The firm started in 1981 as V. J. Schute Associates, Inc. In 1984, as the firm grew, our name became Schute-Larson Architects, Inc. Then in 1997, the firm’s name was changed to River Architects, Inc. Although the firm no longer has the founding partner’s name, River Architects, Inc. was deliberately selected to de-emphasize a single individual’s efforts; instead focusing on the collaborative energy of everyone in the firm. The choice of River celebrates the place of our tri-state practice and serves as a unifying symbol of our association. It was founded on four basic ideas. These ideas are the essence of our practice, and to this day, constitute who we are. •A partner be intimately involved with each project, from concept to completion. •Involve the client/user in a collaborative and creative process that produces responsive solutions. •Only do the type of projects for which we are qualified and in which we are interested. •Enjoy our work. River Architects, Inc. has purposely remained an architectural firm rather than a mix of architecture and engineering. Our reasoning is each project is unique, requiring different engineering skills. We believe we best meet your needs by having the freedom to select an engineer whose knowledge and experience match your project requirements. We provide planning, architecture, and interior design services in five areas of expertise: Liturgical, Higher Education, Residential, Historical, Commercial and Civic.