Some dreams die hard. For Brad Erwin, his business dream has roots in tragedy – the 1990 EF5 tornado that killed 29 and injured hundreds in his hometown of Plainfield, Ill. Now, his 4-year-old company, Paragon Architecture Inc., is building an impressive track record of early growth by focusing on safe and sustainable structures that enrich community character while saving lives.
The Chicago-area native and graduate of the University of Illinois’ architecture program moved to Springfield in 2003 and joined Creative Ink Architects. Despite no formal information technology training, he managed all network operations for the firm, as well as marketing and public relations functions.
Erwin’s employer was one of two firms that joined forces in 2010 to become Buxton Kubik Dodd Creative. In the wake of that merger, Paragon Architecture was formed. Erwin says his initial focus was, “simply providing full-time employment and a salary for staff members released during the disassembly of Creative Ink.” Within the first quarter of business operations, their ranks numbered four employees.
With the fervor and dedication necessary of a startup, the small group provided architectural services for a variety of high-profile projects for clients including Bass Pro Shops, the city of Springfield and Crowder College, as well as significant work in smaller municipalities and school districts across the Ozarks. The firm also is currently redesigning the interior and exterior of its home in the Paladin Building.
In May 2011, the EF5 tornado that devastated Joplin resparked Erwin’s lifetime mission. With the boom in demand for safety-conscious construction, Paragon began building a niche around storm-proof design.
“This creativity doesn’t happen overnight,” Erwin says. “Building something strong enough to beat Mother Nature, and to also be beautiful, isn’t cheap and it isn’t easy.”
A mere three years later, that creativity is in full bloom. Paragon has doubled its staff to 10, spurred by exponential annual revenue growth of 67 percent last year and 137 percent since 2012.
Paragon is continuing to integrate Erwin’s dream of creating tornado-proof designs into its business model. Beyond designing state-of-the-art safety structures, the team provides assistance to communities in writing grants to help pay for the construction of storm-safe structures.
To date, the firm has helped secure grants for more than 40 safe rooms in schools, some as large as gymnasiums.
Erwin estimates 49,500 people could potentially be protected as a result of Paragon’s steadfast focus on safe, leading-edge concepts.
“Great design demands top functionality,” he says. “We design sustainable structures not for a certification, but because it’s great design.”
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