ADVERTISMENT
Veteran architects team up again
11
In the spring of 1979, a seasoned
architect and businessman
traveled to the
University of Florida to interview
a young master’s degree
candidate in the College of
Architecture for a position in
his firm. The offer was made
and accepted, and thus
began the relationship
between the mentor, Dick
Stebbins, and the student,
George Powell. And the relationship
lives on today, yet
with a twist.
An Orlando native, Powell
was eager to learn the business
and practice of architecture
in a “hands on” environment.
“I had offers from several
firms around the state, but I
ended up choosing a small
firm in the town with the philosophy
that I would get much
more time working directly
with the firms principals and
experience a wider variety of
project types with greater
responsibilities,’’ says Powell.
He went on to head up several
large projects for the firm, and
in July of 1981, he became a
licensed architect.
In late 1982, Powell
received an offer from an
architectural and planning
firm in his hometown of
Orlando. So after almost four
years under Stebbins tutelage,
Powell moved back to
Orlando.
It only took Powell another
two years to decide he wanted
to control his own destiny,
so at the age of 30 in 1984,
he started his own practice
now known as Powell Design
Group, Inc. Now, after running
the firm for nearly 24 years
and being one of the topranked
and award-winning
firms in Orlando, Powell’s
Orlando firm of designers and
architects has opened a
branch office in Fort Pierce,
with Dick Stebbins as its
regional director.
“When I first approached
Dick with this proposition, I
was unsure how he would
react,’’ Powell recalls. “But to
my pleasant surprise, he was
very enthusiastic about the
opportunity.’’ Moving forward
with this was an easy decision
because of the Stebbins /
Powell relationship and
because of the project Powell
Design Group had designed
for the Downtown Fort Pierce
Historic District, the
Renaissance on the River,
scheduled to open this spring.
The firm will be moving into
its new fourth-floor office in
the Renaissance Business
Center in April when completed.
Powell and Stebbins hope
the firm can be a valued partner
in the further development
of downtown Fort Pierce and
of St. Lucie County.
The firm is currently working
on schematics to renovate
the now-vacant SunTrust
Building. It also has been
involved in the analysis of the
proposed downtown Fort
Pierce Hotel, and has been
selected to work with the City
of Fort Pierce Downtown
Redevelopment Agency.
Celebrating its 24th year of
“creating successful environments”
for clients, the firm is
well-known for its expertise in
high-end multi-family and
timeshare projects, hotels,
restaurants and entertainment
venues, and commercial
architecture, including
corporate offices and retail
complexes.
In January of 2007 the
Jacksonville architectural firm
DesignWorks Architects
merged with Powell Design
Group. The firm was headed
by Al Rodriguez, a 35-year
friend and fraternity brother
of Powell. The merger brings
expertise in school design,
municipal projects and the
banking industry to the
Powell Design Group firm.
Powell’s firm now services
its clients with offices in
Orlando, Jacksonville and
Fort Pierce with 27 employees
made up of registered
architects and interior designers,
accredited LEED AP
architects, designers, graphic
specialists, technical production
experts and administrative
professionals.
“At the end of the day”,
Powell says, “despite all the
technical expertise and professional
registrations, our
business is a relationship
based business, and my personal
respect and relationship
with Dick as my mentor,
my friend, and now business
partner is what really matters
to me.”
Dick Stebbins and George Powell
Renaissance courtyard view
The Renaissance on the River is scheduled to be completed in April 2008
St. Mark’s Anglican Church
Completed 2005
Jupiter Ocean Grande
Completed 2003