The start of the year is when project ideas turn into real decisions. Early planning, clear priorities, and the right coordination can make all the difference in how a project unfolds. At WMF, we work with clients early to help align scope, schedules, and expectations to set a strong foundation before design or construction moves forward.
What to Focus on Early This Year
As planning ramps up, a few key steps can help reduce risk and create clarity: Confirm priorities and scope before design advances, align funding with realistic schedules, identify site or regulatory constraints early, engage construction management early for better cost certainty
Highlighting Projects in Progress
Two projects at Penn State’s Knowledge Park highlight its continued role as a center for advanced manufacturing and innovation. Scheduled for completion in early 2026, the Kyocera AVX facility will support a global manufacturer of advanced electronic components with spaces designed for efficiency and productivity. Looking ahead, the Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness will expand the park’s mission with specialized laboratories for research and development, supported by WMF’s targeted design strategies for plastics and metal casting programs.
The newest addition to the Harbor Place development along Presque Isle Bay is anticipated to break ground in late June 2026. The AC Marriott hotel is planned to include more than 130 guest rooms and will feature two restaurants, each offering panoramic views of the bay. The project is expected to enhance the waterfront experience while contributing to the continued growth of the Harbor Place district.
WMF is partnering with the City of Shaker Heights to renovate and expand their historic 1930 City Hall Building. The project updates the former firehouse bays and adds a 1,900-square-foot north addition, creating modern office and meeting space while honoring the building’s landmark status. The new addition complements the original architecture with a contemporary interpretation of the historic façade.
A new business park is planned in Von Ormy, Texas, featuring 23 flexible industrial and commercial units designed to accommodate a range of future tenants. WMF is providing architectural design and documentation services for the development, which will utilize pre-engineered metal buildings with adaptable interior layouts to support efficient tenant fit-outs and long-term flexibility.
“In my forty years of coordinating design, architectural practice, and collaborations, I have never encountered an architect, indeed an entire architectural firm that was so intent to seek out the desires of the clients and so capable in finding common ground on each step of the development for the good of the whole.”
-Richard W. Durst, President Emeritus Baldwin Wallace University
