Edge Design Associates (Edge) was formed in 2013 by Daniel P. Mooney, AIA and Ron Thomas, AIA after working together since 2000. The business is a corporation licensed to practice architecture in the State of Michigan. Our legacy comes from the Ann Arbor Studio of Luckenbach Ziegelman Architects, PLLC (LZA Ann Arbor) founded by the late Carl Luckenbach, FAIA, and Archetype Incorporated, founded by Ron Thomas.

Dan managed the day-to-day operations of LZA Ann Arbor from 2000 to 2012, served as project manager for all of the firm’s projects, maintained client relations and headed up the firm’s sustainable design initiatives. Ron co-founded Archetype, Inc., where  he built a successful architectural practice for 15 years until the firm was purchased by their biggest client MAVD, a real estate development company working in Michigan and Colorado. Ron served as Executive Vice President for MAVD, completing over twenty commercial development projects and numerous capital improvements during his tenure.

Starting in 2000, Dan and Ron developed a working relationship as MAVD and LZA Ann Arbor collaborated on MAVD’s Michigan projects between 2000 and 2008. Ron joined LZA Ann Arbor in 2008 and during their time they worked on a diverse range of project types from large scale mixed-use projects, parking garages, libraries, higher education buildings, and corporate offices. When Carl closed his practice and retired in December of 2012, Edge Design Associates was the natural next step for Dan and Ron. While Ron runs the business side of the firm and spearheads the quality control activities on our projects, Dan serves as principal in charge of all of Edge’s work.

In March of 2019, Heather Buffone, NCIDQ joined the firm as Associate Principal and Director of Interiors for all of the firms projects. Heather has over 24 years working in the profession specializing in interior design, interior finish selection and furniture systems design and specification. Heather has a Degree in Architecture and a Master of Business Administration in Nonprofit Management. Heather coordinates the interior with the exterior.

Edge provides architectural, planning, and interior design services for commercial and institutional clients, collaborating with other professionals as necessary to serve the specific needs of our clients.  Whatever the challenge, our most rewarding projects share similar traits:

• Shared vision for success

• Team building collaborative approach

• Project leadership by firm principals

Edge maintains in-house professional expertise that includes architecture, interior design, project management, planning, urban design, and graphic communication.  Over the life of the practice, the firm has identified a small number of preferred professional consulting firms including structural, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, as well as landscape architecture, and specialties such as acoustics, information technology, and audio/visual systems.  In almost every case, these firms, like Edge, render services under the direct supervision of a principal, ensuring the highest level of service and technical expertise.