CBLH Design: 50th Anniversary

Architecture Planning Interior Design

Oc ished establ

, 1971

21 tober

The architectural firm of Braun and Spice was formed in 1971 when the principals, Harold L. Braun and Donald R. Spice, left a 20-year association with a large firm of well-known Cleveland architects. The commitment was born of an irrevocable pact the two men made with themselves to think, to act and to exemplify in their work the most rigorous professional disciplines and the highest personal standards. It found expression in an unswerving dedication to the best.

They assembled an organization, built around that commitment, in the belief that, in so doing, they could best serve their clients.

Theirs was a natural association, for, by circumstances, the two had long worked closely together. They had become known as the “gadget” men, as they had a mutual interest in the technical aspects of their work. Hal Braun and Don Spice also gravitated toward the more complex institutional and commercial projects, such as health care centers.

The young firm quickly added a secretary-bookkeeper and, in the next two years, six more associates. Five of these six had formerly worked with Braun or Spice, so the new team was, in reality, an old team. As the need grew, other professionals joined the staff, strengthening and broadening it toward the interdisciplinary organization required by modern architectural practice.

Artwork, Photography & Copy from the firms first brochure

Harold L. Braun 1971 - 1987

Donald R. Spice 1971 - 1996

James E. Sondles

The legacy of a firm is not defined only by its successes but by those who invest in its success.

1980 - 1993

Likewise, leaders who equip and empower their

Philip P. Costantino

employees help to create an enduring quality that

1980 - 2005

benefits both the employee and the firm.

Richard Peter Kraly 1985 - 1994

Richard M. Farkas 1986 - 2003

Marc B. Bittinger 1985 - Current

Michael D. Liezert 1988 - Current

Timothy S. Hunsicker 1995 - 2012

Jeffrey J. Valus 2008 - Current

Fifty years ago our founders began investing in an idea and a staff. What they started has been cared for and nurtured by the leaders that followed.

As we celebrate the legacy they created, we also look to the leaders of today who carry on their dedication and say.... thank you.

1970’s

The First Decade

On October 21, 1971, principals Hal Braun and Don Spice began a partnership founded on their mutual commitments to excellence providing their clients with the highest level of design solutions. Each bringing several decades of experience working in the Cleveland markets, these two visionaries sacrificed to create a dream that lives on today.

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Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital

Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital The first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of its type in Ohio

Mt. Sinai Medical Center Parking Garage

The Mt. Sinai Medical Center parking garage is a testament to the dedication, creativity and high professional standards on which our firm was founded. True to his fondness for complex technical solutions, Harold “Hal” Braun designed the parking garage to not only be visually interesting but to serve an integral part of the structural design.

Precast prestressed and architectural precast components combined effectively to frame the fivestory parking garage. Each double tee, except at the cross-overs, was supported by a column eliminating spandrel beams. Because of this method of design, construction was simplified and schedule reduced.

While the Medical Center closed its doors in 2000, this 40+ year old parking structure still serves University Circle as a part of neighboring Case Western Reserve University.

Huron Hospital

Huron Hospital Radiology

The Twinsburg Banking Company Twinsburg Branch Bank

The Twinsburg Banking Company Macedonia Branch Bank

1980’s

Healthcare Practice Takes Off

As the firm moved into our second decade and added to our talented staff we began to build more on the fundamental project experience that many of us shared. With the large number of hospitals and growing healthcare systems in the greater Cleveland area, the 1980’s were fertile ground for the growth of the firm.

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St. Joseph Riverside Hospital

Lakewood Hospital - Atrium Conversion

Medina General Hospital

Medina General Hospital

Parma Community General Hospital

Barberton Citizens Hospital

1990’s

Libraries Take Form

With a well established portfolio of healthcare projects continuing to grow, we began to look at new markets where we could stretch our talents. Service to others in the community was important to our leadership. To that end, the opportunity to work with municipalities and library systems to design branch libraries that would become centers of learning was a logical and beneficial direction.

