history
Clearscapes is a multi-disciplinary design firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina that was formed in 1981 when architect, Steven D. Schuster, and sculptor, Thomas H. Sayre, combined their creative talents and energies to design environments for some of North Carolina's neediest citizens, the developmentally disabled residents of Murdoch Center in Butner.
Twenty-seven years later, the firm has matured to a broad based, full service design team comprised of twenty-two architects, artists, and support personnel with diverse educational, geographic, and experiential backgrounds. In 2005, two new principals were added, Ellie Torre and Fred Belledin, to expand the capabilities of the firm.
Clearscapes continues to work with special populations while expanding its scope of work to encompass museums, libraries, arts facilities, college buildings, civic structures, and a range of public art. A significant focus of the work of the firm has been the revitalization of important historic structures and the infill of new construction in sensitive historic settings throughout the State. The firm has been recognized with numerous design awards for these projects.
In addition to the design studio, the firm maintains a 4,000 square foot shop where material research, mock-up fabrication, and experimentation is done. Much of the firm's public art is built in the shop as well as components for many of its architectural projects.
Clearscapes' current work includes the new Raleigh Convention Center, the revitalization of five historic theaters in Washington, Elizabeth City, Cary and Apex, North Carolina, the conversion of a historic textile mill in Edenton, a major classroom building on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, and a recent commission, won by national competition, for a major public art installation for the Calgary Water Centre.
The firm has consciously chosen to remain small so that the principals can be actively involved in all of the projects, working with a professional staff of architects and artists who collaborate in teams. The firm has been successful in developing a client base with government, corporations, and institutions; two-thirds of its work are repeat commissions.
All of the firm's principals and several of the professional staff maintain an active role in education, teaching at Triangle universities, and giving lectures and seminars across the Southeast. This on-going role in education allows the firm to continue expanding its knowledge base and stay current with changing technology and theories in design. The firm has been recognized with more than thirty local, regional, and national design awards for their work.