Gibbon Architecture

This month, we’re spotlighting Shaker home-based business Gibbon Architecture - a full-service architecture firm owned by Elicia and Jeff Gibbon. Gibbon Architecture serves clients in a broad range of markets including single family, commercial and hospitality, and specializes in adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Both Elicia and Jeff are licensed architects, who developed a passion for architecture at a young age, albeit with different backgrounds serving the inspiration.

Elicia explains how she first became fascinated by architecture: “As a young girl, I built apartments for my Barbies out of bookcases. I’d build floorplans and use books for partitions and built-ins.” Eventually, her grandfather retired from farming and got into development, where Elicia observed and continued to become fascinated by the way buildings were put together. “Jeff was always interested in math and art, which is a good combination to get into architecture. It was a strategic decision for him to get into the field,” notes Elicia on Jeff’s background in architecture.

Creative Barbie floorplans, inspiring grandparents, and noble interests led to what is now Gibbon Architecture, a professional Shaker-based architecture firm that really transforms the client’s vision into reality.

Prior to launching their business, the Gibbons worked for private firms for nearly 15 years on the East Coast, where they attended graduate school, and then eventually moving to Cleveland. “About seven years ago, Jeff had a client who took him aside and asked him if he’d like to take off on a project of his own,” Elicia explains. This was the catalyst that eventually enabled Elicia to be brought on board and for Gibbon Architecture to form. The firm has since taken ownership as a woman-owned business and includes more areas of practice.

Home-based businesses choose their communities just as brick-and-mortars do. Elicia and Jeff chose Shaker for the quality of the public school system and their own home being in walking distance to the school. The environment of Shaker aligns with their professional backgrounds: “We moved here in 2010 from Chicago; and urban design as well as close-knit communities is what made Shaker attractive. There’s a comfort in this neighborhood.” With Elicia’s Nebraskan roots and Jeff a native of Cleveland Heights, they have made Shaker Heights their home, both professionally and personally.

We often discuss the rewards of owning a small business. One of these is flexibility, which is emphasized when owning a home-based business.

“We love having family flexibility, and being able to be home when our kids get home,” says Elicia.   “We also like being able to work from our neighborhood.”

Other rewards of owning a small business include wearing all the hats that are limiting when working for a private firm, especially within this industry.

“You can tap into more creativity when owning a small business. When owning an architectural firm, you’re able to wear all the hats that you can’t necessarily wear working for a private firm: from design to code, meeting with new clients, your marketing, accounting, and IT.” This can also be challenging as wearing all these hats can be draining, and finding a balance can be challenging in itself, but it can be rewarding to not have to focus on one area. At Gibbon, Elicia and Jeff enjoy working closely with their clients and getting out in the field.

Whether you’re an architect looking to start your own business, or looking to start your own business in general, Elicia has one piece of advice: take the risk.

“I’m fortunate because I have a partner who balances out my risk aversion. I’m glad I took the leap, and although scary, it’s worth it.” While gaining the right experience is key, we shouldn’t underestimate what we already know either.

Home improvement and renovations are an entirely different matter altogether; there’s much more than meets the eye, and so much more than what HGTV shows us. “It’s time consuming and expensive. At Gibbon, our job is to translate the client’s vision into reality. We really enjoy the process, we find it fun.”

Visit gibbonarchitecture.com to learn more about the company, and to contact Elicia and Jeff for your vision, whether your needs involve home or commercial improvements.