RUNYAN & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS is a Philadelphia
firm founded in 1988 by C. Stanley Runyan to provide
architectural and urban design services. The practice has
completed a wide range of project types of all sizes for a
variety of institutional, academic, commercial, residential
and municipal clients. We have a reputation for design
excellence, attention to detail, and responsiveness to the
client’s program and budget. We actively seek a connection
to what is unique about each project, taking cues from the
historic, cultural, economic and environmental context.

C. STANLEY RUNYAN, AIA, NCARB, Principal

An award winning designer and skilled project manager, Mr. Runyan has more than 30 years of experience in architecture and urban design. As principal, he plays an active role in all the firm’s projects while managing the practice.

Mr. Runyan earned master’s degrees in both architecture and city and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley, after graduating from the University of Kentucky’s architecture program.

Before founding RUNYAN & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS in 1988, he worked for several prominent architectural firms in San Francisco and Philadelphia. His recognized design skills are combined with broad-based project management and construction administration experience.

JEAN FARQUHAR McCOUBREY, AIA, LEED AP, Associate

Jean McCoubrey joined RUNYAN & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS in 1997. In her 25 years of professional architectural experience she has participated in all phases of many institutional and residential projects, with an emphasis on adaptive reuse of historic structures, religious buildings, office buildings, and housing. As an associate, she manages most of the firm’s projects and supervises the staff and intern architects.

She obtained her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania after graduating from Yale University. She also studied graphic design and painting in Paris at the Ecole Superieure des arts graphiques and the New York Studio School.

Ms. McCoubrey serves on the land use and zoning review
committees of the Chestnut Hill Community Association and
runs an organization for families of children with special
needs.

ARCHITECTURE: PROCESS

Our goal is to design buildings that inspire, serve and endure. In pursuit of that goal, RUNYAN & ASSOCIATES leads the team in a collaborative, iterative design process with the client’s active engagement. The client may arrive with a set of needs, a site, a budget, and preliminary ideas. As architects we work hard to foster a collective vision by offering design expertise, technical ability, awareness of context, and understanding of construction.

Through constant communication with the client, we establish an atmosphere of trust to build consensus as we advance the design toward construction. The success of the completed project depends on this trust and relationship. Together we reach for the best resolution of form and function, so that each of our buildings is tailored to its users, time, place, culture, and greater built environment.

URBAN DESIGN: PROCESS

Architecture does not exist alone but belongs to its landscape, building group, campus, square, street, boulevard, town, city and region. RUNYAN & ASSOCIATES approaches urban design and place making as a collaborative design process bringing together residents, stakeholders, design professionals and planners working together to make places more fit to live in.

Our work creates realistic options for the economic viability and the functional and visual enhancement of a place. We believe that sustainability may be best achieved through dense urban form. The main goal of our process is the creation of a vision plan that recognizes the existing potential and limitations of a place while allowing for change over time and the strengthening or creation of a real sense of place.

It was six months ago today that the staff here and I took possession of the new University Archives. The experience over the past six months has exceeded – in every way – our highest expectations. The design and construction of the place were (and are) simply superb. Everyone is very happy and we have received – and continue to receive – many compliments on the beauty and functionality of the space.

-Mark Lloyd, University Archivist, University of Pennsylvania

You’ve made our dream a reality! We can’t thank you enough for all of the thought and effort you have put into designing our house. We know you endured many a sleepless night to make sure every detail was perfect. The finished product says it all.

-Stefanie & Andy

We really enjoyed working with Runyan & Associates. Their attention to detail, organization, and communication skills make a challenging project easier. When construction is underway, time is of the essesnce - they not only understand but take charge and deliver.

-Scott Dalinka, Flatiron Building Company