Robert Maschke Architects Inc., based in Cleveland, Ohio, received an Honor Award at the 2008 AIA / IIDA Annual Cleveland Design Awards Program. RMA earned the only Honor Award for Design-Built Work Category for the C-House  The jury was chaired by Frano Violich, AIA, Principal of Kennedy & Violich Architecture, Ltd. Located in Boston, Massachusetts. The Awards program was held on the tenth floor of the historic Higbee Building.

“The project is formally confident, a strong sense of "the urban", especially for a single family home. There is an aspiration for affordable living, a general sense of optimism; the project shows that marginal, even unbuildable sites can be considered for development”.

Frano Violich, AIA, Jury Chairman

An Interview with Robert Maschke

At the age of 41 Robert Maschke owns an architectural firm in one of the only areas in Cleveland where real estate values are on the rise. Maschke also owns an Art Gallery in the same trendy Cleveland area. Mashke purchased the two buildings that house the businesses for less than $150,000 combined. Now new homes constructed in the area range in value from $300,000 to over one million dollars. Robert Maschke Architects Inc. is currently designing, developing and constructing three, million dollar homes in the same neighborhood which have picturesque views of Lake Erie, marinas, and downtown Cleveland. Additionally, RMA has completed work for a wide range of public and private clients, which include universities, museums and corporations.

While at first glance people may think Maschke is a good architect who got lucky, upon closer examination one realizes that every aspect of his business was built upon his experiences. When only 14 years old, Robert started working in an architectural firm in Cleveland. After graduating Kent State University, Maschke joined a prominent award-winning firm in downtown Cleveland where he began working on high profile projects like churches, corporate headquarters, colleges and museums.

In 1990, at the age of 24, Robert left the firm for an opportunity to manage a 45 million dollar public housing development for the local housing authority. Maschke’s work garnered local, national, and international attention and was rewarded with a promotion to Chief of Design and Project Management for the authority, managing a budget of $500 million in design and development. Six years later, Maschke returned to the  firm where he started, however this time as a partner. Within the year he left to start his own architectural practice. The firm got off to a good start but after 9/11 things where so bad that in 2002 he didn’t pay himself. But never laid off an employee and always made payroll. By 2003 the economy had turned around and Robert Maschke Architects Inc. was designing larger projects again.
As a side note, Robert Maschke Architects Inc. just completed, this past month, 4 commissions on time and under budget.

Dennis Gartland – Why would you leave a high profile, successful practice in which you were a partner?
Robert Maschke – It was about process and client interaction. Robert Maschke Architects Inc. is structured on a client referral business model. My previous partnership exhausted the proposal process.
DG – Was it difficult to start your firm?
RM – “In November 1997, I decided to take some time off until the beginning of the year and then two clients called, one in San Francisco and the other in Tierra Verde, Florida. I explained I was now on my own; they still wanted me to work for them.And, I ended up splitting time between Florida, California, and Ohio. In Florida I rode the wave of real estate growth in Southwest Florida utilizing technology (laptop and cell phone) to stay connected while establishing a client base.”

DG – What was your biggest challenge?
RM- “After 9/11 everything came to a screeching halt, 2002 was brutal. In early 2003 RMA just completed a project with Aramark, they then introduced  the firm to Cuyahoga Community College to redesign and manage food service projects on three of its campuses. Then, things really turned around. Through the tough times I never laid off anybody. Retaining my staff was important and although I did not receive a salary in 2002, I made sure my employees were paid.”

DG – Where do you stand in your architectural career now?
RM – “I am 41 years old, I have 10 years of work behind RMA. Many architects aren’t taken seriously until they are in their 50’s.”

DG – What initially drew you to construct your first office in Ohio City? (A now trendy area of Cleveland, home to nice restaurants and landmarks such as John Heisman’s birthplace, The West Side Market and The Great Lakes Brewery.)
RM – “I used to think having an office in the city center was important. While I was working in San Francisco I noticed that start-up companies would go into marginal areas and non-traditional spaces. Repurpose a rejected space and express their creative side. Our first space was in a manufacturing warehouse. The building was distraught but when clients came to our studio on the second floor they found a welcoming space. It was a nice contrast.”

DG – What prompted you to move out of the Ohio City neighborhood?
RM – “although it is still a nice neighborhood, Over time Ohio City became too gentrified. Gentrification brings many more visitors and parking became a problem. Around the same time, there were many opportunities to invest in the adjacent neighborhood of Detroit Shoreway.”

DG – How could you tell that Detroit Shoreway was on the rise?
RM .  “It is the oldest Theater District in Cleveland and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Within the center of the neighborhood is the Gordon Square Arts District, which is home to the award winning and critically, acclaimed Cleveland Public Theater.”

DG – How did you choose your building?
RM – “RMA was the first private investor in the area and we had our choice of buildings. We bought the two buildings for less than $150,000. and have put over a half a million dollars into the buildings since 2002.”

DG- How has the neighborhood changed since you moved?
RM – “The local non-profit development group has done a wonderful job. Additionally, Robert Maschke Architects has also made an impact by working with clients within the neighborhood such as the Friendship Foundation, a no-profit organization which works to promote American and Vietnamese relationships. RMA designed for them Saigon Village. Next door to our studio and gallery is a very successful bakery / coffee house. Battery Park is under development just to the north with over $110 million worth of Condominiums and lofts rising up over Lake Erie.“

DG – Why did you start 1point618 gallery?
RM – “As architects we are always sourcing art for our clients. When the space was being designed, I didn’t want to put professional staff in a retail space. Ideas for the storefront were debated and the concept of a gallery was decided upon. The intent was to utilize 1point618 as a marketing arm for the architectural firm. Clients like us to visit them and the gallery gave us a reason to host them 3 to 4 times per year through art openings.”

DG – You have had several successful shows. What has been the key to your success at the gallery?
RM – “While traveling in Greece in 2001 I befriended Christos Koutsouras, an internationally famous Greek artist from the island of Samos. When Christos  learned that I was opening a gallery he contacted me and insisted that he be the first to show. The Cleveland Plain Dealer picked up the story and published a full color story on the front page of the Arts Section the morning of the opening. The show opened that evening with several hundred attending. The gallery has since received critical acclaim for all of its shows since.”

DG – Any other secrets to owning a gallery?
RM – “The most important thing is to always show the highest quality art, even if the artist isn’t well known. Other artists, patrons and collectors will respect the gallery and support it.”

DG – The space is very nice; I understand it has won awards?
RM – “The gallery won the American Institute of Architecture design award for interiors. That year there were 150 submittals. The AIA only gave out two awards for interiors, one for 1point618 gallery and the other for another of Robert Maschke Architects’ commissions,  Swingo’s’ Grand Tavern. You may remember the original, Swingo’s Keg and Quarter was featured  in the movie, Almost Famous.”

DG – What has contributed to your success as an architect?
RM – “Robert Maschke Architects Inc. is a progressive design studio, which offers professional services in the disciplines of architecture, interiors, planning, and graphics. RMA’s engagement across multiple disciplines reinforces our aspiration to produce intriguing and sophisticated design solutions, irrespective of the medium, scale or type of project.”

“Robert Maschke Architects Inc. generates designs which are honed specifically to client’s needs and desires; each project comes into being as a new and creative exploration. RMA translates this design philosophy globally, and have completed projects internationally, nationally, and locally. This global perspective continues to shape and inform our studios design methodology, allowing RMA Inc. to more effectively service clients.”

“Robert Maschke Architects inc. cares about providing the best professional design service and is committed to delivering it.“