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Twinsburg Public Library

South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch – Cuyahoga County Public Library

Parma South Branch Library – Cuyahoga County Public Library

In 1995 SS. Cosmas & Damian Church of Twinsburg commissioned CBLH Design to perform a study of the existing facilities and prepare a LongRange Master Plan for the future development of the site.

The parish had been experiencing substantial growth and needed to not only double the capacity of the sanctuary to seat 800 but also develop a new education wing to facilitate the expansion of the parish’s school.

The project was very important to the design team, including founding father Don Spice, who were members of the congregation.

“I had a vision. I could see it. I could see me standing in the center aisle and I could see a freestanding crucifix in the center with sculpture on the sides. I could see the way the pews were tilted. I could see everything. I knew the dimensions were 52 feet from center to center by 18 feet.

And the other thing I could feel was this warmth around me.

I was so excited about this and I liked the way it looked. I was really excited about it. And I called the priest. I didn’t tell him what happened. I just said, we got an idea for the church.

We were having a meeting in a couple of days. So I made a little model of what the church would look like, the sculpture park, the trusses and everything.

And that’s exactly what happened. Just, just the way I saw it. It’s unbelievable what can happen when you believe in something, you know? “ Donald R. Spice

SS. Cosmas & Damian Church

SS. Cosmas & Damian Church

Lake Health West

Medina General Hospital

Parma Community General Hospital

Wooster Community Hospital

2000’s

Higher Education Comes into Play

Continuing the trend of growth into new markets, we began to work with institutions in the design of higher education facilities. Building on what we knew and finding a new direction for our talents, we began to design buildings for learning to help educate future generations.

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Cleveland State University Main Classroom Building

Kent State University – Ashtabula Campus Health & Science Building

The Ohio State University – University Hospital East

Parma Community General Hospital

Parma Community General Hospital

Parma Community General Hospital

Akron-Summit County Public Library - Richfield Branch Library

Wadsworth Public Library

Lakewood Public Library – Addition and Renovation

North Olmsted Branch Library – Cuyahoga County Public Library

Ritter Public Library – LEED Gold Addition and Renovation

Mercy Medical Center

Decade of Collaboration

2010’s

Entering into yet another decade there was still a desire to succeed and to go beyond what had been experienced in the previous 40 years. What was accomplished is a testament to the dedicated staff and supportive leadership.

Through the development of partnerships with other firms, both local and national, we participated in many projects which had great impact on the region.

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MetroHealth Medical Center Critical Care Pavilion – Vertical Expansion

MetroHealth Medical Center Critical Care Pavilion – Special Diseases Care Unit (SDCU)

University Hospitals – North Ridgeville Medical Center

Cleveland State University – New Engineering Building

Cleveland State University – New Engineering Building

MetroHealth System – Brecksville Health Center

University of Akron Anthony J. Alexander Professional Development Center

University of Akron Anthony J. Alexander Professional Development Center

©2021 Christian Phillips Photography

Spectrum Orthopedics

Allegheny Health Network Forbes Hospital Medical Clinic

Allegheny Health Network Erie St. Vincent Hospital Community Cancer Center

Heights Libraries University Heights Library Addition and Renovation

2020

On the Boards & Recently Completed

As we begin a new era we look back to our foundations. We look to the values on which our firm was founded and keep them as central tenants to our business.

We share a mutual commitment to design excellence and we strive to provide our clients with the highest level of design solutions.

2020 & Beyond

University Hospitals - Samaritan Richland Health Center

Geauga County Public Library – Thompson Branch Library

Geauga County Public Library – Thompson Branch Library

Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus Auto Tech Expansion

Medina County District Library Virginia Wheeler Martin Family History & Learning Center

University Hospitals - Seidman Cancer Center

Our success is continuously reassured by the quality of our team.....past & present.

