Small Business Spotlight – January 2020: Paragon Architecture
Company Name: Paragon Architecture
Person in Charge: Brad Erwin, Principal Architect & Owner
Year founded: 2010
Describe what your organization provides for its customers:
Think of Paragon as your architectural Sherpa. We guide clients through facility renovations and new building design, site analysis and facility master planning, operations programming and interior design. We proactively manage projects from first sketch to your last phone call. But more than that, we go beyond the work to cultivate relationships and advocate your vision—because it’s not our mountain; it’s yours.
Give us a brief history of your business and what makes it unique:
Paragon got its start in 2010, helping K-12 schools secure funding for tornado safe rooms. Now, our passionate architects and interior designers provide flexible design solutions and project management services for school districts, higher ed institutions, civic municipalities, businesses and healthcare providers all over the state. Our projects are big, small and everything in between. But it’s the relationships we cultivate with our clients and partners that sets us apart from the competition.
What’s the most exciting recent highlight for your business?
Hands down, the most exciting recent highlight for our business is the new HQ in downtown Springfield. We’re celebrating 10 years of innovation with an open house this spring. The new tools and opportunities this building will provide allow for company growth and help our team better serve our clients.
Where do you hope to see your business in 12 months?
Our hope is to grow as our clients grow. It’s amazing to witness the progression of a school district or university as they launch new learning techniques. To see new branches pop up in the corporate sector & to design for the cutting-edge advances in healthcare. We believe in the mission of our clients and will always strive to expand as they fulfill their vision.
What advice would you offer to someone starting their own small business?
Believe in your people. Focus on their unique contribution and the things they’re passionate about that may or may not involve their job. Creating an environment that fuels all aspects of their life is critical to the greater good.
