St Paul's YouTube Video

Bravo Lennox Town Center

An update to an earlier post....On the Boards. Below are photos taken today of the Bravo Cucina Italiana restaurant going in at the former site of Baja Sol Lennox Town Center.



Before construction



Meleca Architecture design




Current construction



The restaurant is on target for end-of-year opening.

St. Paul's Status

Latest job site photo's from St. Paul's in Westerville, Ohio.  The crew is on target to have the exterior completed by November so Winter months can be spent working on the interior. 

Office History

Since our work constantly focuses on creating a sense of place, I thought I'd feature our place, the Meleca office. 



144 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio

According to the Franklin County Auditor's site, in 1923, the building was owned by Columbus attorney Rutherford H. Platt who owned extensive real estate throughout Columbus. 



Rutherford H. Platt





144 E State Street on far left



Platt's mother was sister to U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes.  The auditor site indicates Platt heirs owned the building until the year 2000.

The date of the above photo is unknown and our search for more have been unsuccessful.   This view is looking northwest from the intersection of E. State and 4th Street.  If you look closely, you can see awnings on the front windows.  We hope to replicate one day.

We purchased the downtown office building four years ago.  After a year of extensive renovations - we moved in. 



Entry before





Entry after



We kept as much of the original structure as we could.  And our traditional style is expressed throughout.  

Lobby before

Lobby after



Board Room



Library



Agora looking into Drafting Room



Drafting Room before



Drafting Room after

The drafting room features original wood rafters and an exposed steel truss which was discovered during demolition.  Skylight was added during construction.

Rooted in Classicism

Classical architecture is more than a decorative style - it is a method of thinking and a system of organization.  It possesses a renewable vitality to provide a powerful aesthetic and organizational tool for the modern architect.  Ordering principles of Classicism can be applied to today's tasks of city design, land planning and building design as well as the final architectural details of a project.  You can and should have organization in today's architecture.

Classical design embraces humanness by celebrating tradition and history.  Tradition and history allow humans to relate to architecture and to find a 'sense of place' in it.  Our mission as architect is to exploit the vast historical resources found in the designs of Classical architecture. 


I-670 Cap, Columbus, Ohio



Some critics say this style of architecture is of no use in today's modern world - that architecture should be a reflection of social issues of its time.  Therefore, they argue, how can we possibly look 'backward' as reference in designing structures which reflect today's world? They ask, 'how is that modern?'

Below are examples of what some consider architecture for today's society.  Do these building offer a sense of place?  Do they communicate order?

I realize defining 'good architecture' is subjective.  In my opinion, buildings like these are more sculpture like, and should be treated as such.  It's not to say there isn't a place for them, but would you want a city full of this type of architecture?

Architecture involves both the aesthetic and the practical.  More simply stated, it must possess both beauty and function. 'Beauty' may encompass color, rhythm, material and form while 'function' relates to utility, budget, comfort and sustainability. The architect must seek a balance among these forces.

From our knowledge and enthusiasm for the buildings of the past, we can find inspiration and direction to create traditional solutions to the modern tasks of planning and architecture today.



Easton Town Apartments, Columbus, Ohio