The Region has an atmosphere all its own. From public gathering spaces like Portage’s Lakefront Park Pavilion to educational institutions like Valparaiso University, each space in Northwest Indiana that has people also has an air of friendliness and welcome. This is only possible through the work of Shive-Hattery, Inc.
Shive-Hattery is an architecture and engineering consulting firm that has well over a century of experience under its belt in the Midwest. When the firm moved into the Region in 2012 with the acquisition of Design Organization of Valparaiso in 2012, it began to make an immediate impact with projects like the Central Park Plaza expansion thanks to its approach to large-scale projects.
“Step one is just listening to and helping define the needs of the community,” said Principal Architect and Commercial Business Unit Director Jeffrey “Jeff” Lewis. “None of our projects have ever been done in a vacuum. It's a community engagement process to understand what the needs of the community are and what the client most desires.”
This collaborative process has had a significant effect on Shive-Hattery’s working relationship with many in the Region.
“Over 90% of our work is from repeat customers, and our success is 100% based on our working relationships,” said Lewis. “First and foremost, we provide great client service. Obviously, we are architects and designers and we love to design, but it's through our great service that we get the opportunity to do that.”
Internally, Shive-Hattery’s roots in the Region are planted firmly with employees like Lewis who call Northwest Indiana home. Lewis has been in the architectural business for 26 years, first with Design Organization and then with Shive-Hattery, and he still remembers how excited he was to first begin working in Valparaiso.
“I still remember how excited I was to come back to Valparaiso and be part of a firm that had so much influence in shaping our community, to be able to walk through and say ‘Yeah, we did that,’” Lewis said. “That's just awesome.”
Lewis’ story isn’t unique. Shive-Hattery encourages its employees to become active in their communities, especially on local boards for nonprofits and community organizations – Lewis himself serves on the Board of Directors for Our Greater Good. The architects can usually offer a unique perspective and skillset that makes them invaluable, and it helps Shive-Hattery perform better on its projects.
“Our culture is about creating a family environment,” Lewis said. “The beauty of being engaged in our communities is that it makes every project more personal. You have a personal connection to the things that you see, and there's a great sense of pride walking through a community that you've had a hand in shaping for many, many years.”
Shive-Hattery and its employees go beyond meeting every client’s needs because they understand that they’re not just designing a building. They’re building a community.
“These projects aren’t just transactional; the truly successful ones are those which create long-lasting relationships. You can only do that through delivering a successful product and a positive client experience,” said Lewis. “We see so much potential in Northwest Indiana. Just to be part of such a vibrant, diverse community is an incredible honor.”
To learn more about Shive-Hattery’s work in Valparaiso and across the Midwest, visit shive-hattery.com.