Karen Pregler was an art major in college when her dad suggested architecture as a career path. “He made me realize it’s a synthesis of practicality and design that can also provide an income,” she says. Douglas Hilberman had a “Tonka truck fetish” when he was a kid, “I loved to create things,” he says, “I’d spend all afternoon. By age 11 or 12, I knew I was interested in architecture.” These beginning paths eventually led them both (along with Shannon Kelleher) to become principals at AXIA Architects, winner of this year’s Best Architect/Design Firm award.
Though understandably inspired by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright, James Cutler, Joseph Eichler, William Turnbull and Steven Holl (among many others), the two agree it’s their clients who inspire them the most. “How they view their world and what they’re interested in doing is what we feed off of,” says Hilberman, company president.
The company traces its roots to 1939, when it began in Santa Rosa as J. Clarence Feliciano Architects, and through time has had several name changes as it merged and grew. Peter Witter (who was involved in the design of Colorado’s Keystone ski resort) moved to Sonoma County in 1987 and merged his Colorado practice with Schuyler Jeffries to form Witter Jeffries. In 1997, its name officially changed to AXIA Architects (“axia” is an architectural term meaning a straight line about which a body rotates). Today, its services include feasibility analysis, planning, sustainable design, mixed-use commercial, high-end residential, hospitality, technology, manufacturing, educational, public, office and winery design.
Some recent projects include transforming the Piner High School campus in Santa Rosa (the firm is widely known for working with the school system), the Sonoma Valley Regional Library (one of the last local redevelopment projects) and the Enphase Energy headquarters in Petaluma (a fast-paced project that took only 10 months from conception to move-in).
“We started with the CEO’s values [for Enphase]. He wanted an open office space, a collaborative environment with high ceilings and a comfortable feel. We then observed the company culture and found it to be in constant motion,” says Hilberman. But the existing building the company chose needed an entire redesign. “We tore out the low ceilings, removed all the high cubicle walls, created glass-enclosed conference rooms and informal clusters of furniture that would help capture the spirit of the organization,” he says. “It was like adding a slice of Silicon Valley edginess to Sonoma County.”
The company also prides itself on its involvement in the community, especially regarding municipal and educational projects. Its residential projects “let us practice the craft at a more intimate level,” says Pregler. “It’s very personal; it’s how people live their lives.”
One of the newer technologies the company uses is a building information modeling (BIM) three-dimensional tool. “You can put things together virtually first,” says Hilberman. “It helps clients visualize the buildings better. We can even test energy management.” Pregler adds that, since contractors are becoming more involved on larger projects, the tool makes it easier to communicate with them.
Aside from using modern technology, the company is moving forward with a positive attitude. “We’re on our fourth generation as a firm,” says Hilberman. “We’re constantly working with the staff in terms of developing energy within the organization. We want to foster a love for architecture and inspiration in our work with each client, and we’d like to see the next generations continue those values, like those before us did for us,” he says.
With a focus on today, “I’m honored we’ve won the award,” says Pregler. Hilberman adds, “We’re very excited. We’ve won AIA awards, specific to the craft. We view this as more general as far as our involvement in the community and very much appreciate those who voted for us.” Here’s to building a better future.
