Firm Profile                  

The two principal partners of Gili-McGraw Architects L.L.P., Cynthia Gili McGraw AIA and Gary McGraw AIA, with over sixty years of cumulative architectural experience, assure you of their complete personal involvement in every project the firm undertakes. Each project is equally important to us, no matter what the scale.

Founded in 1992, Gili-McGraw Architects L.L.P.  specializes in institutional and commercial projects throughout South Florida and the Caribbean, but also enjoys the challenge of responding to a wide range of other complex project types. Good design is never compromised. Strict time limitations and budget constraints are typically dealt with as a matter of course. 

Cynthia Gili McGraw AIA, LEED® AP, graduated from the Tulane School of Architecture in 1980, where she received  the Alpha Rho Chi Medal and the American Institute of Architects Certificate of Merit for Excellence. Having worked professionally in South Florida since that time, her personal resume includes numerous projects for Miami International Airport and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, as well as various private clientele. In 2009, Cynthia was certified as a LEED® Accredited Professional by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Gary McGraw AIA received a Masters degree from the University of Florida College of Architecture in 1976. His thirty-three year personal resume also includes many projects for Miami International Airport and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. In addition, other project types include both single and multi-family housing, religious institutions, warehouses, vehicle/aircraft maintenance facilities, hotels, and recreation facilities.                                                      

Gili-McGraw Architects LLP approaches every project as a unique opportunity, with our firm's two principals being totally involved in every step. We consider ourselves 'modernists,' but we design every building to relate to the neighborhood context into which it is placed.  To do otherwise, would be to disrespect the surrounding community.

Client expectations are weighed against a realistic budget, and the Scope of Work established accordingly.

Schematic Designs are developed, and at this point we begin to develop models, either 3D computer-generated models in Sketchup format, or physical models out of chip board. These models are a superior tool in communicating the design with the Client. In some instances, where community approval is sought, these models prove to be an invaluable public communication tool as well.

At this point in the project, the refined design is weighed against the construction budget and the design revised as required. 

Finally, with the budget and program in harmony, the project proceeds to the Construction Documents Phase. With tight and enforceable documents, Construction Administration becomes a much easier task. Discouraging an adversarial environment, we try to take on the selected Contractor as a member of the Team, all-the-while protecting the interest of you, the Client.

As a result, the percentage of Change Orders on our projects is typically less than 1%, and over 90% of our projects have been performed for repeat Clients.