Build 2016 Architecture Awards 110 Company: SF Design Group Name: Saharnaz Farivar, AIA, President Email:
[email protected] Web Address: www.sf-designgroup.com Address: 4229 Lafayette Center Drive, Suite 1860, Chantilly, VA 20151 (HQ) and 1825 K Street NW, Suite 375, Washington, DC 20006 Telephone: 703.956.6690 stablished in 2001, SF Design Group operates a dedicated team which is among the most dedicated, creative, talented and educated professionals in their fields. Saharnaz expresses her pride in her team and the services they provide. “Here at SF Design Group, our team is technically savvy; they love to serve and inspire. The principals at SF Design Group are actively involved in every project undertaken by the firm. In all of our projects, we adhere to Smart De- sign principles. It includes working collaboratively with clients and stakehold- ers to understand each project and identify potential obstacles. As a result, we create a process for successfully delivering each project, which includes meeting program requirements, budget and deadlines, preserving natural resources and the environment, all while maximizing the client’s investment. “For us, Excellence in Design is a Human Right. Our corporate vision is that we believe in a world with stunning spaces and ever-nurturing environments for people by the people, thereby enabling everyone to have access to thought-provoking and practical life-balance workplace design. Our mission is to design to awe our clients, community and ourselves alike; and in doing so, we design with passion and expertise to create spaces that connect people, nurture growth, and inspire creativity. Each day, we strive to provide practical design solutions that motivate and inspire all while in balance with the sacred tenets of the arts, sciences, culture and humanity.” The firm utilises five key values that serve as the foundation of its corporate values in support of its vision and mission. These are applied in the firm’s daily and long-term interactions with clients, teaming partners, and itself along with commitments made. Saharnaz talks us through these values and how they serve to ensure that the firm offers the very highest quality of service at all times. “Conscientious Service: Our passion for creative design solutions drives us to enable our clients to work and live intelligently yet remains mindful of being fiscally responsible and collaboratively democratic. “Bold Curiosity & Authenticity: We allow ourselves to be rebellious and curious, challenging each other and our clients to think, live and breathe outside the box. “Collegial Innovation: We are each empowered to incubate a laboratory of hypotheses, design and pragmatic ideals that test known boundaries and pioneer new frontiers for any and all parts of built environments. “Divinity in Details: Simplicity and truthfulness are paramount in everything we do. We believe the entire difference between the monumental and the mundane is in the details. “Compassionate Design: We believe design excellence is smart, democratic and exudes thoughtful quality. Each person, including the displaced, is entitled to consciously sustainable environments that convey a sense of belonging, are high in quality, and practically feasible.” SF Design Group’s main base of operations is in the mid-Atlantic region and its architecture industry is highly competitive. As her concluding comment, Saharnaz emphasises the attributes which set her firm apart and have helped the firm to achieve its current success. “SF Design Group is often and highly regarded for how we take our job per- sonally. We believe in creating nurturing built environments that are comfort- able, pleasant, responsible and sustainable which in turn maximizes human potential and well-being—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. One of our client’s recently shared with me when reconnecting with them a year after their initial occupancy on how they find themselves always smiling each and every time the elevator doors open for them to step out and into their firm’s lobby. They further added that they and their colleagues remain pleased and happy with their space, and that it is also a notable ‘selling point’ for their recruitment efforts. Achieving this level of appreciation for our design and how it positively affects a client’s most precious investment— their human capital—is the very reason I established SF Design Group 15 years ago.” Best for Mixed-Use Developments - Virginia SF Design Group is a laboratory of hypotheses, design and pragmatic ideals that specialises in providing architecture, urban design, planning and interior design services. We invited firm Founder and President, Saharnaz Farivar, to tell us more. E AR160111