen Wolf Senior Project Architect/Associate

  • "The values that have always grounded us—servant leadership, collaboration, and creativity—are guiding the future we’re designing with innovation, courage, and partnership."

    Sarah Hempstead Chief Executive Officer/Principal

  • "People don’t care what you know until they know that you care. If we continue to lead with genuine care and servant leadership, we’ll continue to build not just projects, but relationships that matter. That’s what sets us apart."

    Steve Alspaugh Design Architect/Associate
ANNIVERSARY NEWS