Draft Brochure v1

A better place 2012

planning architecture landscape architecture urban design interiors environmental graphics

I n t r o d u c t i o n t o E L M Planning Architecture Landscape Architecture Urban Design Interiors Environmental Graphics

ELM is an integrated mul1-­‐disciplinary Environmental Design firm of experienced planners, architects, landscape architects, designers, and staff commi?ed to making the world a be?er place.

Serving clients na1onally and interna1onally from studio offices in Florida and Sea?le, the firm is recognized for its commitment to sustainable prac1ce, innova1ve design excellence, and technical proficiency. ELM’s work encompasses projects in natural, learning, cultural, resort, commercial, recrea1onal, visual, urban, and living environments.

E x p e r i e n c e a n d D i v e r s i t y ELM’s team has uncommon diversity and established experience in large-­‐scale natural resource planning, strategic conserva1on, park & recrea1on, zoological design, urban planning, mixed-­‐use, mul1-­‐family, hospitality and resort, health care and senior living, commercial development, educa1onal campus, park and recrea1on, residen1al community planning and design, as well as signage and environmental graphics.

Since the firm provides professional services in mul1ple disciplines and project types, ELM is oKen called upon to lead very large complex mul1-­‐disciplined assignments oKen encompassing several years, as well as providing focused exper1se in a single discipline working in collabora1on with other design professionals on very small site-­‐specific projects.

The firm tailors its services to the unique requirements of each assignment; always for the purpose of adding value to the work of each client.

The applica1on of the lessons learned through years of experience, the con1nues pursuit of crea1ve solu1ons, combined with personal service and extensive experience within many unique market niches at the principal level is fundamentally important to unlock the greatest value for each of our clients on every consul1ng assignment.

H i s t o r y o f E L M Ervin Love? Miller was established in Jacksonville, Florida by partners Russ Ervin, Steve Love?, and Tim Miller in 2001 for the purpose of applying the combined craKs of planning, architecture, and landscape architecture for the admi?edly idealis1c purpose of “making the world a be?er place”. The firm’s clients have benefi?ed from the partners’ combined 65-­‐ years of professional experience encompassing a wide variety of project types, scales, and geographies. During the past ten years the firm has earned numerous commissions from repeat clients, ELM’s work has contributed posi1vely to the communi1es in which they are located, and numerous projects have received recogni1on for quality and design excellence.

In 2011 the firm expanded, opening an office in Sea?le, Washington and adding a new Principal, Chris Overdorf, formerly a Partner in the well-­‐known firm Jones & Jones. This expansion allows ELM to be?er serve its clients na1onally from its west-­‐coast office, and augments the firm’s capabili1es, today recognized as an innova1ve leader in large-­‐scale natural resource and conserva1on, park and recrea1on, and zoological planning and design.

B u i l d i n g R e l a t i o n s h i p s In contrast with larger consul1ng firms offering similar services, ELM uses a smaller mul1-­‐disciplinary studio and highly-­‐ experienced team that focuses on understanding and interpre1ng each client’s vision and objec1ves and applying crea1vity and providing excep1onal personalized service. ELM’s clients benefit from the firm’s agile structure -­‐ designed to create efficiency, foster crea1vity, and ensure accountability.

Presently the firm is comprised of an integrated mul1-­‐ disciplinary team of fourteen talented, experienced designers and staff commi?ed to their craK, providing a?en1ve service to clients and focused on the crea1on and preserva1on of great places. Because of the small, integrated nature of the firm, ELM purposefully limits the number of projects that it accepts at any given 1me and significant principal involvement occurs throughout every phase of each project.

We’ve found that a smaller prac1ce structure allows us to provide be?er service, build stronger rela1onships, and have more fun.

Sustainability Sustainability goes far beyond the tradi1onal defini1ons, dimensions, and clichés of “Green Building”. While it’s true that the crea1on of Sustainable Places must emphasize environmental sensi1vity and ecological performance, there are many other factors that play into a project’s true sustainability.

ELM refers to these as PERFORMANCE VALUES, and believes that successful, sustainable places perform across these mul1ple dimensions—without exploi1ng or compromising any other.

The achievement of the highest possible performance and greatest value for our clients and those who experience our work is the measure of our success.

SOCIAL PERFORMANCE “…places that support happiness and positive, responsible, authentic human experience.”

ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE “…places that are financially sustainable and that add perpetual value by any measure that is applied.”

CULTURAL PERFORMANCE “…places that embody the spirit and character unique to their location and to those who influence and inhabit them.”

AESTHETIC PERFORMANCE “…places that represent nature’s beauty while celebrating human creativity, design, and the wonder of discovery.”

FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE “…places that serve the purposes and people for which they are created; sensibly, with dignity, order, and quality.”

ECOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE “…places that enhance the long-term environmental health and ecological systems of their site or region.”

HEALTHY PERFORMANCE “…places that support and encourage healthy habits and promote long-term physical well-being.”

Environmental design Natural Environments Living Environments Cultural Environments Recreational Environments Urban Environments Resort Environments Commercial Environments Visual Environments Learning Environments

The term “Environmental Design� describes the process of bringing broad expertise together across different disciplines to focus on the total experience and performance of the places we plan and design within each market niche we serve.

We have the skill and experience ranging from large system-level watershed-scale regional planning projects, to small-scale site specific architectural or landscape architectural assignments, and we add value and reduce compromises and conflicts by applying the concepts of Environmental Design and the total experience in every project, no matter the size, or the extent of our role.

We are experienced in urban settings and wild natural places, and our work is committed to the enhancement of the built and natural environments and systems – together, without compromise. Our role may be as comprehensive or focused as appropriate for any given client or project.