Our History

Sam & Larry Hamilton Sunstrand 1967

Sam Darby and Larry Larson receiving McGraw Hill’s “Plant of the Year” award in 1968. Shown at right are Bengt Sjostrom of Sjostrom Construction, and Gene Swanson, treasurer of Sundstrand Corporation.

Sixty years ago, Larry Larson began practicing architecture under the name of Larry U. Larson, Architect. A year later, in 1964, Sam Darby joined forces with Larry and, together, they built what would become Rockford, Illinois’ largest architecture, engineering, and interior design firm – Larson & Darby Group. Our first major commission was a $15 million research, manufacturing, and development center for Sundstrand Corporation in Rockford, Illinois, the largest project of its kind in Winnebago County. Completed in 1968, Sundstrand Plant 6 was awarded Plant of the Year for factory building design by McGraw Hill publishing company. That project was just the start of a legacy of excellence and innovation we carry on today.

1963

Sundstrand Building

Sundstrand

Rockford, Illinois

1976

Metro Center

Metro Center

Rockford, Illinois

1985

RFD Terminal

Greater Rockford Airport

Rockford, Illinois

Larson & Darby Group has helped shape the way our city – Rockford, Illinois – lives, works, learns, and plays by designing buildings that stand the test of time. You would be hard-pressed to drive around the greater Rockford region and not pass by a Larson & Darby Group-designed structure. And, while our roots run deep in Rockford, our footprint has expanded with work completed throughout the region, the country, and around the world.

Our legacy is greater than the buildings we’ve designed; it’s about the partnerships we’ve built and the many staff whose passion and commitment has contributed to making Larson & Darby Group what it is today. As we celebrate our 60th year, we are excited to honor this legacy and are inspired to continue living our mission to build trusted partnerships, through a journey of discovery and inquiry, in the creation of exceptional environments.

2003

Siebel NicL Exterior East Gate

University of Illinois Thomas M. Siebel Center

Urbana, Illinois

2007

Winnebago County Justice Center

Winnebago County Justice Center

Rockford, Illinois

2018

Central High School Gym

Central High School

Burlington, Illinois

1963-2023

Fast Facts

World Map with markers of where projects have been completed.

Projects Completed In

STATES

Projects Completed In

COUNTRIES

Recipient of over

DESIGN AWARDS

1963-2023

Timeline

1963
Sam & Larry Hamilton Sunstrand 1967
1963

The sole proprietorship of Larry U. Larson, Architect, is formed. In July of this year, Larry Larson began practicing architecture in Rockford, Illinois under the firm named Larry U. Larson, Architect. Fourteen months later, Larry joined forces with his brother-in-law Samuel N. Darby, and in September of 1964 the firm of Larson & Darby was established.

1965
Plant
1965

Sundstrand Corporation, New Office & Manufacturing Plant, Rockford, IL

1968
Carlson School
1968

First project for Rockford Public Schools District #205, Carlson Elementary School

1977
1977

Structural, mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines were added because there was a significant need for these services within the current client base. Thus L&D became the only full-service architectural and engineering firm in northern Illinois.

1980
Woodward Loveland
1980

Woodward Governor, Loveland, CO, New Office & Manufacturing Plant

1982
Metro Center
1982

MetroCentre receives AIA/NI Award for Excellence in Architecture

1985
Amcorex with Eagle
1985

American National Bank, New Headquarters Building, Rockford, IL, receives a Silver Award, the highest honor, from the Institute of Business Designers and Interior Design magazine.

1989
1989
1989

LEFT: Riverfront Museum Park receives AIA/NI Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture and ICARA Design Award of Merit

RIGHT: Sundstrand Corporate Office Building receives AIA/NI Award for Excellence in Architecture

1991
Larry U Larson
1991

Larry U. Larson retires

1997
1997
1997

LEFT: Rockford Industrial Welding Supply receives AIA Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture 

RIGHT: DeKalb County Farm Bureau receives AIA/NI Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture, ICARA Design Award of Excellence, and Illinois/Indiana Masonry Council Gold Medal

1998
Newspaper Article
1998

LEFT: Williams & Elliott Associates, Ltd., is acquired by Larson & Darby, Inc. Williams & Elliot Associates, Ltd. served the education and religious market sectors.

RIGHT: Rockford Orthopedic Clinic receives ICARA Honorable Mention Award.

2000
DuoFast Exterior
2000

Duo-Fast Corporate Headquarters receives AIA/NI Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture and ICARA Design Award of Honor

2001
Sam Darby
2001

Samuel N. Darby, FAIA, retires and firm leadership transitions to D. Kraig Pierceson, Douglas Brooks, Christopher Groesbeck, Richard McClelland, Dan Roszkowski, John Saunders, and William Waldorf LZT Associates, Inc. located in Peoria, Illinois, and its sister company – LZT/Filliung Partnership, located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois acquired. To reflect this acquisition, the firm name changes from Larson & Darby, Inc. to Larson & Darby Group.

2003
Siebel
2003

University of Illinois Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science receives an AIA Pittsburgh Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture

2007
2007 Register Star Building and Winnebago County Justice Center
2007

LEFT: Winnebago County Justice Center receives AIA/NI Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture.

RIGHT: Rockford Register Star Press Addition receives AIA/NI Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture

2009
2009

Larson & Darby Group honored as “Firm of the Year” by the AIA/Northern Illinois Chapter

2010
Rock River Water Reclamation District and Danfoss Buildings
2010

LEFT: Rock River Water Reclamation District receives AIA Design Award of Excellence – Best in Show, AIA/NI Honor Award for Green Design, and ALA Merit Award

RIGHT: Danfoss Drives receives AIA/NI Honor Award for Outstanding Design, AIA/NI Honorable Mention Award for Excellence in Architecture, and ALA Gold Medal Design Award

2011
Larson and Darby Partners 2011
2011

Firm leadership transitions to William J. Waldorf, CEO; Dan J. Roszkowski, President; Douglas J. Brooks, Vice President; Richard S. McClelland, Vice President; and John T. Saunders, Vice President.

2012
2012
2012

LEFT: Woodward Systems Test Facility receives AIA Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture

RIGHT: Field Fastener receives AIA/NI Honor Award for Excellence in Interior Design

2013
Small Business of the Year
2013

Larson & Darby Group named “Small Business of the Year” by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

2018
Central High School
2018

Central High School Addition & Renovation receives AIA Prairie Chapter Award of Excellence in Interior Design, ALA Award of Merit, and IASB Award of Merit

2022
2022 Indoor City Market
2022

LEFT: Rockford Indoor City Market receives Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse

RIGHT: Firm leadership transitions to Dan J. Roszkowski – Chairman of the Board, Stephen M. Nelson – CEO, Sherry L. Gaumond – COO, and Christopher W. Anderson – President.

2023
1963-2023 Yellow Block
2023

Larson & Darby Group celebrates its 60th anniversary.