Traction Architecture

Traction is an award-winning architecture practice based in Tampa, Florida led by partners, Jody Beck and Ross-Alan Tisdale. We are a full-service Architectural and Interior Design practice specializing in creative problem solving for design-focused projects at a variety of scales. We have designed office spaces, custom homes, residential renovations and additions, cultural and institutional buildings, campus plans, and public art installations. We believe design drives how we carry out our daily lives. Our projects evolve from a weaving together of material, structure and context to create architecture that invites people to interact with it, as well as with each other. We approach each project, large and small, as an opportunity to create thoughtful spaces and bespoke experiences that are carefully tailored to the unique qualities of the site and the needs of the client. At every stage of design, we explore our projects through drawing, where disparate elements — underlying narratives, site conditions, found connections — come together to shape the architecture. We develop our buildings with a holistic approach, moving between central concepts such as scale, form, and flow, to the smallest details such as material transitions, tile patterns and door levers. Energy efficient and sustainable design is an intrinsic part of our process, driving decisions such as site design, building orientation and product selections. We incorporate a range of tools to develop design ideas and to communicate those ideas to our clients – from handmade models and pencil sketches to 3D prints and digital walk-throughs. We find joy in the craft of architecture and endeavor to create spaces that inspire connections to our surroundings and enliven the experience of the everyday.