Today we’d like to introduce you to Elissa Scrafano.
She is the principal and founder of Scrafano Architects.
She has been practicing architecture for more than 25 years and is a registered architect in Illinois, Michigan, and California. Elissa received a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a concentration in art history, and a Master’s in Architecture from SCI-Arc in Los Angeles. Before establishing her own business, she worked at the offices of Frank O. Gehry and Associates, Eric Owen Moss Architects, Narduli Grinstein Architects, and Landworth Debolske Architects.
Scrafano Architects was established twenty years ago designing corporate offices, commercial retail boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and residential projects of all sizes and scales including new construction, renovation and restoration. Their work appears throughout the globe commissioned by clients from all over the world. The firm has received several AIA Design Awards and has been featured in Dwell, The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Social, Western Interiors, Chicago Tribune, Midwest Home, and other publications.
Scrafano Architects is one office with two locations – Los Angeles and Chicago. Both offices work together as one team sharing efforts, knowledge, and ideas in a collaborative studio environment that encourages open exchange. The majority of the designers are women with specialized talents that range from architecture, interior design, space planning, color theory, furniture and landscape design, sustainability, painting, graphics, music, and writing. They draw from broad and diverse experiences during the entire design process and are practicing architects, educators, and active in community outreach.
Elissa is honored to be appointed to the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Commission by Mayor Eric Garcetti, and previously served on the Cultural Heritage Commission.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
A solo proprietorship is always a challenge. Additionally, we have a flex-time office with many part-time consultants – moms who have kids in school who come in early and leave at 3 pm, others who have their own projects on the side, others who teach, etc., and we try to accommodate everyone and everything. Our clients know this about us and we try to be as communicative as possible so that expectations are met.
Please tell us about Scrafano Architects.
Scrafano Architects is one office with two locations… one in Los Angeles and the other in Chicago. Both offices work together as one team sharing efforts, knowledge and ideas.
We work side by side in a studio environment which encourages open exchange and dialogue. We are primarily women and working mothers.
I want to thank every one of our incredible team members who work with us today and in the past, each one of you are a pleasure to work with and I am so lucky to design for you each day.
They are the force behind the work that is displayed above. My name is on the masthead but it is their talent, expertise, and effort that gets everything built.
Any project or office strength and success is not based on one person’s vision or effort. We believe when you work together as a team and collaborate you can achieve a successful project, create a better work environment, and live a richer life.
Many of our team members have known me and each other for more than two decades which allows for efficiency in working together, solving and sharing design solutions and drawing from each other’s broad experiences and backgrounds.
We specialize in residential architectural interior renovation, but we have done many grounds up as well and have projects all over the country. We love to do retail and offices and most of our clients are repeat clients.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
We just need more time in the day and I’m not sure I can go back and fix that!
Contact Info:
- Address: Chicago 1620 West Carroll Avenue, 2nd floor
Chicago IL 60612Los Angeles 5770 1/2 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90019 - Website: www.scrafano.net
- Phone: 312-929-3210, 323-954-6464
- Email: info@scrafano.net
- Instagram: scrafanoarchitects
- Facebook: ScrafanoArchitects facebook.com/escrafano
- Twitter: twitter@escrafano
Image Credit:
Catherine Tighe
Jim Tschetter
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