Our History
Space Design Incorporated began as Space Data Group in 1975 and was a subsidiary of Ewing Cole in Philadelphia, separating three years later. Jonathan Dyer and Angel DeElse joined the firm in 1979 and the firm launched into the Design and Architecture business, completing two stock exchanges (Philadelphia and Boston) a 45,000 square foot a Philadelphia investment firm (Elkins, Stroud, Supplee & Company) and a 30,000 square foot law firm (Clark, Ladner, Fortenbaugh & Young) in the next two years, along with numerous smaller projects. The firm also specialized in national branch offices for the brokerage and money management industry and clients included Loeb Rhodes Hornblower, First Boston, Dean Witter and Paine Webber.
From 1979 to 1986, Space Data Group grew from seven people to 65 and started a CADD integration company, CCS Systems, which sold AutoCAD software as well as computers, digitizers and plotters to local Architectural, Engineering and Design firms. CCS Systems also developed menu and 3-D technology to supplement and customize the AutoCAD software.
Space Data Group, through CCS Systems, became the first Philadelphia design firm to fully automate the design and documentation process, and remains today one of the most technologically advanced firms in our industry.
In late 1986, Space Data Group acquired The Design Partnership, a growing Philadelphia firm, grew to more than 100 employees and changed its name to the current Space Design Incorporated. At the same time, the firm relocated from 1420 Walnut Street to three floors of the new 1 Penn Square West at 30 South 15th Street. Space Design Incorporated’s work continued to grow, relocating Miller, Anderson & Sherrerd (now Morgan Stanley) to 55,000 square feet in One Tower Bridge in West Conshohocken, Coopers & Lybrand to 160,000 square feet in the new 11 Penn Center and Pepper Hamilton & Scheetz (now Pepper Hamilton, LLC) to 180,000 square feet in the new Two Logan Square, Philadelphia.
By 1990, following relocation to the historic N.W. Ayer Building at 210 West Washington Square and the departure of the founding partner, Angel and Jonathan decided to reduce the size of the firm and to focus on selected clients, many of whom have now been with Space Data / Space Design for more than 25 years. By being increasingly selective about clients and staff, the Partners were able to more fully focus on growing the firm by repeat business and client referrals. This decision also enabled them to once again become more personally involved in each project to better serve the clients and support the staff.
Along with the Design business, Space Design has flourished in the Tenant Planning and Space Measurement areas. Senior Associate Renee Pepsin (who joined us in 1982) and Associate Ken Bowser (1987) head those departments respectively and are well-schooled in every aspect of the firm’s work. Associate Mark Todaro (1986) oversees the Interior Design practice while Associates Jim Coburn (1998) and Heather Fleming (2004) manage major portions of the Architectural and Planning services, as well.
Space Design Incorporated has worked in many states and is licensed to practice Architecture in 18. Because Jonathan Dyer holds an NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) Certificate, he is able to obtain licensing in any of the 50 states through reciprocity. The firm has provided design services for Morgan Stanley in San Francisco, Resolute Management in Chicago, The Boston Stock Exchange and Kidder, Peabody & Co. in Boston, Alex. Brown & Sons in Baltimore and Timonium, MD, Johnson & Higgins in Wilmington, Baltimore and Washington, DC, Dechert in New York City, Saul Ewing in New York City and Wilmington, Radian in Dayton, OH, New York City and London and SunGard in Rochester, NY and Salem, NH.
