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 PLATZ ASSOCIATES is a
multidiscipline design firm with the experience and expertise to provide design and
development services for a wide variety of commercial, industrial, medical, retail and
residential projects. The professional staff of Platz Associates includes not only
architects and engineers, but also specialists in site evaluation, planning, permitting,
and construction. We offer a one stop design process which can take our clients from
initial concept to building occupancy.
Since incorporation in 1980, Platz Associates
has been involved in a wide variety of projects. These have ranged from residential
additions to large scale commercial projects, from adaptive reuse to new construction. We
are best known, perhaps, for our private sector office buildings such as Two Great Falls Plaza, the L.L. Bean
Telecommunications Center in the former Peck building, and the Peoples Heritage Bank operations center at the Bates Mill, and
for our work with private non-profit organizations such as Tri-County
Mental Health. Working with the private sector means working within well defined
budget constraints and providing design solutions that maximize value for the available
resources. It is our goal at Platz Associates to take a practical approach to design that
results in buildings that are not only functional and aesthetically pleasing, but also
fiscally responsible.
In addition to our commercial projects, Platz
Associates has experience in the design and construction of medical facilities. Among
these are 99 Campus Ave., a medical building at St. Mary's Hospital
in Lewiston; Androscoggin Home Health Services (33,000 sf), the headquarters for Tri-County Mental Health Services (32,000 sf), and numerous medical
offices in Central Maine. These and a representative sample of our other projects are
described in detail in Project Profiles.
We at Platz Associates stress programming as
the key component of a successful design process. In every project it is essential that
the designer include users as well as owners early in the design process. Good design is
the culmination of marrying ideas from knowledgeable users and experienced architects to
form functional and aesthetic environments. It is important to understand that it is more
often the proper design process that creates successful solutions rather than the
miraculous approach of one individual. It is our integrated team approach to design which
has resulted in so many successful projects during our sixteen years in business. From the
onset of a project our architects, design engineers, and construction engineers work
together to nurture ideas which will result in cost effective, buildable solutions to
challenging design programs. It is our ability to visualize the project as a total package
from concept design to a completely constructed and financed building that has earned us
praise from satisfied clients.
An example of the full range of our experience
and expertise is the headquarters building of Androscoggin Home Health
Services in Lewiston, Maine. This project consisted of integrating an existing turn of
the century building with a new structure to create office space for over three hundred
employees. Our role included site selection, site planning, development review,
permitting, building and interior design, and construction
management. A vital part of our role was working closely with employees to determine
how the design and space layout could best serve the needs of the employees while
improving the organizational structure. This building was completed on schedule and under
budget. We believe that this project provides Androscoggin Home Health Services with
efficiency of use and flexibility for future growth.
Principals of Platz Associates are James A. Platz, Registered Professional Engineer, and Thomas H. Platz, Registered Architect. Jim and Tom are
Auburn natives and each has over twenty years of professional experience. Working as an
integrated design team, both principals maintain close involvement in all projects. Their
resumes, as well as those of other key personnel, are included in the following pages.
Platz Associates makes use of the latest in
technology in the field of building design. A network of ten computers provide up to date
CAD programs as well as site design, cost estimating, engineering, financial project
analysis, and specification writing. Our data bases include the latest in product
specifications, product catalogs, and even the latest versions of national life safety
codes.
Please take the time to look at us more closely
through this web site and if interested call and arrange to visit us at our offices or we
would be happy to visit you where ever it is convenient. Hopefully, we at Platz Associates
can bring a fresh approach to your particular project based upon the depth of our
experience with different building types as well as our appreciation of budget
constraints, our emphasis on project programming, and our considerable knowledge and
understanding of the design and building process.
Thank you for your interest,
Thomas H. Platz, AIA
Two Great Falls Plaza
Auburn, Maine 04210
Tel 207.784.2941 - FAX 207.784.2942
email: architects@platzassociates.com
Copyright © 2002
Platz Associates
All Rights Reserved
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