TDA was originally founded as Huston Associates in 1951. In 1989, Bruce Huston retired, and Robert Fiala, a former employee of Huston Associates, became the managing partner and renamed the firm ThenDesign Architecture (TDA). Chris Smith joined the firm in 1998 and was named partner in 2004 as part of a well-crafted succession plan. Under the partners’ leadership, TDA has become a leader in educational design, having been recognized for its focus on collaborative design excellence and employee culture. In 2018, Bob Fiala expanded his leadership umbrella to serve his community by becoming the mayor of his hometown, Willoughby, Ohio. Bob now serves as TDA’s Executive Chair, and Chris Smith is the firm’s President.

At the anniversary, Bob Fiala remarked, “Today, we are celebrating our 35th anniversary, and as I recall a few of these memories on the wall, they go a ways back, and it brought a tear to my eye. Many of these stories speak to our firm’s culture. We are deeply rooted in the people we work with, and it shows.”

The firm has continued innovating in the K-12 educational market, developing modern, forward-thinking environments for public districts, private schools, and universities throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. Focusing on collaborative design strategies, architects, planners, interior designers, and construction administrators work together with clients to tailor custom solutions that enhance the communities these facilities serve.

At a staff meeting earlier that day, Chris commented, “We appreciate the work you do each and every day. I know our efforts are recognized by those we serve. The awards TDA received are simply a reflection of the hard work and unwavering dedication consistently demonstrated in architecture, interior design, and communications.”