by David Chapman
Staff Writer
When Paul Basham and Mike Lucas accepted a Grand Special Judges Aurora Award for their work on Eagle Landing, it was by (and for) design. The two, along with the rest of Basham & Lucas Design Group, were recognized at the Southeast Builders Conference in Orlando for their work on the OakLeaf Plantation master community .
“We wanted to capture people’s attention as they entered (Eagle Landing),” said Basham. “It was sort of a ‘front door’ mentality with the amenities center, golf and village atmosphere right there.”
The group is based in Jacksonville and specializes in themed architecture, land and master planning, signage and landscape design in markets “anywhere east of the Mississippi River,” according to Basham.
They brought home four Aurora awards – one for pool and landscape design, one for recreational facility, a Grand Aurora for recreational facility clubhouse and the Special Judges Award. The latter was a high point to a very successful ceremony.
“It was definitely an honor to be recognized like that,” said Basham. “It’s inspiring to us.”
The special award was for Eagle Landing, a community they master-planned completely, from the architecture, landscaping, signage, construction administration to the maintenance programming.
The group was founded by Basham in 1998 and Lucas joined several months later. The two were not unfamiliar – they’re cousins.
Both were born in Kentucky and went to different colleges. Basham attended the University of Florida while Lucas stayed in his home state and went to the University of Kentucky. The SEC rivalry that comes from the two basketball and football programs doesn’t carry over into the office, but sometimes the quips are present.
“He’s gotten me the last couple years,” said Lucas, smiling in reference to the Gators beating the Wildcats. “But I’ll get him soon.”
The group has 15 employees, each with a different speciality they bring to the process. Even with success, Basham said he doesn’t foresee expanding too much.
“I think we’ll keep it pretty much the way it is,” said Basham. “We have some great, talented people...[and] if we got too big, I’d have to manage more. I love to draw, I don’t love to manage.”
Though expansion isn’t on the horizon, the focus of the projects the group takes in is. With the slower trend in the residential marketplace, Basham said that they are focusing more on commercial properties and larger-scale resorts. He does foresee the market picking back up, possibly to the point where it once was.
“When the housing market boomed, it was so robust that we couldn’t draw quick enough,” said Basham.
Individuality for each project is key, he said, and inspiration and creativity come in many forms.
“Everything,” said Lucas. “It’s all around us. From different magazines to traveling, architecture is everywhere.”
Basham agrees.
“I take a lot of pictures of different things when I travel,” he said, then added, “My wife gets on to me about it sometimes.”
More projects around Northeast Florida should have Basham & Lucas Design Group’s thumb print on it.
“Jacksonville will always be the best kept secret in the area,” said Basham. “We just have to keep thinking outside the box.”