SKB Architecture & Design completed a project for the World Bank in Madagascar in 2001, which is widely recognized as a building that retains the traditional look of the area.

For the past 25 years, SKB Architecture & Design says it has developed a reputation for using creative design strategies. President Mark Baughman says the company's relatively small size has allowed it to operate with a level of flexibility that often cannot be found in larger corporations.

"I think we are extremely innovative about the way we approach our clients' problems," he explains. "We approach each project with a balance of innovation and maturity, so that in the end, there's a very strong artistic and intellectual combination that's balanced by our experience."

SKB's creative design strategies allow it to work with a variety of client types. Although it performs a great deal of work for law firms and large corporations, the company also works with nonprofit organizations on limited budgets. "We worked on a project for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which required us to focus on what the client truly needs," Baughman says. "There was a lot of pressure in this project, because every penny we spent was taking away from finding a missing child.

"But in the end, the project helped us focus on what's important to the client, rather than expressing ourselves creatively for our own sake. I think we brought a lot of energy to the project, and built something that's going to last well into the future." In addition, the company's reputation for success is widely recognized throughout the region.

"Recently, a contractor approached us and said we do the best working drawings in town," Baughman says. "We hear comments like that quite often, and hope to continue hearing them in the future."

International Ventures
As SKB expands its project portfolio to include international jobs, its strategy is to design buildings that fit into each unique environment. It completed a project for the World Bank in Madagascar in 2001, which is widely recognized as a building that retains the traditional look of the area.

"Most architecture in Madagascar is either an island vernacular characterized by masonry, concrete walls and free-form roofs, or some sort of colonial import from France," Baughman says. "We felt the foreign imports were demeaning to the people of Madagascar, but the country did not have an architecture of its own for big public buildings. "People in Madagascar recognize the project as a great national building, rather than an American import," Baughman continues. "Little do they know that this great Malagasy building was built by an American guy from Ohio. As a company, we're just proud of the fact that we're able to complete this type of project successfully.

"There aren't many companies out there that can hop a plane out to Madagascar and design this type of project."

When Baughman and his design team flew to the island nation, they spent a great deal of time studying the architecture and style of existing structures to ensure the project look authentic. "We camped out for a couple weeks and tried to go through the cleansing process to get away from American-style architecture, to make sure we could produce an authentic building," Baughman says.

"Eventually, we came up with a design that we thought fit in and looked good in the area," he continues. "In Washington, D.C., the design would look strange, but we used materials from the area such as bent timber to make sure it looks authentic."

Overseas Expansion
In addition, SKB takes the opportunity to teach overseas builders new techniques. "In each location we go to, we try to work with them to figure out what they can and cannot do," Baughman says. "Our approach is to just try to teach them new techniques that they might not be familiar with.

"We did a project in Bangladesh, and introduced builders to LEED design, working in everything from recycled materials to high-performance glazing and natural light systems."

Focus on Functionality
Regardless of the project's location, SKB says, it focuses on the human element and functionality of the design. "We think about our clients and the people who will actually be working in the space," Baughman says. "I think that, too often, we as designers get too caught up in how interesting a piece of furniture might look, instead of how human interaction works in the office environment.

"Of course it has to look beautiful and right for the client, but it has to feel beautiful as well."

Equally important to the layout of the office are the materials the company uses. Baughman says SKB is on the cutting-edge of green design, and has developed one of the industry's first libraries containing only LEED-approved materials. "We're trying to change the human engineering so that our designers can pick from a library that's already been approved for green design without making that a deliberate decision," he explains. "If those materials don't work for the client, the designers can go pick other materials from a different library."

Staying Within Budget
Although many clients view green design as a more expensive form of building, SKB is working to break down that misconception.

"We take a common sense approach by making sure the client knows we're looking after their budget, and that green building is not necessarily going to cost more than if we were to use different materials," Baughman says. "We try to explain the cost savings in the long run and that, from my point of view, creating an environmentally-conscious space is like saying 'the building really needs to stand up.'"