Array Architecture + Interiors founder and owner Jack Hollingsworth was born to design. "I was an art major at DePauw University and they asked me to do renderings of new buildings during a building campaign. At DePauw, I was doing furniture design which I still do today," he explained. A walnut chair and sofa that he created can be seen in AAI's office at 5367 N. College Avenue.

Their customers can be found in Indiana and around the country as Hollingsworth is licensed in 13 states. "Witham Memorial Hospital in Lebanon is our largest project and largest client to date. We're currently working on a skilled nursing wing on their second floor. We do mostly healthcare work. Another current project is a cancer center in Joliet, Illinois that was a former Harley Davidson dealership. A project we have worked on is Medical Consultants in Muncie, which is a surgery center that was an old Kroger grocery store. We're also working on a hybrid operating room, a special edition that is being built for Presence Healthcare in Urbana, which is the largest Catholic hospital in Illinois. A typical operating room is about 400 square feet, but a hybrid operating room is about 1,000 square feet," Hollingsworth noted.

Other notable AAI projects include Provena Cancer Center's Renovation in Danville, Illinois, Putnam County Hospital's Surgery and Maternity Suite Addition in Greencastle, Riley Children's Hospital and University Hospital GI (Gastro-Intestinal) Renovation Methodist Medical Plaza's locations in Indianapolis.

His early architectural career was built on a different foundation. "Actually, I started out in retail where I designed most of the strip malls in Castleton Square and Lafayette Square in the 1980s. When I switched firms, one was starting with AutoCAD software where I got into production work and into healthcare. There are a lot of building codes, regulatory agencies and federal compliance to comply with," he mentioned.

Jack works with Lindsi Piatt. "She was one of my students when I taught at IUPUI. We've worked together for over 10 years," Hollingsworth said. Ms. Piatt has degrees in Architectural and Construction technology and Interior Design from Purdue University. She founded DESIGNLINK, Inc., an interior design studio, in July of 2013.

Locating AAI at its current address was by design. "I owned part of this building. A very good friend of mine, Brian Spears, passed away and willed his half of the building to me and two other friends. It made sense to move my architectural firm here since I already know the tenants. There's a good group of people here in the building. I can walk or ride my bike to work most of the time bringing my dog. I've lived in the Meridian-Kessler area for 33 years and am originally from Indianapolis. I'm a Ball State University graduate," he said.

Some of Hollingsworth's clients are also his tenants. "I'm working on a restaurant for Yats in Nashville, Tennessee. Joe Vuskovich is the owner of their location next door (5363 N. College Avenue). I was Joe's first paying customer when he opened. My daughter goes to Ohio State University and visits his location in Columbus frequently.

He also designs residences. "I did a prairie school style house for Pat Chittenden, who is one of the owners of Ambrose Development in Bridgewater, located at 161st and North Meridian Street. His dad, Mike, is the CEO of Carmel St. Vincent's Hospital. Most of the houses I've designed for individuals have been commercial clients of ours," he added.

You view samples AAI's work in healthcare and residential work at: www.arrayai.com or call 255-3827 for questions.

Reflecting on the rewards of his labor, Hollingsworth stated, "I really do like my work, the creative part of it and interacting with individuals. It's been fun going into these buildings that I've designed and seeing their completion. It's especially gratifying when people thank us for what we've done."

If you have a design in mind for a home or business, Jack Hollingsworth and Lindsi Piatt of Array Architecture + Interiors can help make your ideas a reality from their office near Broad Ripple.