About Us

 The fundamentals and knowledge which make this company unique are the culmination of a series of events and experiences which have transpired throughout my life.   My name is Stephen Assenheimer, and I founded the company in May of 2007 based  on the principles of a solid work ethic, a need for quality, and a desire to express my innate talents.  While very young, I had an eye for the particular and excelled in art.  

My journey really began in 1996, when at 22 years of age, I   relocated from Philadelphia to Miami.  During my attempt to find employment,  I walked up 1st Street to Collins Ave.  Situated on the corner was a local gem named Nemo, a restaurant that connected to the public while still maintaining it's intimacy.  You could see through the many layers of space what the brilliant architect had created in this dynamic setting.

 There was a  romantic outdoor seating area ,  arched mediterranean style French doors aligning the facade in a classic grouping of three.  My eyes rapidly shifted downward connecting the white and black geometric patterns of the hexagon tiled floor, then quickly back up to examine the bejeweled floating copper triangles that deliberately illuminated only the tables.  I was further enamored by the texture gleaming from the polished hammered copper bar crowned and illuminated by large glowing Emu eggs.  This is the first time I was moved by architecture! 

During my 6 years of employment at Nemo, I decided I wanted to work with every person responsible for creating that restaurant.  I had an insatiable appetite for learning, brought about by the talented influences surrounding me. 

Over the course of those 6 years I had the opportunity to work with two former Philadelphians, chef Michael Schwartz, an award winning James Beard recipient, and his main counterpart Hedy Goldsmith, a legend in the art of pastry.  It was Hedy, a graduate of CIA and Moore College of Art and Design, who best described the similarities between food and architecture.  I then understood why I loved both.  She said the two are not that different.  It is all about texture, color, and presentation.

    It was at this restaurant, that I had the privilege of waiting on Morris Lapidus, a revered local icon.  He was the architect responsible for closing off traffic along Lincoln Rd in Miami Beach along with many, many other accolades, such as designing the Fountainbleu and the Eden Roc Hotels.

  After completing my Associate of Arts degree at Miami Dade Community College, I apprenticed for Nemo's architect, Carl Myers and also studied and worked alongside the master painter and decorative artist, Jeanine Maleno. 

 I soon found myself enrolled in the architecture program at Florida International University. While in school, I attended the last speech ever publicly given by Morris Lapidus.  The room roared uncontrollably and my eyes started to tear: he was a rockstar.  I got word of his passing about the same time I was moving back to Philadelphia.

My passion for design runs deep in my blood and finds it's way into every aspect of my life.  Upon returning to Philadelphia, I began working full time for my family's construction company based in Delaware.  I spent 5 years in residential construction, building additions and renovating kitchens and bathrooms.  My passion for design led me to what is now Modulus Contracting & Design. 

Our firm offers a polished and well rounded skill set in both construction and design.  We design with forethought in material choice and layout.  Our approach is to solve problems from both a practical and an artistic dynamic.