Our Partners




Jim Strickland
Senior Partner


Terry Pylant
Partner


Aaron Daily
Partner


Andrew Cogar
Partner


Kevin Clark
Partner


Todd Strickland
Managing Partner

James L. Strickland

Jim is the President and Founder of Historical Concepts. He possesses an infectious passion for traditional architecture and planning that inspires clients and staff members alike. Jim is actively involved in all of the firm's commissions and he critiques every project, no matter how big or small, to ensure that excellence in design is always pursued.


A native of Atlanta, Jim was first inspired as a boy by the grand traditional architecture found in the historic neighborhoods of the city. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia and then served in the Army Special Forces. However, the desire to create great places still beckoned, leading Jim to receive his Masters Degree in Architecture from Yale University in 1972.


Upon graduation, with a family to support, Jim began his professional career in real estate development in Florida. Several years later he moved to Peachtree City, Georgia, where he started a design-build firm that constructed over 200 traditionally inspired homes in the metro-Atlanta region. This led to the founding of Historical Concepts as the formal design entity in 1982. By the early 1990s, the firm's reputation for authentic traditional design and attention to detail had begun to spread, and interest in the firm's architectural services grew. Responding to this demand, and a desire to affect architecture over a broader region, Jim decided to focus exclusively on design. Since that time and under Jim's guidance, Historical Concepts has evolved into an architecture and planning firm dedicated to creating places that have all the character and quality of the historic homes and towns that inspire us.


Jim's early experience in the construction industry gives him an in-depth understanding of the challenges that home builders and developers face. This knowledge has provided Historical Concepts with the uncommon insight to go beyond the aesthetic, to provide viable architecture and planning solutions that are easily understood and implemented in the field. This familiarity is also incorporated into the firm's construction documents, further ensuring the successful transition from a design concept to a well-executed, built reality.


Jim particularly enjoys inspiring the next generation of traditional architects. He can often be found sitting at Historical Concepts' conference table behind a mountain of books and sketches discussing design ideas with staff members. Additionally, Jim is proud to give back to the colleges that have helped to make Historical Concepts successful by teaching at the Georgia Institute of Technology and serving as a guest critic at the University of Miami and the University of Notre Dame.


Jim was recognized by Southern Accents in their inaugural "Masters of the House" column, featuring architects, designers and builders who honor the South's architectural legacy. Under his leadership, Historical Concepts' work has also been featured in numerous books and in a variety of national magazines, including Southern Living, Southern Accents, Architectural Digest, Town & Country, House Beautiful, Coastal Living, and Period Homes. Historical Concepts was awarded the 2010 Arthur Ross award, of which Jim is perhaps most proud, in that it acknowledges the work of the entire Historical Concepts team.


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Terrell L. Pylant, Partner

Terry joined Historical Concepts in 1989 and has been instrumental in the firm's success. His knowledge of historical architecture and passion for traditional design has resulted in some of the firm's signature residential projects. Terry also has an accomplished history of working with our developer clients to provide unique amenity and community buildings. Additionally, he has enjoyed collaborating with our civic clients in providing historic guidelines and infill development services. Terry's projects have won numerous awards and been published extensively.


Notable projects include:


  • The Gin Property - planning and design for 8 acre historic infill development in Senoia, Georgia; site of the 2010 Southern Living Idea House
  • Senoia Historic Overlay District Guidelines - Design Guidelines in collaboration with the Downtown Development Authority and Historic Preservation Commission of Senoia, Georgia
  • Intracoastal Cottage - restoration, renovation and addition to historic 1920s estate in Jupiter Island, Florida
  • Palmetto Bluff Chapel - designed for Crescent Resources; Shutze Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture
  • Cay Pool Pavilion - featured in Architectural Digest
  • Balsam Mountain Preserve Boarding House & Cabins - designed for Chaffin/Light Associates; published in New Old House magazine
  • 2005 Southern Living Idea House (Atlanta) - Atlanta, Georgia (Glenwood Park); designed for Green Street Properties
  • 2005 Cottage Living Idea House - Bridgehampton, New York
  • Folts-Warrick Residence - Palladio Award; featured in Period Homes magazine
  • Mitchell Residence - Southern Living Home Award; featured in Cottages on the Coast
  • Chechessee Cottage - Southern Living Home Award; designed for Chaffin/Light Associates to launch the Chechessee Golf Club development
  • House of Dreams - Town & Country magazine's Demonstration House at the Ford Plantation
  • Celebration Prototype Plans - designed for Disney Corporation to launch Celebration community; Best in American Living Award for Demonstration House

Professional and Civic Involvement includes:


  • Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America
  • Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
  • Georgia Conservancy
  • Georgia Downtown Association

Terry holds degrees in both Business Administration and Architectural Design from Clayton State University.


