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Larson & Darby Named Rockford Chamber Small Business of the Year

Larson & Darby Named Rockford Chamber Small Business of the Year Feb 2013

The Rockford area's largest architectural firm was honored today as the Rockford Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year. Larson & Darby Group is celebrating its 50th year in business. It was founded in 1963 by Larry Larson and Sam Darby and today has offices in Rockford, Peoria and St. Charles. The company's architects have designed buildings across the country and in countries in Europe, Asia and Central America.

News Items

   
Larson & Darby Group Wins Design Awards Feb 2013
Larson & Darby Group Wins Design Awards

The Northern Illinois chapter of the American Institute of Architects honored the Larson & Darby Group, for its design work on three local buildings. The company was presented with design awards for work done on Woodward in Loves Park, Field Fastener in Machesney Park and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford.

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SHERRY GAUMOND NAMED DIRECTOR OF INTERIOR DESIGN Jan 2013
SHERRY GAUMOND NAMED DIRECTOR OF INTERIOR DESIGN

Larson & Darby Group is excited to announce that Sherry L. Gaumond, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, has recently been appointed Director of Interior Design for the 50-person firm. A graduate of the Interior Architecture program at Northern Illinois University, Ms. Gaumond has been an Interior Designer with Larson & Darby Group for 17 years, overseeing all aspects of design and construction phases for interiors projects in multiple market sectors.

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LARSON & DARBY GROUP MAKES CONTRIBUTION TO BETTER SCHOOLS BRIGHTER FUTURE CAMPAIGN Oct 2012
LARSON & DARBY GROUP MAKES CONTRIBUTION TO BETTER SCHOOLS BRIGHTER FUTURE CAMPAIGN

Larson & Darby Group is pleased to announce the following:

Because of its ongoing and long standing commitment to the Rockford community, Alignment Rockford, Rockford Public School District 205, and the students and families it serves, Larson & Darby Group has made a $5,000 contribution to the “Better Schools Brighter Future Campaign.”  In the words of CEO, Bill Waldorf, “As a parent with three daughters in District 205 schools, I believe the school system needs to be one of our community’s best assets.  Larson & Darby Group is proud to support this important referendum and what it means for a brighter future for the District’s students for many years to come. Our best source of future architects and engineers is from the local region.  We need our schools to be of the highest standards to produce the next generation of skilled employees.”

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The Ax Collector Aug 2012
The Ax Collector

Now on display in Rockford: Cheap Trick rocker Rick Nielsen's legendary collection of guitars, driver's licenses and sweaters.  (more)

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East Side Transfer Center Videos Aug 2012
East Side Transfer Center Videos

The time has finally come. Watch the video to see what the new East Side Transfer Center has in store for the Rockford community.

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Larson & Darby Project is a Carbon Case Study Aug 2012
Larson & Darby Project is a Carbon Case Study
For more than two decades, the Northern Illinois Cancer Treatment Center has enabled cancer patients in the Sauk Valley area to receive quality treatment without the stress of traveling more than an hour to the nearest hospital. A joint venture between KSB Hospital in Dixon and CGH Medical Center in Sterling, the Cancer Center recently underwent a major expansion to accommodate new technologies and continue providing the best possible care for the community. (more)
   
Jennifer Deuth Fritts honored as outstanding member for Northern Illinois Chapter of the AIA Aug 2012
Jennifer Deuth Fritts honored as outstanding member for Northern Illinois Chapter of the AIA

The Northern Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects held its biennial honor awards for the area’s outstanding professionals as related to architecture. The recipients demonstrated leadership qualities in the chapter and have contributed to the advancement of the profession. Awards went to Jennifer Deuth Fritts, AIA at Larson & Darby Group for outstanding member

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Anderson named new partner at Larson & Darby Group Aug 2012
Anderson named new partner at Larson & Darby Group

Architectural firm Larson & Darby Group recently named Christopher W. Anderson as a new partner.

Anderson joined the firm in 2006 and holds a master's degree in architecture and a bachelor's degree in architectural studies from Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, respectively.

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Rockford Mass Transit District's center opens after 12-year drive Aug 2012
Rockford Mass Transit District's center opens after 12-year drive

They cut a ribbon and created transportation ties in the region Tuesday when Rockford Mass Transit District’s new $8.1 million East Side Transit Center officially opened.

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Grand Opening of East Side Transfer Center Aug 2012
Grand Opening of East Side Transfer Center

The Rockford Mass Transit District (RMTD) has announced the Grand Opening of the new East Side Transfer Center is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 22. (more)
   
Larson & Darby featured by Modern Machine Shop May 2012
Larson & Darby featured by Modern Machine Shop

Bill Waldorf and Larson & Darby Group's machine foundation design team were featured in Modern Machine Shop’s website blog.
   
Riverside Community Bank adding on to Perryville location May 2012
Riverside Community Bank adding on to Perryville location

Rockford-based Riverside Community Bank officially launched a 4,000-square-foot addition and remodeling project that will cost about $1.8 million.

Although work on the project started last week, bank, city and county officials came out Tuesday morning to "break ground" on a ceremonial pile of dirt.

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FIRE ALARM & MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS Apr 2012
FIRE ALARM & MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 from Noon – 1 p.m. Greg Small the Director of Technology for Larson & Darby Group will present a Lunchtime Roundtable Teleconference on behalf of the Northern Illinois CSI.  The teleconference will be on the topic of “FIRE ALARM & MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS”. To participate, contact Ken Moore at 815.498.1260, or e-mail him at usconsulting@earthlink.com (preferred).

