AXIA
“Part of what we try to do is to understand the client at a much different level, including their operations. If it’s residential, it’s about getting much deeper into the relationships with the property and the owner,” says Doug Hilberman, president of AXIA Architects. Hilberman started with the firm in 2003 as a project architect/associate.
In architectural circles, there’s something known as “The Golden Ratio,” a special number found by dividing a line into two parts, so that the longer part divided by the smaller part is equal to the whole length. It’s a ratio found in the Pyramids of Egypt to the Pepsi logo. After 80 years in business, AXIA Architects has a “Golden Ratio” of its own, earning its eighth ‘Best Of’ win for architectural design firm in 2018. The recognition from the community throughout the years can be attributed to the company’s dedication to servicing its clients’ needs.
“Part of what we try to do is to understand the client at a much different level, including their operations. If it’s residential, it’s about getting much deeper into the relationships with the property and the owner,” says Doug Hilberman, president of AXIA Architects. Hilberman started with the firm in 2003 as a project architect/associate.
The firm’s work is spread across a range of projects from commercial, hospitality, educational and residential. AXIA’s ability to adapt to the specific needs of each client and project has propelled them to be one of the top design firms in the North Bay. A few of the firm’s projects include the Roseland Accelerated Middle School, Enphase Energy’s headquarters, Wild Diamond Winery and the Epicenter in Santa Rosa.
“I’m an architectural junkie,” Doug says. “What I get excited about is that everyone has a different set of sites and needs to be captured, along with a different set of opportunities and constraints. It creates a unique journey with the client to create a specifically focused response.”
Following the 2017 wildfires, the firm has been involved in certain aspects of the rebuilding process and offers advice to community members pro bono. It’s this commitment to the community that Melissa Wadlow, controller at AXIA, attributes to the firms internal and external success.
“What I love about the team here is how much they are involved in the community and willing to be a part of the future,” Melissa says. “There are so many opportunities for professional and personal growth and support at AXIA.
Melissa should know. She began her career at AXIA more than 10 years ago, starting out as an administrative assistant. Melissa says that when she started with the company, it was a place that she could envision herself at for years to come.
Though AXIA is “a midsize firm” by North Bay standards, according to Doug, the president takes pride in AXIA’s “family-like environment” among its staff, “The team has good energy and plenty of talent coming up the ranks,” he says.
For Doug and Melissa, a key component to AXIA’s success is approaching architecture beyond building a facility; it’s viewing the structure as an extension of the clients’ unique attributes, with the belief that creating a beautiful space with a message serves an enhanced experience for everyone.