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Aaron T. Daily, Partner, AIA

Aaron joined Historical Concepts in 1997 and is now leading the firm's efforts on a wide range of projects. He is an accomplished custom residential architect who has designed projects throughout the southeast, as well as an expanding portfolio in the Midwest. Aaron has also been the project manager for some of Historical Concepts' largest and most complex commercial buildings. Additionally, he is a strong consensus builder who has successfully guided community outreach and stakeholder meetings for prominent civic projects.


Notable projects include:


  • Florida State University President's House - Shutze Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture
  • Boone Residence - featured in Southern Living magazine
  • Sustainable Villages - visioning and planning for 2,000 acres of a south metro-Atlanta county; in collaboration with the Development Authority and County Commission
  • College Campus Plan - master plan and conceptual architecture in collaboration with the Peachtree City Development Authority and City Council
  • Roscoe Residence - featured in New Old House magazine
  • River Dunes - master planning and architecture for a 1,200 acre, coastal resort community in Oriental, North Carolina; site of the 2007 Coastal Living Idea House
  • New Core Village - master planning and conceptual streetscapes for 19 acre historic infill in Pinehurst, North Carolina
  • Bay Creek Beach Club - design of 44,500 s.f. beachfront amenity complex for this resort community on Chesapeake Bay
  • Schaller Guest House - 2006 Palladio Award; featured in Period Homes magazine
  • Palmetto Bluff Prototype Plans - designed for Crescent Resources to launch Palmetto Bluff development; including 2008 Coastal Living Holiday House
  • Spring Island Riverhouse - designed for Chaffin-Light Associates
  • 2002 Coastal Living Idea House - Habersham, South Carolina
  • Finkle Residence - Southern Living Home Award

Professional and Civic Involvement includes:


  • American Institute of Architects
  • Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America
  • Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
  • Georgia Conservancy

Aaron holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Kansas State University.


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Andrew B. Cogar, Partner, AIA

Andrew began his architectural career with Historical Concepts in 1999. He is a true place-making specialist who has guided some of the firm's most prominent custom residential, developer and civic projects. Andrew is also a natural leader with exceptional communication and management abilities. These traits allowed Andrew to lead the effort to open our first satellite office, located in a live-work building designed by the firm in the Glenwood Park community in Atlanta.


Notable projects include:


  • Fairburn Education Campus - multi-college campus master plan and design of classroom and administration buildings; located in the historic community of Fairburn, Georgia
  • Jasper County Architectural Guidelines - Design Guidelines incorporated within Jasper County, Georgia's revised Zoning Ordinance to promote quality development; adopted 2009
  • Reames Residence - 16,000 s.f. Beaux Arts estate; Shutze Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America
  • The Ranch - visioning, planning and design services for 3,700 acre conservation development / resort community in Vero Beach, Florida
  • Village of Seven Falls - visioning, planning and design services for Town Center of 1,200 acre development in Etowah, North Carolina
  • Westmoore - visioning, planning and design services for 96 acre traditional neighborhood development in Pittsboro, NC
  • Hampton Plantation - 1,200 acre southern estate; featured in New Old House magazine and in Creating a New Old House
  • Langford House at Derry Plantation - Palladio Award for historic renovation and restoration; featured in Period Homes magazine and in Roots of Home
  • Lawson Carriage House - featured in House Beautiful magazine
  • Watercolor Prototype Plans - designed for St. Joe Corporation to launch resort community of Watercolor; including 2001 Coastal Living Idea Houses

Professional and Civic Involvement includes:


  • University of Miami, School of Architecture - Adjunct Faculty Member
  • Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America - Vice President of the Southeast Chapter and an elected member of the National Board
  • Congress for New Urbanism - A Founding Member of the Atlanta Chapter
  • American Institute of Architects
  • Active duty officer with Army Corps of Engineers and Georgia Army National Guard; service includes tours in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Miami.


