Joey Rivera, associate senior project designer at Group 4, uses drawings to create shared understanding at the beginning of the project.

In an office full of talented designers and architects, Rivera's work stands out thanks to its accuracy and beauty. 

"My whole being gets inspired." Rivera said. "There is a connection, my brain, my soul and my hand."

Rivera's drawings are rooted in research. He's inspired by a variety of architectural styles and is always scouring the Internet, reading, photographing or otherwise looking for new ideas.  

We asked Joey to give us some tips to create jaw-dropping drawings. 

Step 1: Get inspired

"I look up references and past precedents for inspiration. This is an essential step in staying true to an architectural style, like post-war modernism, art-nouveau or contemporary." 

Step 2: Get organized

"This is just a matter of assembling the materials and tools I will use to create the drawing or sketch or rendering. I use a mix of pens, pencils and markers. Will it be drawn on sketch paper, vellum or heavy stock paper. It all depends on the outcome the client needs."

Step 3: Turn up the jams

"I also need to put on my headphones and listen to my favorite music. It really helps me get in a creative mood. If the sketch is traditional, I listen to classical. If it is modern, I listen to dance music!"

We take drawing seriously. A detailed and accurate drawing keeps projects moving quickly. Poor drawings create confusion and delays. Want to work with Group 4? Contact us today.

The answer was "through our amazing relationships." We lived briefly with our friends at Summit Contracting and used the libraries of DesignMind and Reynolds, Smith & Hill. We also received help from:

• ​Allemuir
• Antique and Modern
• CDS Jax
• CFD Florida
• E3 Delivery Service
• Fresh Canopy
• Mohawk Flooring
• National Office Furniture
• Office Environments & Services
• Patcraft
• Shaw Contract
• Love Tif :: Fine Art
• Wilsonart.

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We're humbled by your support and grateful for your friendship. All we can say is "thank you."

You might have noticed some changes popping up around our website — we’ve been so busy working for the last 10 (10!) years that we rarely look up long enough to update the digital world on our work. 

We’re excited about all the work we have to share:

• Southern Grounds San Marco, a Jacksonville coffee shop hotspot reviewer called it “a community hub,” “spacious, lovely design” and “a really cool vibe.”
• Lofts at LaVilla, a project revitalizing the Urban Core. 
• Our new office — and what we’re doing there
• New corporate interior design at Smith Hulsey & Busey

We’re excited to add new architecture and interior design team members, and to show you what’s on the boards right now, too. 

If you haven’t Liked us on Facebook or followed us on Instagram, we’d love for you to check us out — we’re sharing some of Group 4’s latest work in architecture and interior design. 

We’re especially excited at the creative energy revitalizing Jacksonville’s Urban Core.  Downtown Jacksonville was part of the story from our earliest days. Relationships are essential to Group 4’s fresh approach to architecture — and relationships are energizing Jacksonville’s creative community. We remain committed to our community and affordable housing.

Architecture and interior design shape every single moment of our lives. Both hold strong power over our health and our emotions. Our experience in the last decade — from a recession to Irma — shaped us, too. We’re excited to create spaces that bring communities together.

We’re excited to talk to you about it. Stay tuned!

Group 4 Design

The good news just keeps rolling in: The Jacksonville Daily Record featured our recent project for our friends at Smith Hulsey & Busey.

Smith Hulsey & Busey has an impressive tradition — they’ve been part of our community for more than 100 years and have called their office at One Enterprise Center for more than 30 years. 

For their move to the Wells Fargo Center, the team wanted to help the law firm attract and retain top young legal talent. They also wanted to foster personal creativity and collaboration.

Check out the article — our favorite part is the last line:

“We are very pleased,” Jean Busey, executive director, said. 

The Marina San Pablo Yacht Club, recently renovated by Group 4 Design, now houses the Sales Gallery for Aphora at Marina San Pablo, a new luxury condominium tower near the current Marina San Pablo residence.  Our design team preserved the beautiful views of the marina while creating an unobtrusive sales gallery within the club for Aphora. The residents of Marina San Pablo continue to use the clubhouse for community functions and private parties, while Aphora welcomes future residents who are ready to upgrade their lifestyle to the Aphora way of living.  By creating subtle changes to the interior finishes and changing the furniture to a more coastal and transitional style, the designers were able to create spaces aligned with the design direction for Aphora at Marina San Pablo. 

 

Aphora will be an ultra-luxury condominium near J. Turner Butler Boulevard and San Pablo Road on the Intracoastal Waterway in Jacksonville, Fla.  Sales are underway for the 57 residences and the building, homes and amenity spaces are being designed by Group 4 Design’s architecture and interior design team.   Visit Aphora’s website at www.aphoracondos.com or call 904-515-5099 for a preview of the project or to arrange a visit to the newly renovated Aphora Sales Gallery.

Here we are at K9s For Warriors groundbreaking ceremony!