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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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)