Fassbinder Accepts Waugh Award.

Dubuque, IA—Mark Fassbinder, AIA, LEED AP, accepted the seventh annual Waugh Award during Origin Design’s annual holiday party held on January 9, 2026 at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.

The Waugh Award was created in honor of Origin Design (known as IIW at the time) co-founder, Dennis Waugh, who retired at the end of 2018 after 37 years of service. The award recognizes an Origin employee that supports and furthers the company’s Mission-Vision-Values.

Twelve nominations were received for the Waugh Award. “Mark approaches every responsibility with an ownership mindset. He empowers others, remains focused on projects and clients, and invests deeply in the success of both people and projects,” as described in one of the peer nominations.

Mark accepted the award from Pat Ready, PE, President & CEO of Origin Design. “Mark is someone who lives Origin Design’s Mission, Vision, and Values, not just in words but through everyday actions. His commitment to doing the right thing, delivering excellence, building strong relationships, and thinking beyond the expected is evident across every project, every interaction, and every challenge he faces,” said Ready.

“ I am deeply honored to receive the Waugh Award. To be counted among the recipients of an award that represents integrity, humility, and genuine care for others is truly meaningful to me. I am grateful to be part of a team that strives to carry forward these qualities, and I will continue to honor Denny’s legacy by supporting, mentoring, and serving those around me in a way that reflects the Mission, Vision, and Values of Origin Design. ”

Mark Fassbinder Architectural Team Leader

30 years of excellence! Congratulations to Troy on this amazing milestone. Your dedication inspires us every day! #origincrew

From concept to completion, projects are built through strong partnerships and a shared vision. Our team was pleased to tour the completed A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. Foundry and witness the final result firsthand. We are proud to have contributed Architectural and Land Surveying Services to this project and appreciate the collaboration that made its successful completion possible.See more from this project: https://origindesign.com/projects/ay-mcdonald-mfg-co-foundry

Another intern from our Architectural Team, Patrick Clark is wrapping up his summer at Origin Design. We're reflecting on the impact he made and the experiences he gained along the way. Before heading back to school, we asked Patrick to share a few highlights from his internship journey. Take a look at what he had to say!

Happy 5th Anniversary, Zach! Join us in congratulating Zach on reaching this incredible milestone, we're so lucky to have you!

Leadership, connection, and a day on the course!Origin Design was proud to be a sponsor for the Women's Leadership Network of Dubuque's Connect Experience. We spent the morning learning from inspiring speakers about tuning into your cues, empathy, accountability, and leadership, then enjoyed an afternoon of networking and connecting with fellow professionals on the golf course.Thank you to WLN for another great event that brings our community together!

5 years of excellence! Congratulations to Karen on this amazing milestone. Your dedication inspires us every day!

Continuous Improvement is more than a value at Origin Design. It's a commitment to learning, mentoring, supporting others, and embracing opportunities to grow.Through our employee mentorship program, employees learn from one another, build meaningful connections, and continue growing their skills. Check out HR Director, Troy Wright's Top 5 Tips for Effective Employee Mentorship.

Our Team is Going Over the Edge for United Way! Our brave team members are stepping up to support United Way, but only one will earn the chance to rappel down the Midwest One Building in Dubuque, IA... and your votes will decide who goes Over the Edge!How to Vote: - Donate $5 = 1 vote- Include your chosen employee's name in the donation comments/caption- Vote as often as you'd like. There is no limit! Donate $25 and receive 5 votes. Cast all 5 for one person or split them among multiple employees. Donate & Vote Today: https://give.overtheedge.events/origindesign2026Every vote supports an incredible cause while helping us crown this year's Over the Edge participant. Thank you for making a difference in our community!

Another Field Trip Friday here at Origin Design! This week we're on the ground checking in on the new Westphal & Co Office & Shop Building, seeing progress from site sketch through the early stages of construction. We can't wait to see it continue to take shape!

As Architectural Intern ElleAnna DeSollar wraps up her summer at Origin Design, we're reflecting on the impact she made and the experiences she gained along the way. Before heading back to school, we asked ElleAnna to share a few highlights from her internship journey. Take a look at what she had to say!

We were proud to be a Hole Sponsor at the Annual Russell Charity Golf Outing. Connecting with community members, clients, partners, and friends is one of the many reasons we enjoy supporting events like this. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello and spend some time with our team!

Field Trip Friday! Our team was out on the Cheese Country Recreation Trail supporting one of several active projects with the Tri-County Trail Commission. From bridge measurements to survey work, we're helping gather the information needed to support trail improvements and protect areas impacted by erosion.We're proud to play a role in helping keep this community resource safe and accessible for everyone to enjoy!