INTERIOR DESIGN
FIRM INTRODUCTION ELEVATE
(ˈeləˌvāt)
verb to raise or lift to a more important or impressive level. At Elevar, we are elevating the game. Our growth is derived from diversity of thought, pragmatism and a keen business sense. We pride ourselves on seeing what others cannot. Our creativity is generated through an applied curiosity and a celebration of people. Our success is measured in our client’s terms: increased performance, improved outcomes and spaces that enliven the spirit. We chose the name ‘elevar’, the Spanish word for elevate, because we believe it encompasses our core values of: ABILITY | EXPERIENCE | TEAMWORK COMMITMENT | INTEGRITY | CREATIVITY These six values were born out of a 50-year history of high-quality performance and service to our community. Elevar responds promptly and efficiently to client needs with quality services and innovative, practical design solutions. We appreciate the folks with whom we work want a greater value for the investments they make – this spirit transcends market and client type. In response we continuously strive to deliver the best solutions: timeless design that is responsive to change with optimal performance for cost. Elevar has grown from humble beginnings into a staff of more than 80 employees. This growth occurred organically as Elevar continued to design in new markets and build relationships with new clients. We attribute our continued success to our personal commitment and professional abilities.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Greg Otis, AIA Tom Fernandez, SARA
Kim Patton, AIA
Tony Lozier, PE, LEED AP
President
Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning
CEO
As the CEO of Elevar Design Group, Tom Fernandez is responsible for the overall vision and innovation of the firm. He facilitates design direction and ensures that his staff is equipped to provide the best solutions to clients. Since assuming executive leadership of the firm in the late 1980s, Tom has been instrumental in growing the staff into the multi-disciplined team of specialized designers it is today.
Kim Patton serves as President of Elevar Design Group, guiding the design staff in daily operations and profitability. Kim’s energy and innovation have been the key to his successful career which has spanned nearly 30 years in many different markets. An Architect by trade, his vast experience has influenced his ability to grow Elevar’s staff and to provide clients with costeffective and creative solutions.
Greg Otis champions strategic initiatives for Elevar Design Group. Greg’s experience and passion for the built environment influences both his internal organizational leadership and external strategic plans. A natural planner and facilitator, Greg has the proven ability to yield positive change for employees and clients alike. Greg’s acumen is based on clear communication and innovative planning.
Tony Lozier has more than 43 years of experience in MEP Engineering. As Principal of Elevar’s MEP team, he directs all engineering services and ensures the highest quality results for clients. His widespread experience has served as an asset to many of Elevar’s projects, as Tony has the ability to lead the engineering team toward the best solutions for all client projects.
INTERIOR DESIGN SPECIALISTS
Melissa Johnson, NCIDQ LEED AP, EDAC
Dara Baldridge, IIDA, LEED AP
Senior Interior Designer
Senior Interior Designer
Melissa Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in architectural interior design, with more than 10 years of furniture dealership experience. Focused on healthcare environments, Melissa manages projects that range from renovation to new construction as well as expansions and additions. Her sophisticated client management skills are top notch, always striving to understand the client’s vision so that she can guarantee project success.
Dara has more than 25 years of experience in interior design excellence and workplace strategy, shaping environments that add value to people’s lives. She has partnered with clients to develop nearly 10 million SF of space that support their brand, culture, and business strategies. Her portfolio includes a wide variety of project types and sizes from conceptual design through project management and construction administration with the common goal of always exceeding the client and endusers’ expectations.
Vice President, Engineering
INTERIOR DESIGN Design solutions must be functional and also enhance the quality of life for those who occupy the space. In coordination with the building shell, design of the interior space must acknowledge the social context of the project and adhere to building codes and regulatory requirements. Our team immerses into the physical, social, and functional needs of our clients to deliver aesthetically pleasing, yet practical design solutions for end-users. Elevar provides space planning, selection of interior finishes, environmental graphic design, furniture procurement, and FF&E management.
