The old Van Auken Akins Architects, rebranded in 2024 as DVA Architecture, is moving to new digs in the Halle Building but staying in Downtown Cleveland’s Playhouse Square district (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Ex-Van Auken Akins Architects makes moves
A growing, rebranded architectural firm can seem a little more fresh when it sheds its old digs and moves into new offices, especially when it gets the chance to design them. So when the opportunity arose to gain a new address, DVA Architecture LLC decided to draw.
In early 2027, the former Van Auken Akins Architects LLC will open its new 9,648-square-foot office on the fifth floor of the 12-story Halle Building, 1228 Euclid Ave., in Downtown Cleveland’s Playhouse Square district.
DVA isn’t moving far. In fact, it’s staying in Playhouse Square and keeping a Euclid Avenue address. Its current home is on the 14th floor of the 16-story Hanna Building, 1422 Euclid, where DVA has been since 2011.
The architectural and construction management firm was founded in 1992 by Jill Van Auken Marous with an office in Beachwood. Christopher Dewey took over as president in 2023 and Marous retired the following year.
“This move was prompted by the end of our current lease and an opportunity to rethink what we wanted our workplace to be moving forward,” said DVA’s Marketing Director Madalyn Norman in an e-mail to NEOtrans.
This view of DVA Architecture’s new office at the Halle Building shows its work cafe (DVA).
“Following our rebrand in 2024, we wanted to create a more modern space that reflects our new branding, better supports the evolving needs of our employees, and provides an elevated experience for our clients,” she added.
The firm, which specializes in interior design, is handling its own office renovation project. It has an estimated price tag of $1.5 million, according to a permit application submitted to the Cleveland Building Department last week.
“We also saw the move as an opportunity for our office to be a true reflection of our capabilities and to showcase our work and design expertise, while also creating a space that represents this new era for our firm,” Norman said.
That renovation work involves not only cosmetic upgrades, but associated mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements, as well, public records show.
“The office space at the Halle Building best aligned with our needs and our vision for where we want to position ourselves in the coming years,” Norman said.
The entry to DVA Architecture’s new downtown offices also shows a front desk, work stations, huddle rooms and modern, clean lines (DVA).
“As we continue to grow, it was important that our new workplace could accommodate that growth and provide the flexibility we need for the future,” she said.
Norman noted that DVA’s office staff is currently at 23 employees. Norman described the company’s growth in recent years as steady — something which she foresees as continuing into the near future.
“We have hired six full-time employees since 2023 and we are actively hiring,” she explained. “We are looking to expand our team in the coming years as we take on more projects.”
Recent projects spearheaded by DVA Architecture are the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s resource center project or the new Susie’s Bear Hollow at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
And it has partnered with different firms on other projects like the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Center Court Team Shop, in collaboration with Populous and Snarkitecture. It also worked on the Progressive Field renovations with Manica.
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