Blueprinting the future
An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. Seems fitting then that Principal Architect and Owner, Greg Schmid, put his creative talent to use and designed his very own building. Schmid Architects, Inc. (formerly Poulos + Schmid Design Group, Inc.) may have a new name and a new location, but they are committed to providing the same great professional services to their clients. Originally from Wooster, Greg attended Kent State University to pursue architecture. In his third year at Kent, he studied abroad in Italy, which is known for its rich history and magnificent architecture. He graduated from Kent in 1990 and moved to Sandusky where he began an internship with John Feick at Feick Design Group, Inc. Upon finishing the internship, he worked for AV Lake Construction and in 1997 he began his 25-year long journey with George Poulos. In 2011, Greg and George established their partnership - Poulos + Schmid Design Group, Inc.
Over the summer, Greg and his wife Stacie purchased the former Sandusky Massotherapy building at 422 Columbus Avenue. “It was a dream of Stacie and I to buy a building of our own and secure our future.” Greg and his friend, Maria Berardi, made a unique business decision – Maria would relocate her growing business (Sandusky Massotherapy) to Perkins Avenue, inside the former Allure Studio Salon and the newly named firm, Schmid Architects Inc., would move to Sandusky’s historic downtown. The whopping $517,000 investment includes $242,000 in renovations – see pictures below. Greg and Stacie worked with the City of Sandusky and were able to secure a $25,000 grant from the economic development fund to help offset some of the cost. The new building is key to helping the business grow. The most employees Greg recalls the firm having are 4 full-time employees and a summer intern. They recently added an employee and now have 5 full-time and 1 part-time employee – the biggest the business has ever been! Their former location was a shared storefront on East Perkins Avenue and due to space constraints, they had to keep their drawings in a storage facility behind the building. The firm now has everything conveniently located under one roof, which makes it more accessible and efficient for the business.
Fast Facts
39 years worth of drawings stored in their new building
$517,000 investment
Awarded a $25,000 grant through City of Sandusky Economic Development Department
When it comes to architecture, Greg says staying up to date is key. From attending conferences to see the latest trends, to working with consultants, they are always on top of the newest styles, and their building, which doubles as a showroom, exemplifies just that. “When you walk in you think, yes, this is who I want to do my design,” he said. From the lighting, flooring, ceilings and more, it’s all in the details. Most notable in their new office space are the wood screen walls that Greg designed using Homestead Hardwoods, LLC in Vickery. Schmid Architects celebrated their Grand Opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September.
When asked what's something you want people to know about your business, Greg mentioned their portfolio and how much work they’ve done locally. They are committed to maintaining community centered relationships. Schmid Architects Inc. specialties include Healthcare, Education, Religious, Government, and Commercial projects, to name a few. "We produce sustainable, healthy, functional designs and buildings. From floor plan to layout and look, we want to do whatever we can to help a business be functional and ultimately succeed." Greg went on to say that Sandusky deserves that big city feeling and their buildings help illustrate just that. Some notable projects they've worked on include Erie County Health Department, several Firelands Regional Medical Center facilities, Perkins Township Services Facility, Castaway Bay, Vermilion Beach Comfort Station, Everwild Spirits, Stride Mobility and 1826 Photographic. Visit www.schmidarchitects.com to check out their amazing designs.
Did You Know? DYK that ECEDC is supported by industry leaders from across Erie County. This includes the design and construction industry. We work with a set of preferred contractors that have a strong reputation and work history in our community. To learn which contractors we commonly refer contact us today. ← Read Day 4: Lake Erie Arms Learn About Services Schmid Architects Provides Stay Tuned for Day 6: Firelands ERN
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