Unlock the Potential of Your School District Elevar Design Group is one of Southwest Ohio’s largest architectural and engineering firms. We know that no two clients are the same, with different sets of circumstances driving decisions to engage an architect, and therefore, different needs. But Elevar is more than your typical A&E firm. We work with each client to find unique solutions to issues by seeing what others may not see. We are professionals who look at the big picture to find that right solution. We don’t just work for our clients; we work with them as true partners from the very beginning of our relationship. Project funding is the “bottom line” in making visions into reality. The Elevar team has long-standing experience creating public-private partnerships (P3s) and other public mechanisms that result in win/win scenarios for our clients and their local communities. We serve as advisors and designers, solving design challenges and bringing visions to life. Through the power of collaboration with our clients and their communities, Elevar provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to project realization. By engaging stakeholders and end users in our process, and by bringing multiple parties to the table, we identify potential non-traditional revenue streams to fund transformational projects. Our knowledge of decision-making requirements, as well as financial and legal parameters allows us to lead the development process unlike other design firms.
West Clermont High School This $90 million design/ build project merged two existing high schools into one consolidated, state-of-the-art educational facility. Located on a previously undeveloped site in Union Township, OH, the new school is centrally located within the school district. The project was a P3 with the District, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and a private development company. By identifying the former Glen Este High School property as a private TIF development site, the West Clermont School District delivered the new West Clermont High School project with no tax-payer funding or bond issue necessary.
North College School District
Hill
City
Elevar leveraged North College Hill’s energy efficiency measures into additional funding from the local utility company, Duke Energy’s, custom Smart Saver incentive program. By demonstrating both peak electric demand reduction and total electric usage reduction, the District was able to recoup more than $170,000 for both schools involved in the project.
We Make More Possible Three Rivers PK-12 Campus
Projects Elevar has worked with a significant number of school districts during our history. In addition to providing master planning and design for new construction and renovation, we have explored options of nontraditional funding for a number of districts including: Cincinnati Public Schools, Batavia Local Schools, East Clinton Local Schools, Mariemont City Schools, Streetsboro City Schools, Mechanicsburg Exempted Village Schools, and Goshen Local Schools, just to name a few.
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Working on behalf of the Three Rivers Local School District, Elevar joined with the District’s State Representatives to develop legislative actions to increase the OFCC funding to the District by an additional $25 million. Working within an established precedent where the State provided funding for school districts forced to close operating buildings because of environmental concerns, Elevar developed legislation which was included in the State Budget Bill to increase OFCC’s matching funds to 50% of the total building program cost.
Our Process Listening We bring multiple entities to the table, forging new partnerships and guiding consensus through active listening. True community building starts with the end in mind: a plan the majority can support. By discerning what a good plan is and what makes best sense for our clients, we serve as their advocates in this discovery process.
Visioning
Our Team Tom Fernandez CEO Tom Fernandez sets the design direction that optimizes full potential for the client’s longterm benefit and for sustained commercial opportunity. Tom is the driving force behind Elevar’s innovative design studio.
Kim Patton President
Elevar conducts a market analysis of the region and identifies the highest demand and best use of a property. We engage our clients and their communities in these development plans. During this process, we recognize and align needs and future demands. Once a vision is created in conjunction with our client’s needs, we identify other public agencies and potential development partners.
Kim Patton is responsible for ensuring the overall success of projects and the continued development of client relationships. Kim has more than 25 years of experience leading and innovating in the fields of design and construction.
Funding
Rich Neumann has specific expertise in the development of P3s and the political approval processes necessary to fund them. He has consulted with a variety of public sector entities, universities, major corporations and non-profit entities. Rich has successfully negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars of development throughout his storied career.
Our team can introduce clients to non-traditional funding (P3) and grant opportunities that may otherwise go unrecognized. We leverage our longstanding relationships to maximize the financial potential of a site. Elevar not only considers the initial cost of a project, but also the longterm operating expenses. Often this expansive approach leads us to suggest other potential users and ultimately increase the income stream for our clients.
Realizing We believe even the most aspirational goals can be achieved with the right combination of experience, knowledge, partnerships, and dedication. The combination of these elements results in projects which help communities distinguish themselves, strengthen their brand, and ultimately attract residents and businesses that lead to stronger economic vitality.
elevar.com | @elevar_design_group
Rich Neumann Development Advisor
Rob Grogan Client Manager As a former athlete himself, Rob Grogan has a passion for sports facilities design, from the perpective of both player development and fan experience. Rob’s project knowledge spans a wide variety of both retail and athletic venue design and implementation.