JL Architects, Celebrating 25 Years in Business!

In 1988, the top of the line personal computer was an 80486. A 40mb hard drive cost $700.00.  Facsimile machines were not commonplace.  There was no internet for the masses.  George H. W. Bush was still president, but not for long.  The Black Monday crash of 1987 was still fresh in our minds, but the recovery was well underway.  Airport security was concerned with hijacking rather than bombings.  The iPod had not been invented yet – in fact Apple was almost out of business.  Cell phones were either bolted to your car or you wore it on your shoulder like a purse.  Most drafting was still taking place on a drawing board and on August 7, 1988, JL Architects was born.

 

True to our on-going market focus, our first client was Wall To Wall Sound and Video, a retail chain.   We introduced them to CAD, digitized their drawings, and completed the first project for them in Exton, PA over the course of 10 days.  They were impressed and gave us another, and another, and another.  While they have not survived, JL Architects has thrived.  We expanded to a regional and national firm by adding Kmart, Thrift Drug (Later Eckerd Drugs and Rite Aid) Sunglass Hut, and PaylessShoe Source to our list of clients.  After a bump in 1989, our business doubled every 2 years for 8 years.  There have been many key people who have led us to where we are today.  As I look back to those start-up days I realize how fortunate I was to have Chuck Phillips and Ann Donohue on my team.  While they both moved on long ago, the foundation created by their contribution cannot go unrecognized.

 

 

So many of our clients have made a significant impact on where we worked, and our bottom line; the relationships with Starbucks Coffee Company, Blockbuster Video and Wawa Food Stores probably impacted us most.  Of course, one could say working with any client on hundreds and hundreds of projects is bound to have a profound influence on a company.  I would say, however, that the impact has been both fundamental and lasting.

There was a process and respect in each of those relationships.  Each company looked out for the other and we were on the same page. Communication was excellent and there was a mutual respect. We all were working to be sure we were setting each other up for success.  This is how JL Architects realized that “Success” was only possible if everyone participated in its pursuit and enjoyment. 

While on the subject of successes, there are some that would not be noticed unless you were around for all 25 years; 

• Seven of JL Architects former employees have started their own businesses, and more are partners in businesses.
• Team members have excelled at completing the Intern Development Program and completed the program in a remarkably short time.
• JL Architects interns have become college graduates from many institutions.
• JL Architects has facilitated the higher education for their team members’ children.
• Team members have completed their IDP programs, and become licensed architects, have purchased homes, and have retirement plans in place. 

Today JL Architects has its own list of fundamentals; we call them “The Parti”.  The fundamentals are a list of behaviors that are manifestations of our beliefs and values.  We also have “The Process” which is a direct result of our relationships with Starbucks, Blockbuster and Wawa.  The Process is the single most important guide to a successful endeavor.  It is also like a car with a big engine-full of potential and needing fuel.  That is where the “The Parti” comes in.  The Parti is a list of 20 behaviors that implement "The Process" and make it perform. 

 

Twenty-five years in practice taught us to never stop learning, never to stand still.  We recognize that to service, and guide our clients to the best of our ability; we must always be current with product innovation, software updates, ADA requirements, construction trends, etc.  This is why we hold lunch-n-learns in house each month for our team.   As an architect personally licensed in 37 states, I complete 20 hours of structured continuing education each year in addition to continuing education courses for my LEED credential.  We are a firm that is committed to being the best in our field, and recognize that we are only as successful as each client, and each project we contribute to.

In closing, we are grateful for you, our client, that has entrusted us with your projects, and our talented and dedicated staff that works hard to ensure a smooth, and successful completion of each individual project.  We are fortunate, and blessed to have such wonderful people on our team!

Thank you!

John Lister, R.A., LEED AP BD+C,  Principal, JL Architects