“AXIA was founded upon a strong commitment to quality and a passion to pursue design solutions specifically suited to our clients’ needs.”—Doug Hilberman
With 78 years of business and in its fourth generation of stewards, AXIA was voted Best Architectural/Design Firm for its sixth year. “AXIA was founded upon a strong commitment to quality and a passion to pursue design solutions specifically suited to our clients’ needs,” says President Doug Hilberman, AXIA.
Located in downtown Santa Rosa, AXIA is a staple in the community, serving the North Bay and North Coast’s five counties well. They’re responsible for Santa Rosa’s new Epicenter on Coffey Lane. At 126,000-square feet, it’s a game changer, says Hilberman, and the largest project they’ve undertaken since working on Ukiah High School in 2014. Initially a wine storage facility translated, AXIA helped its client transform the space into an indoor sports and entertainment venue. “Its sheer mass required simple, purposeful gestures,” says Hilberman. “Identifying the central spine of circulation, keeping visibility lines, as there are a lot of kids running through that space, and keeping communication are key. At the same time, utilizing the kitchen as a central hub with the spokes being the different restaurants around so you can gain operational efficiencies,” he adds. Hilberman credits the client for being the first in the country to combine the entertainment center with a substantial athletic facility. “Very rarely can you point to both married together the way they did,” he adds.
Among the firm’s staff of 14, AXIA offers of high-level of expertise as well as a wide range of experience working with various design projects. “We’re able to serve a diversity of clients based on that,” says Hilberman. AXIA’s portfolio covers a range of businesses from medical, banks, hospitality, wineries, corporate, residential and educational facilities. Hilberman and his staff attribute methodology and consistency to delivering a quality product that will stand the test of time, he says. It’s the “cross-pollination” of the two; bringing the craft of the residential/hospitality side and infusing it into the public work, while bringing some of the methodology that goes along with the public side for “that consistency of delivery and communication" and bringing that over into the hospitality/residential side.
The future of AXIA is brighter than ever. With a solid and diverse group of young and energetic architects coming up though the ranks, the projects are only becoming more exciting. “That’s one of the lovely things about AXIA. There’s always opportunity to grow both professionally in the firm and in your craft,” says Melissa Wadlow, controller at the firm.
AXIA was recently awarded a new middle school for the Roseland School District, which they’ll be working on in the future as well as a mixed-use site near Sonoma’s town square, which will feature a boutique hotel and approximately 32 residences. Says Hilberman, “The design-oriented projects challenge us to constantly refine our craft. The methodology-oriented projects, such as our work for various North Bay municipalities, helps us to hone a constant level of quality service. We’re focused on combining these traits to help ensure a superior level of support for our clients.”
