Past

 

Jill V. Akins AIA established Van Auken Akins Architects LLC (VAA) in May 1992 with a vision to design inspiring environments. The single employee firm, committed to providing outstanding service to clients, quickly grew its client base and staff, typically adding one employee each year.

 

Present

 

Today the VAA staff totals 23, with design projects exceeding $1 billion in construction. Our services include architectural design and planning, interior design and construction management. We are skilled in specialized construction projects such as science and research facilities, health care centers, correctional institutions, airports and multiple aspects of educational institutions.

 

Our clients, ranging from the private to public sector, are encouraged to actively participate in the design process. We believe that this collaboration is essential to ensuring the client vision is met while staying within the prescribed timeline and budget.

 

As members of the Northeast Ohio chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, VAA is committed to sustainable design. Whenever possible, we specify products and construction methods to help create a safer environment.  Currently, we have five LEED APs on staff, with several more studying for the exam.

 

VAA is certified as a Female Business Enterprise with the City of Cleveland, Ohio Department of Administrative Services’ Encouraging Diversity and Growth Enterprise (EDGE) program and the Ohio Unified Certification Program, which includes the Ohio Department of Transportation, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and Columbus Regional Airport Authority.

 

We also hold the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Professional Engineering Services schedules for Construction Management and Comprehensive Furniture Management Services. 

 

Future

 

As VAA completes our twenty first year of business, we remain committed to providing quality work and exceptional service to our clients. To do this, we are exploring new project types to diversify our expertise and embracing new, innovative technology to help us work better, smarter and faster. Most importantly, we will remain true to the solid business ethics on which VAA was founded:  professionalism, integrity and commitment to excellence.