Frank Valadez is the Managing Partner of SA Partnership (SAP),a full–service architectural design firm opened in 1994. Alongwith his partner, Peter Grojean, Frank Valadez leads projects forarchitectural design, interior design, project management and 3Dcomputer design.
A veteran of architectural design, Valadez says, “When Iworked for other firms, I learned as an employee how to betterserve the clients.” This attention to improving customer satisfactionhas earned the respect and business of the New York based AshkenazyAcquisition Corporation. This nimble development corporationhad become dissatisfied with the sluggishness of their variousvendors. Although SA Partnership wasby no means the largest firm available,they impressed Ashkenazy with theirunprecedented speed, accuracy andcustomer service.
At the heart of SAP’s impressive presentationis their obvious commitmentto staying ahead of the competition. Valadezpoints out that “as the public hasbecome much more technologicallysavvy, they have come to expect 3Ddesign.” It is with this in mind that SAPbrought its 3D graphic design in–houselong before their competition.
Another one of their strategies is thediversification of their project portfolio.As Valadez says, “[They] have a diverseenough portfolio to sustain changes inthe market.” Their foresight has paid off,insulating SAP from the recent turmoilamong residential real estate markets.That diversity has included such recentprojects as Ashkenazy’s RivercenterMall redevelopment, St Mary’s’ newCoffee Shop and Amphitheatre, TrinityUniversity’s Mabee Dining Hall, USAA’sWellness Clinic and Humana Pharmacyand the fabulous Westin Centre.
SAP has parlayed their nationwide credibility into developingrelationships with real estate developers like Dominion AdvisoryGroup. SAP’s portfolio, however, spans the nation, in cities such asTampa Bay, Miami, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Detroit. As a testamentto their industry credibility, SA Partnership has been invitedto design a new Chicago building for Donald Trump’s hotel organization.They are also leading Ashkenazy’s redesign of the Shopsof Grand Avenue in Milwaukee, WI; and the marketing packagesfor The Mansion on 6th Avenue in New York City.
Frank Valadez and his crack team have turned a relatively smallSan Antonio operation into an ever–expanding design consortiumwith projects from coast to coast. Valadez credits UTSA with a portionof their success. A former UTSA student himself, Valadez applaudstheir architectural program. He also points out that “UTSAis putting out great professionals…quite a few of them work hereat SAP.” SA Partnership is offering these talented local graduates aterrific opportunity for national exposure and world–class experience.
As Managing Partner, Valadez flies to each project location,getting a feel for the wishes and constraints of their clients beforetranslating them into the ideal design. In this capacity, he followseach project from inception to completion, ensuring the highstandards for which SAP has become known.
Another proponent of their success has been the human element,to which Valadez gives his utmost attention and respect.“Our employees see the company as their second family…we liketo keep it loose in terms of hours, becausewe recognize that our employees shouldput their personal and family lives first,”says Valadez. In the pursuit of a familylikeatmosphere at work, SAP has placeda pool table on their upper floor, furtheringtheir belief in the idea that employeeswork to live, rather than live to work.Another effort to respect their employeebase is the establishment of their satelliteoffice in Boerne. Realizing that many oftheir employees live on the North side oftown, SAP wants to not only establish apresence in the North, but also offer theirNorthern employees relief from the highcost of fuel.
Even though they want to give employeesflexibility, they also take greatpains to make sure that all employeescontribute to the success of the company,rather than detract from it. Embeddedin their hiring process is the evaluationof the candidates’ personalities, whichthey want to work together. This elementof improved cooperation and enhancedcommunication makes the high–quality,punctual work of SAP possible.
Outside the office, Valadez is a husband and a father of three.His wife, Jackie, is a professor at Notre Dame. She works for NotreDame’s program called the Alliance for Catholic Education, whichsends PhD candidates to teach at underfunded Catholic schools.Their children are Derek, a 15 year–old sophomore, Mercedes, a12 year–old 7th grader, and Dillon, an elementary student, all ofwhom attend school in Boerne.
Housing Valadez’s lovely family is a home which he himselfdesigned. The home, designed in 1999, sits on a 5 acre hillside inBoerne, offering Valadez what he calls “a restful, peaceful place toget away.” A true labor of love, Valadez puts his professional talentsto work, constantly improving his home. “I think every architecthas their dreamhouse,” Valadez says. And who better to designsuch a home than a true architectural leader in not only San Antonio,but across the nation.
