[RE]Thinking Architecture for the Next 100 Years

30-Year Cleveland Legacy Joins MKC Architects

A century is a long time to look back. Fresh off our 100th anniversary, our portfolio is deeply woven into the state's schools, universities, and public institutions and now we span projects over the entire United States.

But a legacy is only as strong as its next chapter. That is why studioTECHNE has officially merged with MKC, to deepen our impact on the communities we serve.


Who is studioTECHNE?

To find studioTECHNE's starting point, we look back to 1994 in Cleveland. Founded by Marco Ciccarelli—an alumnus of New York’s Pratt Institute—the studio was built on a premise that stood apart from standard commercial practices. They chose their name from the ancient Greek word Techne [τέχνη], which represents the intentional fusion of art, deep craft, and logical reasoning. Ciccarelli’s goal was to build a studio that functioned less like a traditional commercial corporate office and more like a classic creative guild.

To make that happen, Ciccarelli deliberately staffed his drafting tables with a cross-disciplinary collective. At any given time, studioTECHNE's roster has featured a mix of:

  • Registered Architects

  • University Professors

  • Sculptors

  • Material Scientists

This distinct mix meant that every project was approached with a physical "maker" sensibility. They looked past the digital blueprints to focus on the physical reality of the building, treating it as a large-scale piece of craftsmanship designed around human needs.

FAMILIAR Landmark Projects That Defined the Firm


1. Case Western Reserve University’s Sears Think[box]


Spanning a massive 50,000 square feet, Think[box] is one of the largest university-based fabrication and entrepreneurship ecosystems in the United States. The architectural challenge was immense: transforming a rigid, historic structure into a fluid, high-tech playground where students, researchers, and local inventors could access heavy machinery, 3D printers, and collaborative prototyping zones. The firm’s design leaned heavily into their core philosophy, using exposed structural elements, modular layouts, and raw, hardworking materials that practically demand hands-on creativity.


2. Saint Martin de Porres High School

Located in Cleveland's St. Clair-Superior neighborhood, Saint Martin De Porres required deep civic empathy. studioTECHNE was tasked with designing a campus that honored the school's unique corporate work-study program. The resulting design beautifully balanced a high-end professional aesthetic with a warm, supportive academic environment. By flooding the interior commons with natural light and organizing classrooms around central, flexible gathering spaces, the architecture actively helps students bridge the gap between high school academics and professional career development.



3. Church of the Resurrection & Regional Sacred Spaces

studioTECHNE became a premier voice for sacred architecture in Ohio through highly collaborative renovations and new builds for institutions like the Green Road Synagogue, Saint Paschal Baylon, and the Church of the Resurrection in Solon.


At the Church of the Resurrection, the architecture was crafted to intentionally foster community and deep connection. Ciccarelli and his team worked closely with the parish committee to shape a worship environment that balances striking original art with a highly functional, welcoming layout. Every choice—from the way natural daylight filters across the assembly to the careful calculation of acoustics and sound isolation—was mapped out to elevate the shared mass experience. The space expertly handles transition, using timber elements and physical progression to seamlessly move visitors out of the noisy outside world and into an environment built for communal reflection.

Fusing Regional Scale with Custom Craft

This partnership brings together two highly complementary skill sets under one roof. At MKC, our century of practice is built around structural scale and complex logistics. We are built to manage multi-million dollar budgets, navigate public bidding laws, and deliver massive public high schools and municipal landmarks.

By adding studioTECHNE’s expertise in academic innovation centers and sacred architecture, we are combining large-scale execution with an intimate, craftsman-like design process. Our combined team can now fluidly handle everything from a boutique local community asset to a sweeping regional master plan.

The drawing boards are full, the studios are collaborating, and the future looks incredibly bright. Welcome to the next chapter.

MKC Architects