An Advocate of Collaboration & Growth | Chris Lessard

Although the position posed great challenges, such as lower pay and minimal staff, it gave him the knowledge and experience that led to the creation of Lessard Design. In 1986, Chris Lessard launched CJ Lessard Architects and Land Planners upon leaving his position at The Martin Architectural Group in Philadelphia. After some major changes in his personal life, he quit CJ Lessard Architects and using the $100,000 loaned to him from friends launched Lessard Group Inc. on March 24, 1989. Today, Lessard Group, now known as Lessard Design, has grown to include over 80 employees between their offices in Washington D.C. and Ahmedabad, India. Their award-winning designs have been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Urban Land Magazine, American Builders Quarterly, Design, Develop & Construct Journal, Builder Magazine, Building Design & Construction, Professional Builder and Remodeler, Multifamily Trends, Green Business Quarterly and Inform Architecture & Design.

Chris’s role model is his father, who owned a housing construction company in Richmond, Virginia. While participating in the family business, he learned how to understand the market cost and execute successful project. He not only understands the business of the client but also the market numbers. He uses this knowledge every day. To him, sharing his knowledge with his Lessard leadership team is like when his father shared it with him.

Lessard Design integrates a unique combination of land planning services and architecture within a single organization, offering clients land use analyses and planning options to obtain the maximum return-on-investment. The cost of land and product equals the solution; both impact each other and create new outcomes. “We live in a world that our theoretical clients (‘the guy’ that pays us) is not our real client. The real clients are the ones that use our buildings, shop in our buildings, live in our buildings, and work in our buildings. It’s the client we never see. Only research can keep the pulse in the definition of value, which helps us stay as a leading competitor. We work with unnamed people and need to understand who they are and what they want” adds Chris.

Chris is very involved in recruiting. His goal is to hire the best-of-the-best from around the world to cultivate a variety of knowledge and experience. This allows each team to take designing to a whole new level with innovative ideas from every mind in the company. He believes that “collaboration and sharing with the group and clients is where the seed of the future grows.” This ties in strongly with Chris’s leadership philosophy, which places a strong emphasis on the prominence of passion and goals in the workplace and in life.

What has really set Chris Lessard and his team apart from the rest has been their dedication to research and innovation. Lessard Design has become a key shaper and assessor of value in an industry that is constantly changing. “Several years ago, we identified a gap in the marketplace. Housing prices had outstripped Millennial affordability. The problem with delivering affordability is that all product competes for ground value. We are currently designing new and innovative solutions to solve the issue. We call this new product ‘Hybrids’. Hybrids feel like townhomes in entry and individual garages allows for greater density for National ‘for sale’ builders and townhomes for rent. It has been well received and being planned in the east coast,” explains Chris.

According to Chris, “The company has done work around the world. At the same time, it is satisfying to see the daily impact we have made with communities in the United States. For instance, we have literally changed the Northern New Jersey skyline, in Weehawken, New Jersey, viewing Manhattan. Lessard Design has also completed nearly 80% of the new buildings in Stamford, Connecticut.That level of impact in a single area is very rewarding and shows that we, as a company, understand the market and respond to each client in an innovative way.” The steadfast leader goes on to say, “Currently Allison Paul, our Principal of Single Family and Townhomes is creating hybrids in all markets to solve the ‘missing middle.’ Christopher Boone, our Principal of our Multifamily Studio, has created office buildings to a live work rental format. Finally, our Vice President Ulises De Oca Montes is creating mini cities in Urban Areas.”