Opening day at the new Homer Library last month took Brian Meissner back to his own childhood, days spent getting lost in a library full of dreams and creativity. That's what he tried to create for the people of Homer when he and his team at ECI/Hyer designed this get-away place of learning.

It's something ECI/Hyer Inc. has done for 25 years now.

In the 1970s, Terry Hyer lived in Spokane, Wash., working for Environmental Concern Inc. But Hyer had gotten the wanderlust bug and came to Alaska in its time of growth.

"In 1973, there were ads in the paper telling people not to come to Alaska, the oil pipeline had been delayed," Hyer said. "But it was a combination of me wanting to see the state and the confidence that Alaska was the place to find one's way."

At 25 years old, Hyer and his wife loaded up everything that would fit into their Datsun pickup and hit the highway. They committed to giving it 14 months. Hyer worked for a couple of local firms after arriving in town. Then, in the early 1980s, Hyer decided he wanted to start his own firm. Meanwhile, Hyer's old employer, ECI had developed an interest in building a stronger presence in Alaska.

ECI/Hyer principals Terry Hyer (left) and Brian Meissner say they have purposely kept the architectural firm small to allow the principals to stay involved in the design process. That has not kept ECI/Hyer from landing big projects, however, having designed such buildings as South Anchorage High School and the Alaska Native Medical Center. PHOTO Courtesy of ECI/Hyer

The 1980s were a time of unprecedented oil wealth in Alaska, even by today's standards. That huge surplus spawned Project '80s, construction of several large-scale, state-funded buildings that aimed to put Alaska on the map of civility.

The company formed in 1981, and within months had won a contract to design the Loussac library. It was the first job for a newly partnered company, ECI/Hyer.

It became a fully locally owned and operated firm in 1985, when then-ECI principal Ed Musgrove moved to Alaska and assumed the Environmental Concerns' interest in the business. Musgrove retired in the early 1990s to pursue a golf habit. Steve Fishback then joined the company as principal for a while. Meissner, who came to the firm in the fall of 1999, became the partner two years ago.

In 25 years of operations, ECI has maintained its original mission: to design quality community buildings - ones that primarily are focused on education and health care - and to stay customer oriented.

Throughout it all, ECI has aimed do big projects while maintaining a relatively small staff. The company averages 15 to 20 workers throughout the year.

"That's by design," Hyer said. "The significance of that is it allows a principal to be involved, personally involved, in a project. That's been a commitment rather than trying to grow."

ECI's project list includes South Anchorage High School, the Alaska Native Medical Center and the Kodiak Fisheries Research Center, as well as village medical clinics, village schools, and the restoration and remodeling of several historic Orthodox churches across Alaska.

ECI/Hyer is also working on the Alaska Railroad Intermodal Transportation Center, a complete update, upgrade and expansion of the historic railroad terminal in downtown Anchorage.

The partners have worked to find a good balance of designers. The average time at the company is about 12 years.

"It's the people, the mix," Hyer said. "We give people the responsibility, letting them develop their natural talent. But we are committed to service, open communication, listening to the client's needs and meeting deadlines."

At any given time, ECI also has a couple of interns in the office - up to three in the summer. Those looking for a design degree must intern, and firms take them in as a way to grow their own.

In addition to the professional courtesy and responsibility, however, it's a way to keep the long-timers on their toes.

"It's the freshness of ideas, a more carefree attitude that they bring," Hyer said.

"Plus, it helps us remember to ask the obvious questions," Meissner added. "They tend to ask, 'Why can't we do that?' Then we think, 'Well, yeah, why can't we?'"

Complacency doesn't bode well in architecture, Hyer and Meissner said. As clients demand better, more efficient designs at the best prices, designers must adapt and keep up with the coolness factor.

"Architects think about the cool opportunities for every job," Meissner said. "To do good architecture, you have to be consistently self-critical, always ask, 'Why do I do that?' Always look for something better."

"It's more than a profession," Hyer added. "It's all about people. When we're done with a job, only we know the agony and joy, about what it took for it to happen."