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SWBR Architects Announces New Principal to the Firm

SWBR Architect’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the promotion of Steven V. Rebholz, AIA to Principal in the firm. With the addition of Rebholz, there are now six principals of SWBR Architects.

Steve has been with SWBR for 18 years and has worked his way through the ranks from designer now to principal. His primary focus has been K-12 school design for the past several years where he has completed major projects within the Rochester City School District, Bloomfield CSD, Marcellus CSD and the East Rochester Union Free School District to name a few. Rebholz is an expert in building codes and the State Education Department process and assists in training the staff in these areas as well. He also serves as studio leader for the firm’s K-12 education studio.

“Over the many years of Steve’s tenure with the firm he has helped establish a level of excellent service that we all admire,” said David Beinetti, president for SWBR Architects. “His talents and knowledge have helped all of us in designing the great projects that we proudly display.”

Rebholz is a native of Rochester and earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame. He is actively involved in many professional activities including the City of Rochester Planning Commission, the Construction Specifications Institute, previously serving as President and a member of the Board of Directors and is Chairman of SWBR’s Codes & Standards Action Group. He currently resides in Rochester with his family.

SWBR Selected For Biofuel Research Lab At Cornell University

Cornell University is teaming up with SWBR Architects, to design and build the state-of-the-art Biofuels Research Laboratory at Cornell University. The 11,000 sq. ft. facility will be located on Cornell University's Ithaca campus and is slated to be complete by December 2008. LeChase Construction Services was also recently awarded the construction bid.

The $6 million lab is being constructed as part of a $10 million grant awarded to Cornell professor of biological and environmental engineering, Larry Walker. The grant, given by the Empire State Development Corporation, will be used to advance technologies that convert perennial grasses and woody biomass into ethanol, and other biofuels. It will also cover renovations to laboratories in Riley-Robb Hall, as well as the purchasing of analytical equipment, incubators, fermenters and other state-of-the-art biotechnology equipment.

"We're thrilled to be working with Cornell University on such an exciting and revolutionizing project," said Phil Wise, a principal with SWBR. "This research lab will allow students and other researchers to take sustainable energy to the next level and it's amazing for us to be a part of that."

SWBR Architects, who will serve as the lead architect on the project, will work with M/E Engineering who will handle all the accommodating electrical, mechanical and plumbing needs. One of the main focuses in the construction of the new facility will be the air quality and quantity within the labs, as it is a critical element for the research that will take place there. SWBR's previous work on the construction of the GM Fuel Cell Research Lab in Honeoye Falls, N.Y. will aid in the transformation of the current structure, which was once used as an agricultural building with little supporting infrastructure, into a state-of-the-art facility that stands to make Cornell a leader in biotechnology.

SWBR Architect Employees Win Third Place In Homes For Habitat Design Competition

SWBR Architects is pleased to announce two of its employees, Tim Zigarowicz and Heather Smith, have recently won third place in the Habitat for Humanity-Green Can Be Affordable design competition. Zigarowicz and Smith were recognized at an awards dinner held at Artisan Works on March 1, 2008.

Habitat for Humanity builds approximately ten houses per year in the City of Rochester for low income families with a steady income, good credit history, and who are able to complete 500 hours of work on their own or other family’s homes. As part of the design competition, Habitat for Humanity tasked individuals to design a new one-story, three bedroom prototype that would be used for future home designs. The prototypes were required to be energy efficient and sensitive to the use of resources, as well as attractive and volunteer friendly so that Habitat volunteers would be capable of assembling it.
As third place winners, Zigarowicz and Smith received a five hundred dollar gift certificate to West and Co. Jewelry.


About Habitat:

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry working globally to eliminate poverty housing. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races, and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
Flower City Habitat for Humanity (FCHH) builds and rehabilitates homes and neighborhoods in urban Rochester, New York. They neither solicit nor accept government funding, relying completely on the support of thousands of volunteers, faith-based communities, and businesses located throughout Monroe County.

SWBR Architects Announces Three New Employees

SWBR Architects announces the appointments of Sandi Ford, Stacy Garrison and Anisa Fornataro.


Sandi Ford has been hired as a financial assistant. She is responsible for daily accounting operations including, payroll, accounts payable and other financial matters. Prior to joining SWBR, Ford served as an accounting assistant and payroll specialist at Blum Gaffney Enterprises. Ford currently resides in Greece with her husband.


Stacy Garrison joins SWBR as a human resource assistant/business office assistant. Garrison assists with the firm's orientations as well as updating the affirmative action policy, and is working on recruiting efforts and the firm's performance review process. She received her Bachelor's of Science in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management with a minor in Economics from Le Moyne College. Garrison currently resides in Hamlin.


Anisa Fornataro joins SWBR as an interior designer where she is responsible for designing and developing concepts for projects, creating graphics and drafting in AutoCAD and REVIT. Additionally, she will prepare 3-D renderings in SketchUp and VIZ, as well as incorporate design elements for sustainable or LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) project submittals and documentation. Fornataro received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Marywood University and currently resides in Rush.

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