  • 1 LU is available, please notify Ken Moore with your AIA member number if you would like credit:
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Old federal courthouse to be used as Juvenile Justice Center Nov 2011
Old federal courthouse to be used as Juvenile Justice Center
It’s just a week after the new federal courthouse was officially dedicated, and Winnebago County is wasting little time preparing to take over the feds’ old digs. It has hired Larson & Darby to design a plan to remodel the old courthouse, 211 S. Court St., into the county’s new Juvenile Justice Center. (more)
   
New CEO & President Named at Larson & Darby Group Nov 2011
New CEO & President Named at Larson & Darby Group

Larson & Darby Group and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce that William J. Waldorf, SE, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and Dan J. Roszkowski, AIA, NCARB, has been appointed President of the firm. Mr. Waldorf, both a licensed structural engineer and architect, joined Larson & Darby Group in 1984. A graduate of the University of Illinois, he most recently served as one of its Vice Presidents and as Secretary of the Board of Directors. Mr. Roszkowski, a licensed architect in over 30 states and also a graduate of the University of Illinois, has been with Larson & Darby Group since 1985. He most recently served as one of its Vice Presidents, the Director of Design, and the Vice President of the Board of Directors.
   
Plans for a New Production Center at Jhoole are Underway Jul 2011
Plans for a New Production Center at Jhoole are Underway
Designed pro-bono by Mike Olson of Rockford's Larson and Darby Group, the center will be as beautiful as it is functional. Fund-raising for the center is underway and we hope to start building by this time next year. The new facility will employ 500 women below the poverty line allowing them to send their children to school and achieve upward mobility for their families and communities. (more) (images)
   
Will BIM Make CAD Irrelevant? At Larson & Darby, the Answer Is 'No' Jul 2011
Will BIM Make CAD Irrelevant? At Larson & Darby, the Answer Is 'No'
Building information modeling (BIM) seemingly is ubiquitous in design firms today. Large, medium, and small firms are using it. Clients increasingly are asking for it. There's no doubt that its rendering and integration capabilities are unsurpassed, and its life-cycle planning potential as of yet isn't fully realized. So, then, with all that power, should we assume that traditional 2D programs such as AutoCAD eventually will go the way of the dodo? (more)
   
Rock River Water Reclamation wins ALA Merit Award Jul 2011
Rock River Water Reclamation wins ALA Merit Award
The ALA held its 12th annual Design Awards and recognized excellent use of architecture. Among the many awards given out, Larson & Darby Group received a Merit Award in the Commercial category for its design of the Rock River Water Reclamation District’s administration facility. (more)
   
LDG’s Rock River Water Reclamation District project featured in Illinois Municipal League Magazine Jul 2011
LDG’s Rock River Water Reclamation District project featured in Illinois Municipal League Magazine
"We begin each project with a blank slate," says Dan Roszkowski, vice president of Larson & Darby Group. "This particular project presented a couple of new, interesting challenges, in that the facility not only had to be functional for staff and fulfill day-to-day operations, but also serve as an education tool for the community." (more)
   
Colonial Café in St. Charles, IL set to open Jul 2011
Colonial Café in St. Charles, IL set to open
"The challenge for us was to give the store a new identity without veering too far away from the familiar," said Tom Mahaffey, lead architect/designer on the project. "Colonial Cafes are an icon in the Tri-Cities business community, and enjoy a long and loyal relationship with its customers." (more)
   
Woodward breaks ground on turbine testing laboratory Jul 2011
Woodward breaks ground on turbine testing laboratory
Almost two years to the day that Woodward Governor first announced a $50 million plan to expand its landmark plant, the company announced — once again — its plans to break ground on the project’s centerpiece. Woodward is investing $21.2 million in a 47,700-square-foot engine systems test facility, company officials announced Wednesday. The building will have 12 environmental testing cells and a vibration lab so engineers can simulate flight conditions. (more)
   
Larson & Darby Group wins AIA Northern Illinois Chapter "Award of Excellence" Jul 2011
Larson & Darby Group wins AIA Northern Illinois Chapter "Award of Excellence"
At a ceremony on June 19, 2010, Larson & Darby Group received four major awards from the Northern Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Judged by a jury of distinguished peers, the awards are among the most prestigious offered by a chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
   
Larson & Darby part of design team for Mitsubishi plant in Georgia Jul 2011
Larson & Darby part of design team for Mitsubishi plant in Georgia
The joint venture of H.J. High Construction Co. of Orlando and Batson-Cook Co. of Atlanta was recently awarded the contract to build what will be known as Mitsubishi Power Systems Savannah Machinery Works….Those firms, along with Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung of Savannah and Larson & Darby Group of Rockford, Ill., will work together on the new plant, which will manufacture gas and steam turbines and refurbish rotors and other power generation equipment. (more)
   
LDG’s FHN project wins Midwest Construction Award of Merit Jul 2011
LDG’s FHN project wins Midwest Construction Award of Merit
FHN’s Burchard Family Healthcare Center in Freeport, Ill., received Midwest Construction magazine’s Best of 2008 Award of Merit in the small healthcare project category. The winners, including FHN, will be featured in the December issue of Midwest Construction and honored at an award luncheon that same month in Chicago.
   
Larson & Darby honored for Excellence in Architecture Jul 2011
Larson & Darby honored for Excellence in Architecture
Larson & Darby Group, a full-service architectural, engineering, planning and technology firm with offices in Rockford, Peoria and St. Charles, received two American Institute of Architects awards for excellence in architecture. (more)
   
LDG’s Rock River Water Reclamation District Project Featured in Illinois Municipal League Magazine Jul 2011
LDG’s Rock River Water Reclamation District Project Featured in Illinois Municipal League Magazine
“We begin each project with a blank slate,” says Dan Roszkowski, vice president of Larson & Darby Group. “This particular project presented a couple of new, interesting challenges, in that the facility not only had to be functional for staff and fulfill day-to-day operations, but also serve as an education tool for the community.” (more)