Our Journey
It's a story of two young graduates joining forces to establish a design firm that offers comprehensive architecture and engineering solutions. It all started in the year 1965 as a result of their ambition.
The Company was Founded
Dan Lyman Russell, a graduate of Syracuse University, and Robert M. Dawson, III, a graduate of M.I.T., founded the partnership of Russell and Dawson in September of 1965 in East Hartford, CT to provide a unique combination of total architecture and engineering professional design service.
Total A & E Design Services For High-Rise Building
In 1969 the firm performed total architectural and engineering design for the high-rise building at 60 Washington Street and moved its offices to that location where it remained for 20 years.
First Hotel/Motel Project
The firm did provide A & E services for the King Inn Motel & Restaurant, Putnam, CT
Completed 500 Projects
Across sectors such as healthcare, residential, commercial by offering A & E services including feasibility study, inspection, planning, architectural and engineering.
Chirag B. Thaker Became President
In mid 2007, the firm became a Limited Liability Company, in anticipation of the partners’ eventual retirement. In October 2007, Chirag B. Thaker was named President of Russell and Dawson, LLC.
Russell And Dawson Acquired Florida Based Singer Architects
Don Singer formed Singer Architects in 1964 to offer architecture and planning services in Florida state.
Chirag Thaker Appointed as an Officer for Planning & Zoning Commission by The Town of Manchester, CT
for the term of 5 years until November 2016
Completed 50 Years of Service
We completed designing of over 75 million SQFT of space through the execution of 9,000 projects.
Won Hartford Business Journal’s Family Business Award
under the category of “First Generation: 25-75 Full-time Employees”
Architectural Design for Broward County’s Judicial Complex Achieved LEED GOLD
Got LEED Gold certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Russell and Dawson provided full architectural design services for the full renovation of Broward County Judicial Complex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Featured among “Best Architects in Hartford” List
Got featured among the “Best Architects in Hartford, 2019“ by Expertise LLC based upon the criterion of reputation, credibility, experience, availability & professionalism
Featured among “Largest Minority-Owned Businesses” by HBJ
Ranked among the Largest Minority-Owned Businesses in Greater Hartford Area by Hartford Business Journal.
Dan Russell, retiree, co-founder of Russell and Dawson Inc. Receives 2022 Family Business Lifetime Achievement Award from Hartford Business Journal
For his contributions not only to architecture and engineering sector in the state but also his philanthropic contributions including donations and fundraising activities to benefit the society at large.
Town of Ellington, Connecticut Recognizes Robert Dawson and Margaret Dawson with 2022 Wall of Honor
Robert Dawson, co-founder of Russell and Dawson Inc. and his wife Margaret Dawson honored for their exceptional contributions made to the Town of Ellington over the period of 65 years.
Russell and Dawson Inc. Honored with 2023 Family Business Award by The Hartford Business Journal
Russell and Dawson Inc. win the 2023 Family Business Award under the category of “Less than 25 Full-time Employees”.