Welcome to Sandbar
HLR Architects is Now Part of Sandbar Architecture
Same trusted team, deeper resources, and an expanded practice serving religious, educational, and commercial clients across the Eastern Seaboard.
You've arrived here because HLR Architects and Sandbar Architecture joined forces in Fall 2024. Everything you loved about HLR — the relationships, the craftsmanship, the deep experience in faith-based and educational design — continues here, now backed by Sandbar's broader design and delivery capabilities.
The Merger
Built on Shared Values
For more than five decades, HLR Architects (formerly Helbing Lipp Recny Architects) built a reputation as a trusted partner to congregations, schools, and institutions throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. The firm's roots trace back to 1973, when architects David Lipp, Tom Helbing, and Paul Salditt broke away from an Alexandria-based practice to start their own studio — a legacy that grew, generation by generation, into one of the region's most respected names in religious and educational architecture.
In Fall 2024, HLR Architects merged with Sandbar Architecture, a Florida-based firm recognized for its innovative approach to commercial, residential, and specialty design. The combination pairs HLR's deep institutional expertise with Sandbar's diverse portfolio, creating a strengthened, multi-office presence from the DC Metro region down through Florida's Gulf Coast.
"John Recny's leadership fostered an exceptional legacy at HLR Architects. His commitment to outstanding client service, dedication to design excellence, and profound knowledge in religious and educational architecture have positively impacted the communities he served throughout his career. We are committed to upholding HLR's tradition of excellence and to enhancing our collective strength."
— Daniel Edgell, President, Sandbar Architecture
Continued Leadership
Following Principal John J. Recny's retirement in February 2025 after 25 years with the firm, the Oakton, Virginia office is led by Aaron Margolis, AIA, Director of Architecture – Mid-Atlantic. Aaron brings more than two decades of experience across commercial, municipal, and multifamily residential design, and is a registered architect in DC, Virginia, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as a LEED Accredited Professional. Under his leadership, the Virginia office continues HLR's tradition of hands-on, relationship-driven design while expanding capabilities in sustainable design and technological innovation.
John Recny's 40-plus-year career — including his 1986 discovery of a calling in religious architecture and his stewardship of HLR through its 2013 renaming and beyond — laid the foundation this office continues to build on today. His focus on trust, practicality, and long-term client relationships remains central to how the Virginia team operates.
What this Means
Same team, same office
Your HLR project contacts and the Oakton, Virginia office remain in place.
Expanded capabilities
Access to Sandbar's broader design, sustainability, and technology resources.
Multi-region reach
Offices now span Northern Virginia, West Virginia, and Florida's Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater region.
Unchanged focus
Continued specialization in religious, educational, institutional, and commercial design.
Let's Build What's Next, Together
Whether you're a longtime HLR client or discovering us for the first time, our combined team is ready to bring the same trusted, relationship-first approach to your next religious, educational, or commercial project.
