by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
In the summer of 1999, architect Ted Pappas took a chance and merged with an architectural firm — JSA — based in Portsmouth, N.H. The result was the creation of Pappas/JSA.
Since the merger, the firm has moved to LaVilla and built a new facility. It also made the final four of the library design competition, losing to eventual winner, the Robert A.M. Stern firm.
The latest development involves little more than having to change business cards, company letterhead and the way the phone is answered. But, in becoming just JSA with Jacksonville as the Southeast region’s headquarters, the firm is laying the groundwork for expansion all over the country.
Rose Zurawski, the COO of JSA, said there are no short-term plans to establish another JSA office in the Southeast but that won’t deter the firm from seeking work in the region.
“There will not be another physical office, but we will expand where we do projects,” said Zurawski, who joined the firm from the Marriott, where she ran the Southeast division for the hotel chain.
In JSA, Pappas is partnering with a firm that has many more similarities than differences. JSA has three main areas of focus — health care, senior living and educational facilities — all of which mesh with what Pappas has been doing for years. When JSA set its sights on Jacksonville, a professional headhunter approached Pappas about the merger. He weighed the options and realized the time was right for his firm to move in another direction.
“Our firm was approximately 15 people and we were interested in a greater capacity,” said Pappas. “We found were bumping up against larger firms with greater capacities and larger portfolios, firms like KBJ and RS&H.”
Shortly after the merger, Pappas realized the decision was the right one.
“I think so,” said Pappas. “I think we have had a revolution in the firm. The technology JSA brought to the table was very sophisticated. So was the methodology and the people. They have brought in some quality people since the merger.”
Representatives from JSA are just as complimentary of Pappas and his team in Jacksonville. Although the original agreement called for the
Pappas name to eventually be removed from the firm’s title, Pappas still has plenty of say at the firm.
“Ted is very much involved and brought in some wonderful people,” said Kathleen Soldati, director of marketing for JSA, who is in town this week along with other Portsmouth JSA representatives.
Soldati said JSA purposefully went after the Pappas firm for two reasons: not only were they professionally compatible, Jacksonville represented everything JSA wanted in a southern market.
“The firm is focused on quality of life issues. In the headquarters in Portsmouth there are bicycles hanging in the lobby. Jacksonville fit that profile for them,” said Soldati, adding that Pappas himself was a selling point. “Ted has a national reputation. Ted was president of the American Institute of Architecture when JSA approached him. We see a lot of promise here.”
In addition to Zurawski, another major addition to the local office is Mark Meatte, whose health care background will compliment JSA’s health care design facet.
“He has a very broad, very deep background in Florida health care,” said Soldati. “He currently heads our efforts at St. Vincent’s where we are doing phase I of the heart center.”
Pappas said JSA was also considering two other Southern cities, but opted for the lifestyle and growth potential that Jacksonville offered.
“They liked Jacksonville better than Atlanta or Charlotte,” said Pappas. “They liked the temperature, the culture, the river, the water.”