They say “time flies when you’re having fun”, and that’s certainly the case as I marvel at the 25th anniversary of Silverman Trykowski Associates! It’s hard to believe, but on this day 25 years ago, STA opened our doors. (Well actually, the tiny second bedroom of our house where STA began had no door!)
But the history of STA goes back even further. Tom and I first met when I was a student at the BAC, and Tom was assigned as my thesis representative. Let’s just say we hit it off, and then serendipity had us working together once I graduated. Then, on a special evening, over a fabulous dinner, after walking miles in a fabulous city, Tom and I mused about the idea of going out on our own. We loved and truly respected the large firm where we worked (ADD Inc!), but wanted to create a small practice, where we could still offer the highest level of design and service, but with a hands-on, personal approach. We wanted to be involved in every aspect of the design process!
In the meantime, a different kind of relationship was forming with David (love at first sight, marriage..!) Then in 2012, David joined STA, bringing his great experience in design, planning and project management to the practice. (And yes I love working with my husband!)
Our mission at STA is the same today as it was 25 years ago – to design spaces that make people’s lives better – to positively impact each and every person we encounter, and to help build communities that thrive. We’ve stayed intentionally small, (but we are small and mighty!) so that we can always provide a personal connection – people call us boutique, and we like that!
Over the 25 years we’ve been at 3 offices, well 4 if you count my second bedroom, which ironically has become an office again! We’ve designed thousands of spaces, and have received lots of recognition and acknowledgements. But that’s not how we measure success. We’ve always measured our success by the success of our clients, and the people we design for – it’s not about us, it’s about them, it’s about YOU. Relationships are what matters most – whether a project is one room or 100,000 sf, we are excited to design for you!
Our design process is all about being inclusive – we engage people in open conversation; we listen with empathy to their goals and ideas – we respect and value everyone’s perspectives. If we can engage people in an inclusive design process, and the space reflects their needs, we are successful.
Design
At STA, designing for people is “human nature”. Whether it’s a workplace, restaurant, childcare, lab, maker spaces, historic renovation or healthcare space, our collaborative process holds true – really understanding the perspectives of the people who will be in the space is the number one priority, and working with them makes the process all the more rich and successful. There is no “one size fits all” to make this happen, every place is unique. We are architects and interior designers, and approach every project from the inside out and outside in. To us, Design is Design.
We always bring our expertise to every project, but we also learn so much from our clients. We are always in learning mode – we have to be! Look at how much the world has changed over the past 25 years. Technology has transformed exponentially – we were in the early days of CAD when we started! If you had ever told me that we’d be designing in virtual environments, or 3d scanning spaces for existing conditions, I wouldn’t have even been able to process what that meant. And then, 2020 taught us all that everything can change in an instant, and as designers we have to be on top of the latest research, and not rely on what we thought we knew to be true. And most importantly, that as designers we have the power to make a significant impact.
We know that the spaces we design have a significant impact on the people that inhabit them, and we take that very seriously. Sustainability and wellness are an integral part of our design process and our efforts are focused on creating healthy and vibrant environments that enhance user comfort and productivity. We are committed to designing spaces that are beneficial to the people using them as well as the environment. Over the past 25 years LEED, WELL and EDAC have become industry benchmarks, and we have embraced all with certifications, and incorporated the principles into our best practices.
Giving back
Over our 25 years, it’s always been so important for us to share our knowledge with the greater community. We love to educate the younger generation about the value and impact of design, and share our experiences with design students from all over. We’ve met with hundreds of future designers in our office (and via zoom!), from all over the world! Being involved in the industry has always been so important to us – we’ve been very involved in IIDA and the BSA, among so many other industry organizations, and we appreciate the value, network, relationships and knowledge opportunities they have provided.
The STA Team
There is no STA without our team, an amazing group of architects and interior designers – they are rock stars! We love that we have a team from diverse backgrounds – each team member’s opinions and ideas are valued equally. We work hard to foster an equitable, inclusive culture and design process, and build cultural awareness and empathy among our team.
We’ve had so many wonderful STA team members over the past 25 years, and for those who moved on to other experiences, we thank you for being an important part of STA’s history!
So many thanks!
We would not be where we are today without the incredible partnerships throughout the years. To all of the manufacturers reps who give us the respect of the big guys – we thank you. To all of our consultant partners, and all of the contractors who built our innovative designs – we thank you. To everyone who passed through our doors on the STA team, we thank you. And to all of our clients, who entrusted us with the design of your spaces, we truly truly thank you.
And last but not least – I am the luckiest girl to be able to work with two incredible partners. Yes I do love working with my husband David Silverman every day! And I am forever grateful for the special night at Cafe Torino in NYC, where Tom and I decided to have a go at it! Tom, thank you for inspiring me, supporting me, and for making me laugh for 25 years (and for the occasional waltz around the office!)
The next 25?
There’s so much more to come – the STA team is ready to take on new opportunities, to continue learning, to build strong relationships, and to continue giving back to the community. And most importantly, our mission will continue to hold strong, to bring great design – to everyone.
Celebration?
A milestone like this deserves a serious celebration, but unfortunately now is not the time. But stay tuned, a party will be coming…
-Felice
