As its clients change, architect firm alters services. (Harvard, Jolly, Clees, Toppe, Architects P.A.)(Special Report: Real Estate)

Harvard Jolly expands east, south; project teams get 'coached'

For the Bay Area's largest locally owned architectural firm, growth today means adaptation.

"Change is a critical issue everyone is facing," noted William B. Harvard, Jr., president of Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe Architects. "We're finding more and more that we have to create flexible designs that can adapt to the changing needs of our clients."

Founded in 1938 by William B. Harvard Sr., Harvard Jolly has weathered a variety of change in its nearly 60-year history. Today, with 52 employees and about $6.5 million in annual revenues, "we're continuing to grow and trying to survive the economic cycles," Harvard said.

Changing as a company to meet the changing needs of clients is especially important in a field such as architecture, where competition is stiff. Many of the company's competitors are regional or national firms based outside the Bay Area, including several from Orlando.

"Depending on what field you look at, whether it's (designing projects for) health care or education or whatever, there …