West Clermont High School Cincinnati, Ohio
This consolidated high school was completed under the design/build project delivery method. In 23 months, our team designed this new school for 2,400 students. The massive scale of the project includes a 1,000 seat auditorium, two gymnasiums, a stadium complex, 8-lane natatorium, a state-of-theart academic wing, and adjoining Mercy Healthplex. A result of creative financing, this project was made possible by a public-private partnership with our team, the District, the OFCC and a private developer. Together, we were able to provide the District with a brand new school at no extra cost to the taxpayer.
Landings Park Blue Ash, Ohio
Landings Park is a new four story office building which is part of the Landings at Blue Ash, also designed by our team. The Landings of Blue Ash is designed as a planned office community consisting of three Class “A�, five-story buildings that total nearly 540,000 SF. Landings Park, the newest building, is designed to match the existing five-story buildings on the property. However, the interiors of the new Landings Park\ were designed with fresh and updated finishings. This new building provides much needed office space for the City of Blue Ash, which is home to fast-growing companies that are running out of space.
Trustaff Headquarters Blue Ash, Ohio
As a result of Trustaff’s rapid growth over the last decade, the company was in dire need of new space that reflected their company culture, vision, and values. The new interior corporate space was to visually echo the company’s guiding principle: to do things differently. The energizing new office is equipped with open work space, a game room, a salon, state-of-the-art conference rooms, and a full kitchen and commons area. Scope of work for the project included reconfiguration of office spaces, new paint and environmental graphics including wayfinding and signage.
Kenton County Administration Building Covington, KY
Our team was recently selected to renovate the historic Bavarian Brewery facility, built in 1870, into the new County administration building. The existing space for the County was lacking adequate operational and parking space. After a long and complicated process, the County decided on the Bavarian Brewery site as their new home. This design/ build project will house all of the County government under one roof. The tower from the brewery will remain and a new five-story office building will be connected with a pedestrian bridge.
AE Door and Window Cincinnati, Ohio
AE Door and Window is one of the region’s major supplier of garage doors, entry and storm doors, and windows for residential and commercial customers. Elevar worked with the retailer on the expansion and refresh of their showroom and office spaces located in Sharonville, Ohio. The new showroom houses only residential products, making room for commercial products to be displayed in the existing space. Two new loading docks and a receiving office were also included in the expansion, providing ample space to load and unload trucks while reducing overall shipping and receiving time.
Joseph Porsche Kings Auto Cincinnati, Ohio
Originally a Lexus showroom, the building shell underwent a complete exterior and interior renovation. The new clean and modern structure is a simple design that communicates the prestigious Porsche message to its customers. The exterior provides a dramatic visual through the use of curved metal fascia panels contrasting against the glass keyhole. From the client approach at reception to the sales and customer service areas, the interior design provides a seamless customer experience. Designed to excite the customer and compel purchases, the interiors also reflect Porsche brand values. The Smart Center of Cincinnati is located directly adjacent to the Porsche showroom, sharing service facilities. The black entry portal provides a backdrop for signage as expansive storefront windows provide views into the showroom.
Atrium Medical Center Senior Emergency Department Middletown, Ohio
The Senior Emergency Center project at Atrium Medical Center involved converting nine regular emergency exam rooms into eight senior friendly exam rooms and a family waiting room. Entrances to the Senior Emergency Center were updated and the nursing stations were refreshed. Design components of the new exam rooms such as flooring, lighting, and color choices were carefully selected with the aging population in mind.
Atrium Medical Center Emergency Department Expansion Middletown, Ohio
The new Emergency Department required an addition to the existing building to accommodate Emergency vehicle drop off, a garage and support space for a Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and an annex for various support and storage spaces. The First Floor houses the following departments which complement the Emergency Department facility: Imaging, Occupational Medicine, Laboratory, Cardiology and support spaces such as a staff lounge and Information Technology suite. The project was complicated by an expedited schedule requiring submission of phased drawing sets for the Construction Manager.
Atrium Medical Center Natural Beginnings Middletown, Ohio
In response to the growing trend of midwifery both nationwide and in the region, the client wished to renovate the Family Birthing Center of Atrium Medical Center. Our team was hired to perform the renovation of this unit which includes the existing labor and delivery rooms (LDR), nursing station, and corridors. The renovations were phased, as the building was occupied and operating throughout the renovation process. The design team worked within these parameters to ensure that hospital operations are not impacted.
