New architecture studio bolsters Fisher Associates’ suite of services

Believing that bringing a holistic view to the design process from start to finish greatly benefits both developers and end users, Fisher Associates has launched a new suite of services.

The Rochester-based engineering and professional services firm recently created a Housing & Community Design Architecture Studio.

The new architecture team will complement the services Fisher already provides, enhancing the firm’s ability to deliver client-focused solutions that prioritize people, honor place and create communities.

“We’re always looking to expand and evolve to meet the needs of the marketplace, the needs of our clients and to round out our services in a comprehensive way,” Fisher CEO Roseann Schmid said.

“This really complements a lot of the other work we do with our landscape architects and planners, and really satisfies a demand we’re seeing now in the housing market, especially affordable housing.”

Architect Scott Townsend, who has over three decades of experience in community-focused design, was hired as director of the new studio. He will oversee the creation of inclusive, sustainable, affordable and people-centered spaces and places.

“I’ve been on a mission for a while now,” Townsend said, “trying to make sure everyone gets the best environment in housing, that not only is capturing the locale that it’s in, but also figuring out how it can be done so it’s affordable and approachable.”

One way to do so is through teamwork, especially as architecture and community design become more complex in relation to funding sources, regulatory requirements and municipal approvals.

“When you’re doing any kind of project of any kind of scale, you’re always working with civil engineers, the transportation side of it, with planners and you’re definitely working with landscape architects,” he said.

“If you’re not working right next to the people that are also doing the work with you, it makes it challenging. So, to be in an environment where we can all be around the same table or on the same screen is energizing. Hopefully I can bring some things that landscape or planning hadn’t thought of, and vise versa.”

Adding the architectural component continues the evolution of Fisher. Founded in 1984 by Claire Fisher, the firm initially provided expertise on site development and environmental projects, then began gaining prominence and expertise along the way to becoming a prime project consultant.

Fisher now offers services to a variety of sectors, including transportation, energy, land development, geomatics, landscape engineering and environmental engineering.

With an architecture suite, Fisher can now provide the conceptual design component on projects they’re already working on.

“Prior to bringing Scott on, we would sub that work out,” Schmid said. “This was a natural fit to bring architecture on to be able to do that piece in-house.”

The idea had been considered for several years but Schmid said the time had to be right.

“I think sometimes when firms expand and they try to take it all on at once and do everything in a specific area, that’s challenging,” she said. “You risk it being unsuccessful. If you start with a focus and over time branch out, it tends to be more manageable, less daunting and less risky.”

Fisher six offices across New York, one in Pennsylvania, one in Texas and a presence in North Carolina. The firm has done a variety of work, from multiple trail projects in the Rochester area to the design for the shared use path on the Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge (which replaced the old Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson River). They now have a hand in the Interstate 81 project in downtown Syracuse.

“Our core purpose is to improve quality of life,” Schmid said, “so if we can add more services that further enhance our ability to improve quality of life in our communities, then that’s a win-win. It’s a win for us and it’s a win for our communities.”

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