Legat Architects, an architecture and interior design firm, is celebrating its first decade of doing business in the Quad Cities.
A 10-year anniversary celebration and open house is set for 3:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at the Legat office, located at 1515 5th Ave. in Suite 108 at Heritage Place in downtown Moline. There will be a 10-year plaque presentation at 3:30 p.m., and open house activities after that.
Maria Osterberg, business development director for Legat, said the business has continued to grow over the years because of a simple philosophy: Put the clients first.
“It’s the client’s project – not ours. We are great listeners,” she added.
That client-comes-first philosophy has helped the company land many key projects in the past 10 years. According to the company’s website, some of those local clients and projects include:
- Ascentra Credit Union’s new office building in Bettendorf.
- Augustana College, Rock Island.
- The Element hotel in downtown Moline.
- The new YMCA facility in Eldridge.
- Nine school districts in the region.
- Hyatt Place/Hyatt House at The Bend in East Moline.
“There’s quite a few cool things we’ve got to be part of in the past several years,” Ms. Osterberg said.
During the upcoming open house, visitors will be able to get a look at some of those many “cool” projects, she added. The company recently had an artistic version of a large map of the Quad Cities installed to showcase the many projects Legat has helped build or transform.
Legat’s portfolio of clients and projects include: commercial, education, government, hospitality, transportation facilities and more.
The Moline office has come a long way in 10 years. When Legat opened that office, it was a one-man shop with just a few clients.
“Ten years ago, architect Jeff Sandberg wore a construction helmet and sat in a camping chair at a makeshift desk,” according to information on the company’s website. “Around him, construction crews worked on transforming insurance company offices in Legat Architects’ new Quad Cities studio in Moline.”
Also in the website’s information, Mr. Sandberg said when Chicago-based Legat opened shop in Moline 10 years ago, times were tough and there seemed to be little growth. “I was the firm’s Quad Cities guy, so it was really a sink or swim scenario,” he recalled.
“Now there’s a lot of growth here and we’re at the heart of a vibrant downtown with ever-strengthening connections to our Quad Cities neighbors,” Mr. Sandberg added.
In addition to the Moline location, Legat has offices in Iowa City; Columbus, Ohio; Oak Brook, Illinois; Gurnee, Illinois; and Chicago. The company has about 85 employees across the six offices and about 12 employees in the Moline office.
For more on Legat Architects, go to www.legat.com.
