Vibrant Places that Cultivate Dynamic Communities
For more than 40 years Group 4 has honed their ability to collaboratively develop community architecture with project owners, users, and stakeholders. Their participatory process and integrated approach create award winning projects that celebrate the values and aspirations of those they serve.
AIASMC 2020 Design Awards recognized the Indian Creek Library as an Honor Award in Architecture.
In March 2016, the Indian Creek Library in Olathe, Kansas, suffered flooding from a broken water main. Instead of undergoing expensive repairs to a facility already too small to reuse, the City of Olathe acquired a vacant, 68,000 square foot former supermarket for adaptation into the new Indian Creek Library.
Group 4 worked with Kansas City-based Gould Evans to incorporate Group 4’s prior planning and programming projects into this new space. The design included a rich program of spaces and architectural interventions to transform the supermarket building into vibrant community destination and nation-leading home for library services.
AIASMC 2020 Design Awards recognized The Rec Center at Boulevard as the People’s Choice Award for Architecture
Boulevard is a new, transit-oriented urban development in one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s fastest-growing communities. At its heart is the Rec Center – a modern, vibrant, and engaging destination for residents to hang out, meet up, work out, and jump in.
The Rec Center’s design deeply integrates sustainable features. Overhanging roofs shade window openings and minimizing cooling requirements, while sloped roofs direct stormwater to on-site bioswales. The pavilion-based design permits isolated heating and cooling to in-use spaces while exterior operable partitions provide for optional natural ventilation and direct connections to the outdoor lounges and pool deck.
David Schnee, AIA LEED ap NCARB, Principal
David is a recognized leader in the planning and design of innovative, forward-thinking, beautiful community architecture. His designs are as diverse as the clients he serves, and each project reflects and celebrates the unique qualities of of site, program, and community. His boundless energy and motivation builds not only communities but relationships, and is eager to share ideas and solutions that are embraced by project clients and stakeholders. He loves that Group 4 projects gives him the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful communities across the country.
When not in the office or on the road, he spends as much time as he can on the trail, or kayaking on the Bay.
Andrea Gifford, Principal
Andrea is Group 4’s most expressive architect and our Director of Interiors. She transforms projects from a client’s vision into coordinated, articulated spaces. Ever curious and enthusiastic, Andrea reflexively introduces innovative and forward thinking design into her projects. Andrea also understands community’s budgets, goals, and implementation. She brings a magnetic energy to her projects, pulling people together and moving each project forward as a whole of its stakeholders.
When not practicing architecture, she is introducing her twins to her love of travel and surfing. She avows that it was Group 4 that drew her to California, not the abundance of coastline and mountains.
Jill Eyres, Senior Associate
Jill wears several hats for the firm: planner, architect, project manager, and marketing manager.
Jill has experience with a broad range of information collection methods including focus groups, individual and group interviews, questionnaires, GIS mapping, and computer-based user tracking programs. Jill applies her research skills to benefit clients as well as Group 4 itself: she has been instrumental in establishing an in-house research program to test Group 4’s design theories to ensure continuously improved future designs.
Outside of Group 4, Jill can be found enjoying time with her horse and chihuahua on the San Mateo coast
Daniel LaRosa, Associate, Senior Designer
Take one look at his pen and ink sketches, and Daniel LaRossa’s passion for design will come alive through every deftly scrawled line. His dedication to each community’s vision, from the earliest formative sketches through construction, has played a key role in the dynamic designs of the San Lorenzo Library and Dayton, Ohio’s Main Library. Dan is an enthusiastic collaborator, and is as much at home swapping ideas with colleagues, problem-solving with consultants, and working with clients as he is with his sketchbook.
Dan firmly believes that good design has the power to shape and transform communities around the world as well as in his own backyard. In addition to his projects at Group 4, Daniel has collaborated extensively with a non-profit, BuildingTrust International to design and construct community centers in southeast Asia. The first community center, completed in 2012, was featured at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City as a part of the exhibit Insecurities: Tracing Displacement and Shelter in the winter of 2016.
Outside the office, Dan’s zeal for travel and the great outdoors serves as inspiration for each new Group 4 challenge, whether he’s drawing, exploring, or simply soaking it all in.
Welcome the gang from Group 4 as they share their story about the Indian Creek Library and other projects at our virtual February 24th meeting.
Learning Objectives – Through review of three case studies – participants will learn about:
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- Implementing successful strategies for collaboration with clients, peers, and partners;
- Integrating developer needs with public benefits through a comprehensive design approach;
- Applying customer experience trends to create sustainable, innovative library visions;
- Transforming master plans into unique, locally-inspired destinations.
Time: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
5:45-6:oo pm Social Meet & Greet
6:00-7:00 pm Presentation + Discussion
Cost: AIA Members $10 | Non-members $15 | Students Free
* Students contact exec@aiasmc.org to register
Credits: 1.5 AIA LU Approved