Connection
Young architect spotlight Meet community-focused architect Lisa Sauvé
Lisa Sauvé, AIA, NCARB, IIDA Sauvé is the Principal and Co-Founder of Synecdoche Design Studio in Ann Arbor, Mich. Looking back at her 11 years in the field, it is clear that Sauvé has always been focused on community design and betterment. She sits on the Ordinance Revisions Committee of the Ann Arbor Planning Commission and is a Business Ambassador for the Detroit Regional Chamber. She’s also a member of the Ann Arbor Arts District Committee, chairs the Building Design Committee of the Ann Arbor Art Center, and is an Advisory Board member for Engage Affect, an organization that strives to engage municipal members and foster a stronger connection to their community. This passion is further illustrated by Synecdoche’s core values and Sauvé’s involvement in the AIA’s Small Project Design community..
Lisa Sauvé is a Michigan gal, born and raised. While receiving an undergraduate degree from Lawrence Technology University, Sauvé and her partner, Adam Smith, formed Synecdoche. They actually skipped graduation to work on their first project! While juggling the demands of her studio, Sauvé earned an M.Arch degree from the University of Michigan in 2011. Around that same time, Synecdoche competed in the 10up Atlanta design competition. Their temporary outdoor pavilion design, titled “Edge Condition” won first place. As if that wasn’t enough, Sauvé went back to the University of Michigan to earn a second master’s degree in conservation in 2014.
space is just as important as the design of your business. It can support your ideas and act as the first glimpse into what your new business is all about. Many entrepreneurs and smallbusiness owners do not have the capital to hire an architect or design studio to help them shape their vision. Recently,
Synecdoche’s projects range in scale from custombuilt furniture to new spaces for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Through innovative design, a unique business model, and strong drive to enact change, Sauvé and Synecdoche are able to help Ann Arbor grow and thrive as a tech and design hub. When zoning restrictions were making it almost impossible for her clients to renovate or expand their small businesses, Sauvé became a member of the planning board. These zoning laws were put in place for the betterment of the area and should work to do just that. This position allows her to push forchanges to these laws that will foster adaptive reuse projects and maintain the architectural integrity of the downtown area. Being a small-business owner herself, Sauvé knows how difficult it can be to start your own firm. The design of your
40
Above: Edge Condition. Courtesy: Lisa Sauvé.
