PWArchitects, Inc., a commercial architecture firm that offers customized design solutions to their clients, announced today that they will be moving their architectural office to a new office building in southwest Columbia. The new office will be located in The Colonies development off Forum Boulevard. The firm expects to move into its new building around the end of the year.

“We’ve been experiencing some growing pains for a while now,” said Erik Miller, Principal Owner/Architect for the firm. “Like many of our clients, it’s about finding the right balance of space, using that space efficiently, and creating an environment that truly reflects our business. The decision to move away from downtown was a difficult one,” said Miller. “We have been in the heart of Columbia for 37 years. Our new location, though, will allow us room to grow and serve our clients better.”

The two-level office building will feature PWArchitects’ new office with additional lower-level units that will be available for lease. The exterior of the building is designed to blend with other neighboring buildings, while the interior of the office will reflect the firm’s architectural practice. At the center of the office will be glass-walled conference rooms with private and semi-private offices on the exterior walls. “The best view, though, will be from a deck off the kitchen breakroom,” says Miller. “Overlooking the nearby ravine will offer up opportunities to observe wildlife. Even better – we will be minutes from the MKT trail, which will be an added benefit for our employees to enjoy.”

One of the most important aspects of designing the new office was involving the staff throughout the process. Employees were offered the opportunity to collaborate through one-on-one interviews and group design sessions. “Working collaboratively with our clients is a natural part of our design process,” says Miller. “It just so happens that this time we were our own client. Like any client, we had to make a lot of difficult decisions. Now we are looking forward to seeing the results of our efforts.”