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SRBL Architects was founded in 1971
by Ted Sente and Joe Rubel. The two founding Principals met
while working at a Skokie architectural firm. One day, faced
with the decision of moving with the practice to Florida or
changing their jobs, Ted and Joe decided to take a risk and
start their own firm. With one client, two employees (themselves)
and a small office in Glenview, a seed was planted.
SRBL was originally a general practice
architecture firm. However, the company soon began to specialize
in airport and recreational design, particularly YMCAs. During
a 15-year span, SRBL worked for United Airlines and several
other commercial carriers at O'Hare International Airport,
renovating concourses, terminals and hangars while their clients
were in continual operation. The firm's largest single project
was a $40 million underground baggage handling facility for
American Airlines.
In 1985, the firm's first park district
client saw one of SRBL's completed YMCAs and commissioned
them to design a new community center. With this project,
SRBL's practice began to expand further into recreation by
serving the park district industry. Once this market began
to flourish, park district clients started talking to their
peers at other local governmental entities so SRBL's practice
blossomed into serving a wide variety of local public clients
including village/cities, library districts, fire districts,
and school districts.
Ted Sente retired in 1996, Joe Rubel retired in 2004, and John Bosman left the firm in 2006. SRBL is currently in their third generation of ownership.
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