Steve Dumez is a partner with the architecture firm Eskew+Dumez+Ripple, based in New Orleans. In over 25 years of professional practice, Dumez has led the design of complex projects in a wide range of building types. As Director of Design for Eskew+Dumez+Ripple, he oversees the design of all projects from concept to construction documents, working closely with a team of senior designers in ensuring the consistent quality level that drives their design-first practice. The firm’s design approach focuses on a thorough research of each project’s environmental and cultural conditions, teasing out details of location, history, climate, patterns of use, and social significance. New and meaningful strategies are found by which context and place can be revealed in the work. Through a reiterative cycle of observation, research, concept generation, and detailed design, Dumez’ firm celebrates local conditions while transcending local convention. Their work prioritizes the experience of a place over formal aesthetic concerns, allowing the project to resonate on many levels for a variety of users over time.

Mr. Dumez’ engaging design process concentrates on first developing a detailed design program for clients including building image and brand goals, program compliance and ultimately physical design drivers. Under his design leadership, Eskew+Dumez+Ripple has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards for design excellence, including more than 25 national design awards and an additional 100+ awards at the local, state and regional levels including the prestigious AIA National Firm of the Year Award. Steve Dumez is a Past-President of AIA Louisiana and AIA New Orleans and serves as an active professional mentor within the region. He has also chaired AIA design awards programs at the local, state and regional level and has served on numerous design award juries across the country. He is actively engaged in many local civic organizations and currently serves on the board of the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans. His projects have been recently published in several books as well as numerous national architectural and design magazines such as Architect, Architectural Record, Contract, and Interior Design.