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Kevin P. Clark, Partner, AIA, LEED AP, CNU-A

Kevin first joined Historical Concepts as a summer intern in 2001. He is a passionate planner with an in-depth understanding of the complex relationship between the character of the built environment and its effect on both individuals and communities. Kevin is also an accomplished architect whose classical education has provided the background needed to design a wide range of custom residential and commercial projects. Additionally, Kevin is extremely knowledgeable regarding sustainable design and seeks to incorporate energy efficient design concepts into all project types.


Notable projects include:


  • White Marsh - planning, zoning code, and design guidelines for 97 acre traditional neighborhood development in Virginia
  • Front Street Village - planning and design for 11 acre historic infill / brownfield redevelopment in Beaufort, North Carolina
  • Callaway Gardens Prototype Cabins - designed for Cousins Properties; featured in Southern Living magazine
  • Patrick Square - commercial and civic architecture for Town Center of 283 acre traditional neighborhood development in Clemson, South Carolina
  • 2009 Coastal Living Idea House - I'On, South Carolina; achieved LEED Gold certification
  • May River Forest Estate - 10,000 s.f. custom residence at Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina
  • Governor's Harbour - planning and prototype architecture for 110 acre resort community in Eleuthera, Bahamas
  • Acworth Commercial Redevelopment - re-design of conventional commercial building to extend the historic main street district
  • Palmetto Bluff Post Office - designed for Crescent Resources; Shutze Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture
  • Palmetto Bluff Village Buildings - designed for Crescent Resources; CNU Charter Award
  • Brasfield Square Live Work Buildings - designed for Green Street Properties in Glenwood Park
  • Church of the Holy Cross - stakeholder charrette and civic architecture for I'On, South Carolina

Professional and Civic Involvement includes:


  • University of Notre Dame and Georgia Institute of Technology - Guest Lecturer
  • Congress for New Urbanism - a Founding Member of the Atlanta Chapter and Co-chair of the 18th annual congress in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Urban Land Institute - member of the inaugural Center for Regional Leadership Development program
  • Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America
  • US Green Building Council
  • American Institute of Architects
  • Architectural Review Board for Glenwood Park

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame.


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J. Todd Strickland, Managing Partner

Todd joined Historical Concepts in 1993 and serves as the Managing Partner. He employs a conservative and consistent business philosophy in overseeing all aspects of the firm's operations and finances. This philosophy is the framework upon which Historical Concepts manages growth while still maintaining the highest levels of design quality and client service.


Todd is also a dedicated and hands-on manager who directly coordinates the firm's recruiting, hiring and evaluation efforts. He ensures each staff member is put in the best possible environment to be successful at the firm. Todd thoroughly enjoys working with every member of the Historical Concepts team to constantly explore ways in which to improve the firm.


Todd is also a passionate advocate for traditional architecture and planning, believing that these principles create places that age well and foster strong communities. Having worked with his father, Jim Strickland, from an early age, Todd has had a unique exposure to architecture and planning as well as construction and real estate development. With an understanding of how these professions work together to affect our built environment, Todd actively works with civic and professional organizations in promoting quality-oriented development practices. Recent examples include:


  • Working with elected and planning officials, land owners and the Georgia Institute of Technology to create long term redevelopment strategies to ensure the viability of existing village centers.
  • Coordinating efforts with elected officials, development authorities, land owners and professors from the University of Miami to promote sustainable conservation communities.
  • Working with Planning Departments to obtain grant funding for multi-modal paths through the Livable Cites Initiative.
  • Arranging presentations by the Center for Disease Control to bring attention to the impact of community design and land use choices on public health.
  • Working with Development Authorities and small scale merchant associations to compete with big box and large scale retail.
  • Collaborating with Historic Preservation Committees to draft guidelines to protect existing historic buildings and ensure future development is contextually appropriate.

Professional and Civic Involvement includes:


  • Development Authority of Peachtree City - past Chairman
  • Fayette County Development Authority - past Board Member
  • Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America - past Founder and Treasurer of the Southeast chapter
  • City and Regional Planning courses at the Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Congress for New Urbanism
  • American Association of Planners
  • Georgia Downtown Association
  • Southern Conservation Trust

Todd holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Georgia.


Todd is also an avid cyclist who enjoys riding his bike to work year round.


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