ANDREW McCREADY

Called to architecture at a young age, Andrew has a curious mind, strong leadership, and an ability to problem solve. While he has a flair for humor, Andrew is serious about new ideas, teamwork and bringing thoughtful design to his community.

How did you decide on your career path?

I’ve wanted to be an architect since fifth grade. I excelled in math and art throughout school and was creating perspective drawings and sketching buildings in my free time even as an elementary school kid. I’ve never wavered in my path to pursue design.

What is your favorite part of the design process?

Project and team leadership is what I’m most passionate about at FEH. I enjoy building and managing teams that run effectively and efficiently, because a strong team produces a ripple effect throughout a project.

From a new idea all the way to construction, dynamic teamwork makes a good project, great.  

How are you creating vibrant communities through design?

Architectural design shapes a community’s identity, evokes pride, and brings people together. To facilitate that in the projects I lead, I seek out experiences in other communities and learn how they blend historic building fabrics with new construction. I’m inspired by the constant evolution of architecture and the possibilities around me.

What makes Dubuque a great place to live?

Dubuque is forward-thinking and intentional about engaging its local talent. Dubuque is my hometown, and I am proud to be an active part of building its future.

563 joins feh design

May 2022: 563 Design will join FEH Design in business! 563 Design launched in 2017 by Andrew & Emily McCready with a focus on local design: commercial, historic preservation and rehabilitation, and residential projects.

This new venture will transition both the McCready’s themselves and 563 Design’s commercial and historic preservation work to FEH Design. 563 Design will remain active for residential design only.

Andrew McCready will join FEH Design as Principal Architect and Shareholder, Emily McCready will serve in a Business Development role.  They join a strong team of architects, structural engineers, and interior designers and expand FEH Design’s firm wide ownership.

“Coming out of the pandemic, there has been a surge of demand for our services. We were strategizing on how best to handle our workflow when FEH Design approached us with joining their team,” said Andrew McCready. “Together, we have a huge opportunity to take on projects of all sizes and complexities.”

It was no coincidence the paths of these two firms have converged. FEH Design President, Kevin Eipperle, has followed the work of the McCready’s and 563 Design for years. “I’ve wanted to work with them since they first came back to Dubuque.” Eipperle, recently promoted to FEH Design President, has been intentional in his strategic planning for the firm and adding the experience of the McCready’s was a targeted approach.

FEH Design is one of the Midwest’s oldest operating architecture firms, operating four offices across Iowa and Wisconsin. FEH Design’s roots trace back to 1898, when Andrew H. Foss, a Norwegian immigrant, began designing railroad depots. FEH Design’s Dubuque office opened in 2011 and just celebrated their 10^th anniversary and looking forward to their 125-year anniversary as a firm.

Once the conversations between the firms began, it became clear that working together was right for everyone. Business has been strong for both firms, and by combining their efforts under FEH Design, they can both reach their short and long-term goals.

“Creating impact in the Dubuque community through architecture has always been our focus,” Emily McCready said. “We can create even more impact through FEH Design going forward, and for us, that’s what it’s all about. We get to continue doing what we love, and now have a deep bench of talented designers to collaborate with. I’m excited to see our combined talent serve our community.”

BACKGROUND – 563 DESIGN

Andrew & Emily McCready, husband-and-wife team, grew up in Dubuque, Iowa. They attended colleges in Oklahoma and California, then moved back to Dubuque in 2014 in order to open a branch office of their Oklahoma-based architecture firm, Selser Schaefer Architects. Although business was strong in Oklahoma, they were passionate about Dubuque and creating architecture in their hometown. After a successful 3-year partnership with Selser Schaefer Architects, the McCready’s branched out on their own to launch 563 Design in 2017. 563 Design focused on local projects (563 area code), a wide range of projects including commercial, historic preservation and rehabilitation, and residential.

###