2016 Economic Impact Awards 6-15 Years in Operation Finalist: Paragon Architecture Inc.

Brad Erwin vividly remembers the moment he turned to a former colleague and said he’d never want to own a business.

Ten years later, he started Paragon Architecture Inc.

In between jobs following the Great Recession, Erwin faced a decision: head back to Chicago or stay here and open a business. He didn’t deliberate long.

“It was kind of do or die,” Erwin says. “The whole idea of starting Paragon was to provide a living for me, my family and other people during the recession who had been let go.”

For a guy who once thought being the boss was unappealing, Erwin’s leap of faith paid off quickly.

Within three months, Paragon had four full-time employees.

“Since Paragon’s opening day only six years ago, the number of full-time staff has increased over 500 percent,” Erwin says. “Paragon continues to help shape the local economy by being fiscally conservative.”

Erwin says his company hires resident staff members and local college graduates with a competitive benefits package. That no one’s name is part of the firm’s moniker is deliberate.

“We thought we could do things a little differently,” Erwin says. “It’s never been about one person or one name, so a sign with the name of a person was never an option.”

He wanted to create a culture of collaboration among team members that extends into a partnership with clients and a discovery of what best serves them.

“By looking at the outside of the building, a general observer should not be able to recognize it is a Paragon project,” he says. “It’s not our building. Their building should be the same as their brand, not Paragon’s brand.”

Erwin admits it’s not easy to avoid repeating designs, but diving into a client’s business, products and services helps Paragon seek original ideas and innovative materials.

“We want to make sure it’s reflective of the community or neighborhood it’s in,” Erwin says.

“We call it the Paragon approach – our processes and the way we go about things. We love it when we can become part of their organization.”

Paragon’s “big three” focus areas are corporate offices, education and civic and community projects.

Although a lot of the firm’s work is outside Greene County – from St. Louis to the Bootheel to Paragon’s Joplin office – a recently awarded local project is the addition to Greenwood Laboratory School, which will add a new entrance, office, lobby, restrooms and an 800-seat multipurpose center.

“Our project load is stronger than ever,” Erwin says. “I think we have $25 million in construction and $43 million under contract for design services.”

Paragon helps schools navigate the grant application process for tornado safe rooms. It is pro bono work born from a desire to provide a safe place that can affect communities for generations, says Erwin, whose small Illinois town was decimated by a tornado when he was a teenager. It’s a bonus if Paragon gets the contract.

“Everybody in our office got involved in architecture to make a positive impact in our community,” he says.

“It’s been so rewarding for me personally and professionally to see the difference our team makes.”