Hilton Garden Inn at Keystone Parke Cincinnati, Ohio
The Hilton Garden Inn at Keystone Parke is the third phase of the Keystone Parke development. With amenities including a swimming pool, fitness center, guest laundry facility, restaurant, bar, and meeting rooms, the 120-room hotel is intended to be upscale but affordable. Our involvement began with the overall Keystone Parke master planning and included all phases of the architectural design of the hotel. Although the hotel is located near I-71, the incorporation of special acoustical treatment for exterior walls and windows will significantly reduce the noise. The 109-space parking garage supports the structural and functional requirements of the hotel while accommodating traffic patterns of the existing Phase I garage and future Phase IV office garage.
Hyatt Place at Sharonville Convention Center Cincinnati, Ohio
This new hotel in the City of Sharonville is connected to the Sharonville Convention Center. The Hyatt Place is located in an area that has been the center of significant development activity for the past several years in the City. The “Northern Lights Entertainment District� is home to the Sharonville Convention Center, which recently completed a $25 million renovation and expansion, and provides a beautiful and contemporary relaxed suburban location for meetings, conventions, banquets, trade shows, and public events. With 120 guest rooms, the new hotel will help with the demands of conventions, meetings and events at the Center.
The Baldwin Cincinnati, Ohio
The renovation of the iconic Grand Baldwin Piano factory into a multi-unit residential building required acute sensitivity to the history of the building. Despite being converted into an office building decades ago, the Grand Baldwin maintained significant historic charm and original architectural elements. The renovation included 190 residential units plus amenity space. The building is a mix of Studios and 1 to 2 bedroom units. Amenities include an exterior pool, workout room, meeting space, dedicated storage closets, a bar, seating areas with recreational amenities, and a theater area. In addition to providing full architectural and engineering services, our team assisted the developer with fulfilling the historic tax credits needed for the project.
@580 Cincinnati, Ohio
This renovated office tower is located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati’s Business District. A mixed use combination of residential, office and restaurant takes the project to a new level. The 17-story office building was converted into 180 apartments, including thirteen two-story penthouses that have 20-foot, floor to ceiling views and private terraces. The rest of the apartments are in the tower, where balconies are punched into the south side of the façade and are on the second or plaza level. In addition to the apartments, @580 houses first and second floor retail and office space.
Elm Street Row Townhomes Cincinnati, OH
This townhouse project in Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood is composed of seven, two-story s 2,800 SF townhomes. Each townhome also has a partially finished basement, a 2-car detached garage, and a private backyard, offering privacy within an urban setting. The exterior of the properties is reflective of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood’s building stock. We worked with our client and the City to have the site rezoned for residential construction. The design of the townhomes was also planned in accordance to the Historic Commission’s regulations and Over-the-Rhine Foundation’s recommendations to ensure that the fabric of the neighborhood was left intact.
Holiday Inn Cincinnati, Ohio
Located on the eastern edge of the Downtown Development District and ideally situated within walking distance of fortune 500 companies and entertainment venues is the development of a sixstory, 117 room hotel. Amenities include a glassenclosed pool located on the first floor of hotel suites, above the upper garage level. A street-level lounge and bar addresses the corner site, and a full service restaurant, banquet, and conference space located on the top floor to allow for expansive views of downtown and Mt. Adams. The street facades have been designed to complement without competing with the ornate and classic architectural language of the surrounding buildings. This project is the first ground-up hotel to be constructed in Cincinnati’s downtown core in over a quarter century.
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Our designers are dedicated to providing space planning and interior design services that protect and enhance the life, health, safety and needs of the public. By working with clients and other design professionals, we combine knowledge and vision while blending technical and creative solutions within a structure. Space planning solutions, while functional, must also enhance the quality of life for those who occupy the space, increasing their efficiency and motivation to do the job at hand.
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- Melissa Johnson | Senior Interior Designer
CINCINNATI DAYTON LEXINGTON CLEVELAND
www.elevar.com