Oh, what a year 2023 has been for Schmidt Associates! This year, the firm celebrated an impressive array of achievements, highlighting a commitment to excellence and rising prominence in the AEC industry. Read on to learn about one epic year for the books.

A Year of Prestigious Awards

Throughout the year, Schmidt Associates received a series of notable award wins, showcasing the firm’s wide-ranging expertise and commitment to quality design.

AIA Indiana Awards: The Indianapolis-Marion County Consolidated Civil and Criminal Courthouse received an Award of Merit for New Construction Over $5M. These awards recognized the firm’s exceptional architectural designs, underscoring its creative prowess in the field.

Two Monumental Awards from the Indy Chamber: The Courthouse won again with an Achievement in Architecture and an Honor in Neighborhood Revitalization. These prestigious awards celebrated the firm’s significant contributions to Central Indiana’s built environment.

IIDA Indiana Awards: Reflecting the firm’s excellence in interior design, these awards illustrated innovative and functional interior spaces created by Schmidt Associates. The firm won the K-12 category award for the International School of Indiana’s Chen Family Lower School that finally brought the Lower School onto a unified campus.

IIDA Kentucky-Ohio Awards: In Louisville, Ky., the firm received the Top Honor Over 25,000 SF award for the Stoll Keenon Ogden New Office Design that relocated the law firm to an updated space with a footprint reduction of 40%.

Associated Business Constructors Recognition: This acknowledgment for Marian University’s Allison Mansion showed the firm’s excellence in collaboration with Brandt Construction for making the mansion accessible and providing a new home away from home for university alumni.

United States Green Building Council Green Building of the Year Award: In line with the firm’s commitment to sustainability, this award recognized the Indianapolis Public Library West Perry Branch for their efforts in creating an environmentally responsible and resource-efficient building.

TRC Companies Trade Ally Award: Given for the firm’s work with Lake Central High School, this award highlighted the firm’s excellence in energy-efficient design and collaboration with trade partners from Northern Indiana Public Service Company.

CANstruction People’s Choice Award: The firm, in partnership with Turner Construction Company honored Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller with an iconic canned food design of his 1994 choke move in game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. Gathering the most votes by Indiana State Fair attendees, the firms’ creativity and community involvement were celebrated.

Accolades and Rankings

Schmidt Associates’ growth didn’t go unnoticed on lists that cover industry rankings:

Building Design & Construction Lists: The firm was named in several categories, including Top 90 Justice Facility Architecture Firms and Top 100 Science/Technology Facility Architecture Firms, among others. The firm also made it into the top 20 on the list of the Top 170 K-12 School Architecture Firms for 2023.  These rankings reflect the firm’s versatility and expertise in various architectural sectors.

Indianapolis Business Journal and Louisville Business First: The firm’s high rankings on these lists underscored its growing influence and stature in the Midwest. IBJ ranked the firm 3^rd and LBF ranked the firm 12^th.

Best Places to Work in Indiana: Recognition as a top workplace in the Medium Company category by the Indiana Chamber emphasized the firm’s commitment to fostering a positive and productive work environment for over 120 employees.

Individual

The year was also one of individual accolades and career milestones.

Eddie Layton: As a project manager and associate, Eddie was recognized as a finalist for Junior Achievement of Central Indiana’s Indy’s Best and Brightest and was named to the Leadership Indianapolis SKL 47th Class.

Steve Alspaugh: Steve’s elevation to the AIA College of Fellows marked a significant career milestone, recognizing his 40 years of contributions to the architectural profession.

Kathryn Roche: Kathryn earned her National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) in December, reflecting her hard work, dedication, and passion for bringing stunning designs to life for our clients.

New Associates: The firm named six new associates, including Ben Wadell, Brandon Fox, Joseph Jarzen, Parveen Tai, Kathryn Roche and Veena Reddy, signaling its commitment to recognizing and nurturing talent.

Professional Achievements: Kathryn Roche’s NCIDQ certification, Thomas Kennedy’s professional engineering license, Alex Hoffmann’s architectural license in Kentucky, and Veena Reddy’s Sustainability Excellence Associate credential reflect the firm’s ongoing culture of professional development and excellence.

Remembering a Legend

While 2023 was a banner year full of excitement, the firm’s employees and the AEC industry also experienced heartbreak with the sudden passing of principal and former chief operations officer Ron Fisher. Over the course of his stellar career, Ron led many significant design projects in the Midwest and received many awards for his work.

Looking Ahead

As Schmidt Associates wraps up another year filled with achievements and milestones, the firm’s leaders look forward to continuing building a legacy of excellence, innovation, and servant leadership in 2024 and beyond. With a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of architecture, engineering, and interior design, Schmidt Associates is poised for even greater successes.

We invite you to follow us, share our stories, and be part of this exciting journey. Your engagement and feedback make our milestones even more special. Send us feedback, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for regular updates throughout the month.

 

Cheers to 2024!