Jack Applegate

Jillian DiBenedetto

Timothy Hunsicker

Hitomi Maeno

Meagan Reynolds

Keith Stull

Edward Bastian

Bogusia Dolub

Luke Janik

David Makaryk

Patrick Robbins

Natalie Symon

John Beckel

Jennifer Eicholz

Apoorva Juneja

Nathaniel Marvel

Linda Rosul

Lynn Mozena Thomas

Karen Bellasario

Carolyn Emmer

David Jurca

Robert Matakovich

Aaliyah Russell

Marybelle Tomasovic

Nicole Berardi

Cynthia Emond

Anna Jurs

Donna Ross Mauer

David Sabol

Richard Toth

David Berlekamp

Gregory Evans

Mindy Kalac

Jeffrey Maurer

Jerome Salwan

David Townsend

Samantha Bittinger

Zach Falor

Emily Kantz

Richard Maurer

Deborah Sanderson

Salvatore Traina

Marc Bittinger

Richard Farkas

Kevin Kantz

Brian McDonald

Donald Sawyer

Patricia Tyna

Christopher Block

Richard Franta

Justin Kaufer

Rachel Meyer

Brian Scanlon

Scott Uher

David Bobkovich

John Gabriel

Eric Kauffmann

Michael Molchan

William Schubert

Scott Vada

John Boeckl

Thomas Gallovic

Ronald Keck

Charles Moorhead

Joel Schwartz

Jeffrey Valus

Harold Braun

Thomas Gellert

Connie Kerns

Greg Nemes

Michael Serdinak

Richard Voss

Jeanne Braun

Raymond Glover

Andrew Kolbus

Tim Neufer

Earl Sevin

John Walkosak

Wayne Bravard

Christian Gluvna

Kaitlyn Kough

James Nilges

Donald Shaw

Traci Thomas Walkosak

Heather Burke Simko

Edward Gmeiner

Richard Kraly

Jennifer Nimberger

Stephen Shergalis

Jody Watson

L. Reed Carpenter

Mark Green

James Kratky

Adam O’Brien

Quinn Shewbridge

Scott Weaver

Julius Cers

Ernest Grodi

Victor Krevinko

Sandie Pachasa

Jamie Shively

William Weber

Jae Duk Cho

Melvin Grunau

George Kuzel

Mehendra Patel

Matthew Simpson

Rebecca Werman

Alan Clever

Robert Gurchik

Andrew Kvetko

Maria Pelak

Donald Smith

Caitlin Wilkins

Kellie Coleman

Brian Hennies

Darleen Leickly

Gary Pete

Luke Smolinski

Fletcher Windham

Philip Costantino

Maxwell Hentosh

Phillip LiBassi

Marian Popa

Kelley Somerville

Gary Young

Jeffrey Coulter

Renee Hooper

Michael Liezert

Todd Puntel

James Sondles

Glen Zeisset

Raymond Cousintine

Francine Hoover

Julia Lindblom

John Rach

Ann Marie Spice

Joel Dalzell

Daniel Hudak

Ronald Machovich

Bernard Rady

Donald Spice

Nicole DeLand

Karen Huffman

Anthony Macias

Leah Ratner

Roy Stuebe

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2000s

2010s

Our thanks to all of the many talented photography professional we have worked with over the last 50 years.

Craig Dugan Photography MetroHealth Medical Center – Critical Care Pavilion – Vertical Expansion

Wetzler’s Studios Allegheny Health Network – Forbes Hospital Medical Clinic

Maguire Photographics Akron-Summit County Public Library – Richfield Branch Library

Allegheny Health Network – Erie St. Vincent Hospital Community Cancer Center

Spectrum Orthopedics Steven R. Ash, PhD University of Akron – Anthony J. Alexander Professional Development Center (exterior) Christian Philips Photography University of Akron – Anthony J. Alexander Professional Development Center (exterior) Robert Heine Photography Cuyahoga County Public Library – North Olmsted Branch Library RPM Images Heights Libraries – University Heights Library Addition and Renovation Cleveland State University – New Engineering Building University Hospitals – North Ridgeville Medical Center

University of Akron – Anthony J. Alexander Professional Development Center (interior) Cuyahoga Community College – Western Campus Auto Tech Expansion University Hospitals – Samaritan Richland Health Center Medina County District Library – Virginia Wheeler Martin Family History & Learning Center Mark Herboth Photography LLC Geauga County Public Library – Thompson Branch Library (exterior)