Steve Alspaugh has spent 40+ years at Schmidt Associates building a legacy of thoughtful leadership, meaningful design and deep community impact. As we approach five decades of design leadership in 2026, Schmidt Associates is celebrating the people whose values and vision helped define the firm’s identity and impact. Few have done so with more grace and influence than Steve.

Leading With Purpose, Stewardship and Service

Over his long-standing career at Schmidt Associates, beginning in 1982, Steve Alspaugh played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s civic, cultural and educational portfolio. His thoughtful design leadership is evident across more than 85 projects, shaped by deep listening, careful planning and attention to both creativity and technical detail.

“For me, architecture extends beyond buildings. It’s a lifelong pursuit of design excellence, professional leadership and civic responsibility. I’ve been privileged to work on projects that reflect our collective aspirations — environments that serve people well, endure over time and strengthen the communities we call home.”

— Steve Alspaugh

A designer at heart with a foundation in construction, Steve brings a rare combination of creativity and practicality to every project. His ability to see the big picture while staying attuned to the details made him a trusted leader across project teams.

Whether developing spaces for learning, civic gathering or community health, he approached each assignment with thoughtful intention and long-term value in mind.

A Culture-Shaping Presence at Schmidt Associates

More than a project leader, Steve helped shape the culture of Schmidt Associates. He served as a mentor to emerging professionals, a steady collaborator to colleagues and a trusted advisor to clients. He led with quiet confidence, modeling what servant leadership looks like by putting people first and championing excellence without ego.

As CEO Sarah Hempstead noted:

“Few individuals embody our core value of servant leadership more fully than Steve. His leadership is steady and intentional, built on trust and empathy. He brings clarity and perspective to complex moments, always keeping people at the center of the process.”

Designing With Community at the Center

Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion
As design architect, Steve contributed to the transformation of this historic fairgrounds structure into a year-round community hub. He worked to preserve the original Main Street façade while integrating a new interior that supports both agricultural exhibitions and large-scale events.

Regenstrief Institute Headquarters
As design architect, Steve helped shape the architectural vision for this research-focused headquarters. The design brings together diverse departments through flexible workspaces, shared amenities and collaboration zones.

Plainfield High School
Serving as project architect, Steve supported the technical execution of this expansive high school campus. Designed to serve 1,600 students with future capacity for 2,200, the project includes more than 80 instructional spaces and full athletic facilities developed through extensive stakeholder engagement.

Northview Middle School
As design architect, Steve worked with school leadership and the broader community to shape a student-centered facility. The design promotes belonging through grade-level pods, flexible learning environments and clearly zoned academic and public spaces.

Living Servant Leadership Beyond the Studio

Steve’s servant leadership shows in his community involvement, where he has contributed design expertise, compassion and hands-on support to causes like:

• Led outreach through Second Presbyterian Church
• Designed accessible ramps for marginalized homeowners with Servants At Work (SAWs)
• Advanced affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity
• Supported revitalization efforts with the Riley Area Development Corporation

Whether mentoring young professionals or designing spaces that improve lives, he leads with heart — always focused on what his skills can do for others.

Elevating the Profession Through Leadership

A lasting part of his professional legacy is the leadership he provided to the architectural profession through decades of service at both the state and national levels of the American Institute of Architects.

AIA Leadership and Advocacy
As national chair of the Committee on Design in 2014, Steve expanded access to conferences, grew digital content and developed a leadership handbook now used across AIA Knowledge Communities. He also contributed to the AIA Honors & Awards Task Force, helping integrate sustainability into award criteria and elevating the Twenty-Five Year Award to top-tier status while serving as COD Advisory Group for 5 years.

AIA Indiana Disaster Coordination
As AIA State Disaster Coordinator, Steve rebuilt the Indiana Building Emergency Assessment and Monitoring team and expanded SAP certification, ensuring architects could support disaster recovery efforts.

His leadership has earned some of AIA Indiana’s highest honors, including:

• Juliet Peddle Award
• Edward Pierre Award
• President’s Award
• Architecture Outstanding Service Award (for IBEAM)
• Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects

A Legacy That Will Endure

In his 40+ years at Schmidt Associates, Steve helped shape more than buildings; he helped shape people, processes and a firmwide commitment to servant leadership.

As the firm nears its 50th anniversary, Steve’s career stands as a testament to what thoughtful, values-driven design can achieve — for a client, for a community and for an entire profession.

As we reflect on 50 years of impact, we’re celebrating the leaders who helped get us here. Discover their stories.