Arcfluence: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Arcfluence 2025: Year in Review

2025 was a year of firsts for Arcfluence. We won our first design awards, secured our first out-of-state project, grew our team, and invested in technology that’s changed how we work. We sat down over Italian wine to reflect on the year and look ahead to 2026.

Recognition

We’d never submitted for any award before this year. The thinking was simple: if we don’t submit, we definitely won’t win. So we entered The Cliffs, our custom residential design in Hocking Hills, in the AIA Ohio People’s Choice competition. It took second place.

That submission opened doors we hadn’t anticipated. We were invited to present on accessory dwelling units at the AIA Ohio state conference, drawing on our carriage house work and the changing ADU regulations in Columbus. When Columbus passed their new ADU ordinance, AIA Ohio actually sent us the draft regulations ahead of time for review before the city council vote. Nick joined the state’s Residential Construction Advisory Committee as the architect member—a chance to be on the other side of those zoning meetings for once. A television production company reached out about featuring one of our projects on their show. The award mattered, but what came after mattered more.

Growth

A pivotal shift happened when Paul joined the firm full-time. That move allowed Nick to step back from the day-to-day and focus on working on the business rather than just in it. Paul took over operations, quality control, and training—and the commercial work followed.

Our portfolio expanded in two directions. On the residential side, we’re now designing multi-million dollar custom homes, including an A-frame currently under construction in Hocking Hills with a two-tier deck, sauna, and views from a hillside site with a 20-foot drop. We strapped a construction camera to a tree on-site to capture the time-lapse of the build. On the commercial side, we added healthcare facilities and bank renovations—work that would have been out of reach a few years ago. The fees are different, the stakes are different, but the design thinking carries over.

We also secured our first project outside Ohio: a job in Michigan that required getting licensed in a new state and building relationships with contractors who’d never heard of us. Most small firms never leave their home market. We’re not most small firms.

Behind that growth is investment. We added team members, including international hires in two different countries—a creative solution that lets us access talent beyond Columbus. We brought on a fractional CFO to manage the business side. And we upgraded to the Leica BLK360 Gen 2 scanner, which completes scans in 20-30 seconds instead of several minutes. That speed lets us compete with larger firms on renovation work where accurate existing conditions matter. Every RFI about a three-inch discrepancy in a mechanical shaft reminds us why this investment pays off.

Technology

We’ve been paying close attention to AI tools this year. The technology is evolving fast—we’ve all seen those AI-generated videos go from uncanny valley to nearly indistinguishable in a matter of months. For architecture, AI is becoming a powerful exploration tool. It lets you generate more options, find unexpected directions, and iterate faster than ever before.

But there’s noise in the output. Ninety percent of what AI generates is still just noise. The value comes from having the experience and judgment to recognize the gems and guide the tool toward something meaningful. These technologies, wielded by the proper professional, allow small firms to act as big firms. We’re able to compete with larger practices and produce the same quality of architectural design at a fraction of the overhead. The human element—the curation, the relationships, the professional judgment—still matters most.

Conversations

The podcast brought us into rooms we wouldn’t have reached otherwise. We sat down with Lauren Culley at Fox in the Snow to talk about her path from New York publishing to building one of Columbus’s most beloved bakeries—that episode felt like something out of How I Built This. We spoke with Dean Mark Mistur from Kent State’s College of Architecture about model-making, design education, and how schools are preparing students for AI-integrated practice.

At the AIA national conference in Boston, we connected with architects from across the country and saw where the profession is heading. Last year’s conference focused heavily on mental health in the industry. This year, it was all about AI. Next year’s conference is in San Diego—we’re planning to be there.

Team

At a young company, your most valuable asset is still your people. We’re keeping our own salaries flat this year so we can invest in our team instead. The dedicated people who contribute to your growth are the key to success—that hasn’t changed regardless of AI or any other technology.

We’re actively looking for talent in the Columbus area. If you’re an architect or designer who wants to work on custom residential and commercial projects with a firm that’s growing fast and thinking differently, reach out.

2026

Next year’s priority is acquiring our own office space. Not renting—owning the investment. When you own the building, the improvements you make benefit the firm, not a landlord. It’s the same logic we give clients about investing in their spaces.

We’re also planning to enter design competitions for the first time, likely starting with our medical center project. Quality work gets recognized when it’s distributed to the right audience. The buzz turns into jobs.

And in September, the team is heading to Monza for the Formula One Italian Grand Prix—our second Grand Prix after last year’s unforgettable trip. This time we got proper seats instead of general admission. We’ll be staying at Lake Como afterward. Expect a podcast episode.

You need to be a dreamer in order to succeed. But if you dream and work hard, there are always opportunities. Thank you to our clients, our team, and everyone who’s been part of this year. We’re looking forward to what’s next.

Related Episodes

The Art of Model Making with Dean Mark Mistur — A conversation about design education, model-making, and preparing students for the future of architecture.

BLK360 Gen 2 vs Gen 1 — Our deep dive into the scanner technology that’s changing how we work.