As one of the oldest active firms in Rhode Island, LLB Architects has left its imprint on the landscape for 75 years. While the firm continues to grow and respond to an ever–changing environment, a commitment to thoughtful design remains our primary tenet.

Samuel Lerner, a structural engineer and professor at Brown University, founded the firm in 1936 as an engineering practice in his hometown of Providence. His son, Steven L. Lerner, AIA, became a principal in 1976 upon his architectural registration and the firm was named Lerner Associates to reflect the multidisciplinary practice. Ten years later, the firm moves into a stately Victorian house on Hope Street, while focusing on residential projects, interior design, and historic renovations.

Christian J. Ladds, AIA, LEED AP, a member of the firm since 1984, became a partner in 1990 and the firm name changed to Lerner Ladds Architects. The firm received major commissions through the 90s that continued a trend to multi–faceted civic and institutional work in addition to its portfolio of residential and commercial projects.

In 2000, the firm added a new partner, Kathleen A. Bartels, AIA, LEED AP, to the firm and to the name. The growth of new partners reflects the truly additive nature of the process that has seen the firm evolve from its roots as a respected engineering firm, to one of the premier architecture firms in Rhode Island.

R. Drayton Fair, AIA, ALA, LEED AP, joined the firm as a principal in 2003, bringing with him over 20 years of public and institutional experience with an expertise in library and municipal building design.

Senior Associates Suzanne DiSalvo, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP and Aimee Lombardo, AIA, LEED AP and Associate Mark Hallee, AIA have been instrumental in the continued growth of the firm, leading the development of several award-winning projects. They are supported by a group of young architecture professionals, each with a minimum BArch degree.

In the summer of 2011, the firm upsized to The Design Exchange in Pawtucket and streamlined our name to LLB Architects, honoring the past and emphasizing our profession. We’ve also established a project management office in Boston to better service our clients in the Greater Boston region and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With our new name and recent moves, we’re excited for the next step in our future and evolution.