Culture

Commitment. Collaboration. Longevity.

SWBR is a different kind of design firm. Our culture is defined by our integrity, technical excellence and providing quality work on time and on budget to our clients’ satisfaction.

We are a studio environment with a genuine passion for discovery and an unwavering belief that great design can change people’s lives for the better. Our personal commitment to remain connected to every project we create means you will always get our best.

A picture of SWBR team members at an event to raise money for the fight against heart disease
A group of us had an opportunity to raise money to aid the fight against heart disease and stroke. We enjoyed seeing each other outside the office to participate in a fun and healthy activity. It was a win-win for all of us.
Mark Maddalina
Principal and Sustainability Design Director

Our Culture Statement

We are inclusive and versatile leaders who engage each other and our clients to create innovative solutions in a fun and challenging environment that embraces growth.


Sustainable Design

We believe sustainable design is smart, integrated design. It’s not only good for the environment, it’s good for our clients, our community and our future.

Browse Some of Our Sustainable Design Projects

View Our 2023 Sustainability Action Plan

Community

Meaningful participation in the larger community has always been a priority for the firm. SWBR employees give back to our community by actively participating on local planning boards, volunteering at local events and charities that raise money for cancer research, the Heart Association, United Way, Golisano Children’s Hospital, Pathstone, St. Ann’s, Auburn Education Foundation, Urban League of Rochester, and many more. Several of our employees also offer design critiques for architectural programs like Alfred State and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Teamwork

When you hire SWBR, you get talented leaders and designers — and so much more.

Architects, structural engineers, interior designers and landscape architects are all a part of your SWBR team. Even graphic experts and wayfinding designers. This multidisciplinary approach — one SWBR has been implementing for over 50 years — allows us to innovate and design projects very well.

In addition to our broad range of in-house capabilities, we also excel at collaboration. SWBR has a long history of partnering with other architects and consultant specialists. It is all part of SWBR’s commitment to design excellence and client service.

Design Philosophy

Design enhances the human experience.

Architecture and place-making matter and can represent, inspire, and influence social justice and cultural identity. We believe that spaces must contribute to the positive qualities of life, productivity, and the happiness of their occupants. We desire:

  • Innovative spaces of learning, research, and discovery
  • Inspiring spaces to work and create
  • Contemplative spaces of serene reflection or spirituality
  • Dynamic spaces for socializing, celebration, and civic engagement
  • Accessible spaces for dignified living and maximizing independence

Our Mission: Positively impacting lives through meaningful design.

When we speak of meaningful design, we are engaging in an integrative approach to the built environment that considers form, function, and footprint. These notions are explored and articulated through our expertise in Building Performance, Sustainability, and Design Excellence. Every project is unique, with a different balance of these three tenets. Ultimately our goal is to design beautiful, long-lasting, energy sensitive environments that connect people and complement the health and well-being of both humans and the natural environment.

Our rigor is driven by our passion.

Our understanding of architecture and the environment compels us to appreciate and study context, influencing our design solutions for buildings and places. In turn, this informs the dialogue between the vernacular and the innovative.

We work in open and collaborative design studios that represent our core disciplines. These studios support our mission by allowing all staff to contribute, enhancing our strengths and design sensitivities. Our work is the result of engaging conversations and the exchange of ideas drawing from diverse viewpoints and experiences. In partnership with our clients, consultants, and extended design team members, we work as facilitators and collaborators, leading the design process and maintaining a clear project vision.