We are thrilled to announce that the award-winning firm of Laurence Ferar and Associates has joined Soderstrom Architects as our new winery and distillery design studio. Under the leadership of Dan Van Calcar, AIA; Laurence Ferar, AIA, LEED AP; and Reed Lewis, AIA, LEED AP; the Ferar Wine & Spirits Studio will specialize in the design of wineries and distilleries, as well as tasting rooms and viticulture and enology educational facilities.
Soderstrom Architects and Laurence Ferar share a history that goes back over 30 years to when Larry Ferar worked with Cameron Hyde, Soderstrom founding principal, at Martin/Soderstrom/Matteson. They have stayed in touch over the years, and collaborated on the French American International School project. “It feels like coming full circle, re-joining them 36 years later,” says Larry Ferar, Principal at Laurence Ferar and Associates.
Through the merger, Soderstrom and Ferar will be able to complement each other’s competitive advantages by growing the Ferar Studio’s business through additional resources and support, as well as expanding the studio’s capabilities in the hospitality component of the wine and spirits sector.
Michael Shea, Principal at Soderstrom, notes, “knowing that Soderstrom Architects has a similar design culture prioritizing customer satisfaction, but with a much larger staff and support infrastructure, both firms saw a merger as a way for Laurence Ferar to retain and expand market share in wineries and distilleries. For Soderstrom, the merger adds a new and already strong reputation and capacity in a new market sector, adding to our expertise in education and healthcare design, without having to build it up from scratch.”
Reed Lewis, Technical Director at Laurence Ferar and Associates, adds, “My hope is that the studio will continue to be a leader in the design of wine and spirit facilities. In particular, we’re excited to expand our involvement in the hospitality portion of the work.”
At Soderstrom, the Ferar Studio team includes many of the accomplished architectural professionals who helped Laurence Ferar successfully deliver projects such as the Lemelson Winery, Woollaston Estate Winery, and House Spirits Distillery. The studio will continue its work on current projects, including the new Abbott Claim Winery in Carlton, Oregon as well as the Veering Creek Winery outside of Louisville, Kentucky.
We encourage you to explore the Ferar Studio portfolio to learn more about their previous experience and talent in designing wineries and distilleries.
