35 Years on The Farrside
Farr Associates, founded in 1990, emerged at the forefront of decarbonization and high-performance buildings, with expertise in historic preservation, building envelopes, green technology, sustainable urbanism, and healthy spaces.
Our firm is WBE-certified and Just™-certified, and our practice is centered on creating great and healthy places that enrich human life while minimizing negative environmental impacts.
Using cost-effective strategies and technologies, we create responsive, vibrant places and buildings featuring high-environmental performance to earn us national recognition.
Meet our Leadership Team:
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Doug Farr
Founder
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Mercedes E Miley
President
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Len Sciarra
Principal & Director of Sustainability
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Alina Tompert
Architect & Project Manager
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Breanne Trammell
Director of Marketing
Recognized Excellence in High-Performance Sustainable Design & Master Planning
AIA National DESIGN EXCELLENCE AwardsAIA COTE® Top Ten Award
University of Chicago Keller Center, 2020
AIA COTE® Top Ten Green Projects Award
Chicago Center for Green Technology, 2003
National Preservation AwardsRichard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award
Lawson House, 2025
AIA ILLINOIS Design Excellence AwardsExcellence in Historic Preservation Award
Lawson House, 2024
Gold Award: Plan Category
West Evanston Plan, 2008
Greatest Impact Award
Academy for Global Citizenship, 2024
Honor Award for Design Excellence in High-Performance Buildings
Academy for Global Citizenship, 2024
Rolling Knolls, 2021
Sullivan Award: Project of the Year
Yannell Net-Zero Residence, 2009
AIA CHICAGO Design Excellence AwardsDecarbonization Award
University of Chicago Keller Center, 2022
Decarbonization Award Citation of Merit
Academy for Global Citizenship, 2025
Distinguished Building Award
University of Chicago Keller Center, 2019
Christy Webber Landscapes Headquarters, 2006
Divine Detail Award Citation of Merit
Powerhouse High School, 2013
Firm of the Year, 2012
Honor Award for Ambitious Rehabilitation
Lawson House, 2024
Interior Architecture Award
University of Chicago Keller Center, 2019
Powerhouse High School, 2013
People’s Choice Award
Academy for Global Citizenship, 2024
Small Projects Award
Keller Center Stair, 2019
Sustainable Design Award: Excellence in Architecture
Alys Beach House, 2007
Kresge Foundation Headquarters, 2007
Sustainable Design Award: Special Recognition
Christy Webber Landscapes Headquarters, 2007
Young Architect Award
Matthew McGrane, 2019
April Hughes, 2013
Douglas Farr, 1997
Preservation COUNCIL OF ILLINOIS AWARDSRichard H. Driehaus Foundation Legacy Award
Lawson House, 2024
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Adaptive Use
University of Chicago Keller Center, 2020
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Rehabilitation
Lawson House, 2024
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award: Preservation Project of the Year
Powerhouse High School, 2009
Elks Tower, 1998
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design
Whistler Crossing, 2004
Bethel Commercial Center, 2004
Passive House Design AwardsCommercial/Institutional Design Award
Academy for Global Citizenship, 2025
Retrofit Award
Lincoln Park Passive House, 2024
Urban Land Institute: Global awardsULI Awards for Excellence
Bethel Commercial Center, 2010
Urban Land Institute: Chicago awardsVision Award
Academy for Global Citizenship, 2024
Climate Action Museum, 2024
Excellence in Environmentally Sensitive Design & Community Engagement
University of Chicago Keller Center, 2019
American Planning Association: Various ChaptersAPA-IL, Best Practice Award
Downtown Rockford Strategic Action Plan, 2017
APA-IL, Project Planning Honorable Mention
Town of Normal–Guidelines for the South Downtown Residential District, 2004
APA-IL, Sustainability Award
Bristol Place LEED-ND Master Plan, 2015
APA-TX, Project Planning Award
Colony Park Sustainable Communities Initiative, 2016
Congress for the New Urbanism: Illinois ChapterCharter Award for Best Neighborhood Plan
Bristol Place LEED-ND Master Plan, 2014
Merit Award
Shrinking Towards Urbanism: East St. Louis Transit Corridor, 2011
Neighborhood, District & Corridor Award
TLC: An Approach to Activate Downtown Rockford, 2016
Neighborhood, District & Corridor Award
Growing Uptown, 2015
City of CHICAGO GREENWORKS AWARDSOutstanding Residential Project
Sanctuary Place, 2004
Outstanding Nonresidential Project
Center for Neighborhood Technology Headquarters, 2004
Chicago Building Congress Merit AwardsConstruction Under $10 Million
Chicago Greenworks, 2007
Education: PreK–12
Academy for Global Citizenship, 2024
Award of Merit
Christy Webber Landscapes Headquarters, 2007
Renovation & Adaptive Reuse Over $20 Million
Lawson House, 2024
Rehab Construction Merit Award
Chicago Center for Green Technology, 2003
chicago neighborhood development awardsOutstanding For-Profit Neighborhood Real Estate Project Award
Chicago GreenWorks for Rancho Verde, 2008
Polk Bros. Foundation Affordable Rental Housing Preservation Award
Lawson House, 2024
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design
Lathrop Homes, 2021
Whistler Crossing, 2010
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Outstanding Non-Profit Neighborhood Real Estate Project
Bethel Commercial Center, 2010
Powerhouse High School, 2010