THE JUMP
TALENT
FERNANDEZ FOCUSES ON HIS PEOPLE Elevarâs CEO builds a diverse staff to mimic its variety of architecture projects and communities.
Emilio Fernandez founded SFA here after emigrating from Cuba. His son Tom now leads the ďŹrm, renamed Elevar.
Elevarâs work on the Kenton County Administration Building included new construction and renovation of the 100-year-old Bavarian Brewery.
Emilio Fernandez emigrated from Cuba to the U.S. after serving as the head of public building projects for Fidel Castroâs government, designing the Soroa Tourist Center and other official projects. But he ultimately left the country and founded SFA here in 1967. His son Tom Fernan-
dez now heads the architecture ďŹrm, rechristened Elevar (âelevateâ in Spanish), with a team of 80 employees in four markets. Fernandez leads with a focus on the people. Nurturing his team with the best talent sometimes means reaching out to students who may have fallen off their
20 REALM SUMMER 2021
planned path toward engineering and architecture, speciďŹcally to combat a lack of diversity in the architecture ďŹeld. âWeâre trying to recruit from colleges like Howard University, trying to attract folks to Cincinnati,â says Fernandez. âItâs our obligation to help those who come next and
West Clermont High School merged two existing schools at a new location, where Elevar built the school buildings and athletic facilities.
our responsibility to provide these opportunities for the younger generation, especially when this exposure might not have been something an individual could have found on their own.â As a ďŹrm that works on a variety of projects, understanding the needs of each neighborhood and community is critical, he says, and having a staff that reďŹects the community where they work, live, and serve is important. Fernandezâs work in the community doesnât stop with recruiting talent to Elevar and to Cincinnati. An Elevar team is currently dedicated to clientsâ work with minority suppliers and subcontractors, tracing the impact of dollars spent on creating jobs, supporting community programs, and
generally beneďŹting those living in minority communities. Fernandez also leads Cincinnatiâs immigration task force, which evaluated how welcoming Cincinnati is for immigrants moving from other parts of this country and arriving from other countries. Elevarâs architecture portfolio stands tall across the region, including in FC Cincinnatiâs new TQL Stadium. Elevar contributed to elements like the 30-foot grand staircase, the external LED wave-like ďŹns, and The Bailey, the superfansâ 3,100 section at the stadiumâs north end. The ďŹrm has also designed the nearby Freeport Row at Liberty and Elm streets, a mixed-use project slated to open in late 2022 or 2023.
P H O T O G R A P H ( T O M F E R N A N D E Z ) BY C H R I S V O N H O L L E
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY (EMIILO FERNANDEZ, KENTON COUNTY BUILDING) EMILY DONNELL, ELEVAR DESIGN GROUP; (WEST CLERMONT HIGH SCHOOL) HEATHER VERST; (TQL STADIUM) POPULOUS
âSARAH M. MULLINS