The Heiserman Group, a family-owned architecture, planning and interior design firm with more than 30 years of experience based in Bethesda, MD, was recognized Sunday at the American Institute of Architects, Potomac Valley Chapter’s (AIAPV) Design Awards Celebration for its work on Encore Construction, Inc.’s new corporate offices in Annapolis, MD.

Often, design is seen as adding unnecessary cost to the bottom line of business. Encore Construction’s space dispels this notion.  “When it came to opening our new office, we were looking to create a well-designed space that was both affordable and representative of the work we do for our clients,” said John Klakamp, President of Encore Construction. “We worked with The Heiserman Group’s Rhena Saar, who was very open to our ideas. She took our ideas and made them better. As a result, we were able to create a finished product that truly showcases what we do for our clients. The design projects our personality and who we are as a company.”

Klakamp knows that a great looking office isn’t the only step in winning over great clients, but it’s a start. In fact, Encore’s space has played a part in impressing potential and repeat customers. “First time visitors often take it all in – that’s a good sign, especially in our line of work,” said Klakamp.

The AIA “Architectural Excellence” awards are held each year in October, with one “Grand Honor Award,” and several additional “Honor Awards.” The Heiserman Group received an “Honor Award” for Encore Construction’s office.

“We are very proud of this project,” said Herbert Heiserman of The Heiserman Group. Typically, contractors are seen as the entities that stifle designers’ creativity, but Heiserman disagrees, at least in this instance. “Encore Construction was a terrific client who brought ideas to the table and also allowed us to be creative. They were very involved and without them the end result of this project would not have been the same.”

Encore Construction partnered with The Heiserman Group to design its new Annapolis, MD office space, which opened in the spring of 2007. The office’s design features the use of raw materials, bright colors, and lots of glass, creating a very open and industrial feel for the 2,500 sq. ft. office space that reflects the type of results Encore achieves for its own client base in the retail, restaurant, and corporate arenas.

Encore Construction worked closely with The Heiserman Group on the design/build project, providing logistical input on placement, creative input on the design, and ultimately the construction services to bring the collaborative effort to completion Among the 90 entries and 27 firms that competed, The Heiserman Group submitted Encore Construction’s office build-out project to the AIAPV for the 2007 Design Awards. Each submission was made on a 36” x 36” board that included a title, project summary, renderings and photographs. According to Lloyd Unsell, Jr., Executive Director at AIAPV, the jury of three architects from the AIA West Virginia chapter made their decisions on October 12 for this year’s competition, based on “architectural design excellence.”

“As awards go, this is a prestigious one. There’s no higher authority on design than the AIA,” said Klakamp. “This award is something that Encore and our employees can all feel good about.”