At DRAW Collective, 470 Washington Road, the name reflects the culture of the full-service architectural firm celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.
“We feel strongly that as a collective we are more successful than we are as individuals. One project with one person can be good, but it can be great with other minds and other experienced folks joining in”
said company President Daniel Engen, Carnegie Drive.
The company’s core values are people and relationships, quality design and life-long learning.
Founded in 1945 by Norman B. Kuhn and C. Edgar Newcomer, the firm grew into Valentour English Bodnar & Howell, known as VEBH Architects and rebranded as DRAW Collective in 2022 to reflect its collaborative approach to project design.
Over the years, the company worked on several projects for Mt. Lebanon School District and St. Clair Hospital, and is currently involved in a project for Mt. Lebanon Public Library. DRAW is also on board as the municipality weighs options for an upgraded recreation center.
“My experience with the firm is that they were always prepared, professional and very knowledgeable about how to adhere to all municipal requirements and design a project to meet the needs of their clients,” said Keith McGill, Mt. Lebanon municipal manager.
A few of DRAW’s other noteworthy clients include the University of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Health Network and Waynesburg University.
In his eight years as president, Engen is most proud of the team of 45 people he has assembled, and their forward thinking planning.
“We design places that matter, together,” is more than a motto at DRAW Collective. “We really thrive on our culture here. We have such wonderful people,” Engen said. “It’s a place where employees have each other’s backs and rely on each other and when you make a mistake, it’s our mistake, and not your mistake.”
According to Engen, clients are looking for flexible spaces these days. He cautions while flexibility is important, there needs to be a balance. “An elementary school might have a gym that is functional as a cafeteria and as an auditorium, but at the end of the day, it’s not really ideal for any one of those uses.” Engen believes too much flexibility can hamper the use of space. With technology changing rapidly, he feels an architectural firm needs to design projects that can be easily changed in the future, if necessary. For example, maybe the walls aren’t masonry, but just drywall partitions that can be easily taken out and adjusted later, he pointed out.
“I think the benefit we have here is that not many architecture firms last as long as we have. We have a legacy of having done colleges and universities, K-12 schools and hospitals since the beginning of our firm,” Engen said.
Now with a second office in Cranberry, DRAW Collective is looking forward to the next eight decades of architectural success. “As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we honor the legacy built by those who came before us and the trust our clients have placed in us throughout the years. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together, and I look forward to the continued innovation, growth, and impact we will create in the years ahead,” Engen said.