Pearce Brinkley Cease + Lee is a medium-sized design firm by choice. Though large enough to provide the necessary scope of architectural services for a broad range of clients and building types, we have remained small enough so that our principals can stay fully involved in every phase of a project.

By controlling our growth, we've been able to preserve the organizational structure we believe works best: a loose association of project teams rather than specialized departments. This allows us to keep the flexibility associated with smaller firms while adding the resources of a larger firm - technology, depth of staff experience, expansive sample libraries, and the availability of a respected second opinion.

Regardless of the size of the firm, a limited number of people can effectively work on any given project. In the end, it's the project team who follows a job from start to finish. Since they understand the full scope of issues associated with the project's development, they can respond more quickly and directly to our clients' needs.

Every project requires different resources, so we assemble teams based on the specific requirements of the job. The leading principal on each team stays actively involved through all phases of development. In cases requiring a greater breadth of experience, we include additional principals.

Since the best quality documentation comes from the project team itself, we choose people who have both the necessary technical skills and prior success on similar projects. The unusually high level of contact we maintain during the construction process allows us to continually redefine documentation practices based on the results we see in the field.

Quality in design and execution is essential for the success of our work. In addition to the team leader, another principal reviews project development, design, and technical quality as well as budget and schedule compliance. A representative from our construction administration group joins the design process as early as possible. Such coordination allows a smooth transition from planning to design to construction.

H. Clymer Cease, Jr., AIA
Principal