It begins with your idea, a vision for a changed environment; the gateway to a process that commences in the abstract and finishes as built space. First comes the concept, where goals for image, function, and building technology are considered and brought into focus. As your project evolves from there, your architect will provide leadership through its various phases: program development, design, construction documents, regulatory filings, and construction. Good design is key to success, and good design thrives on order. With a clear understanding of goal oriented procedure, your architect will keep the project team’s resources of talent, experience and dedication aptly engaged to deliver a result that embodies your intentions.

Stephen Ely first took his fascination with making into the real world working in the field with a masonry contractor in the Chicago area, and in a factory constructing modular construction units that were trucked out and assembled on site as mid-rise housing. He followed those endeavors with the study of architecture at the University of Illinois where he earned the Master of Architecture degree with honors. As a graduate student, he taught courses in the Basic Design curriculum. After graduating, he worked at mid and large size architectural firms in Colorado, then in New York where he founded his present firm in 1988, Stephen Ely Architect.

His broad range of architectural design experience includes the following project types:

• Schools
• Offices
• Hospitality
• Performance
• Residential
• Health Care
• Research
• Churches
• Correctional
• Community
• Retail
• Recreational