My Personal Experience and Professional Practice in Architecture
Growing up on construction sites, my dad turned blueprints into reality. I have always been fascinated by the transformation of drawings into vibrant, lived-in spaces. There is something profoundly captivating about witnessing sketches turn into structures filled with life and how these structures would eventually host countless family memories.
For the last 18 years, I've worked on a variety of projects, from houses to multifamily complexes and senior living facilities. It’s been quite a journey, and Vessel has helped shape my career and my approach to creating meaningful spaces. Our goal is to create buildings that are more than just structures; we aim to craft environments where people can thrive. Our senior living projects are especially close to my heart, enhancing the daily lives of the residents. I feel a strong sense of purpose knowing we are affecting their quality of life through the design. Crafting spaces where people live their lives from socializing to exercising is very rewarding.
Designing my own home has always been a dream, as it is for many architects. My wife Kristen and I wanted an entertainment space to connect our living space to both the front and back yards. This allows us to make dinner and still see our four boys playing in the yard. We blended our personal tastes with practical requirements, creating a space that truly reflects our family’s needs and personality. We worked through every dimension, material, and detail with our contractor and short-term landlord, my dad, to ensure we were being as economical as possible. We saved money by doing a lot of work ourselves and coordinating with the subcontractors.
This experience has refined my approach to working with contractors and consultants. Being both the designer and client provided perspective into the daily life of a contractor, bringing a new level of empathy and understanding. Clear communication has become key in our practice, ensuring every decision aligns with our vision from start to finish. Having worked closely with various teams, I’ve learned the importance of perspective. It is important to see challenges through others' eyes—particularly, understanding the frustration when something doesn't translate clearly from our vision to the drawings and thus to the field. This has led to emphasizing a relationship where questions are encouraged, collaboration is the cornerstone of every project, and the goal is not individual success but the collective satisfaction of the client and end users of the space. My advice is straightforward for those new to architecture: embrace both the design and construction perspectives. When architects and contractors collaborate effectively, the results are both functional and inspiring. This unity is not just beneficial—it's crucial, as it ensures we all work together effectively to create spaces that ultimately serve the people who will use them, leading to more successful projects.
The future of architecture excites me, especially as it leans into the realm of personalized experiences. Whether it's designing senior living facilities that transform care or multifamily residences that cultivate community, the heart of architecture remains the same—it's about people, their stories, and the spaces they inhabit. Our use of virtual reality with the client and the contractor brings our team together to see and understand the project early. This allows everyone to be on the same page regarding important goals and design features. It was also really fun to see our house design through the eyes of my 5-year-old, whose view was looking at the face of the cabinets instead of down on the countertops. The success of this process can be seen in the addition of two memory care households to Mother of Perpetual Help. We showed the client the importance of large windows that bring abundant natural light into the space during the value engineering (VE) process. In doing so, we decided to save money in another location to account for the extra cost. Fast forward to a recent meeting, I was struck by their feedback that our design is fostering a home-like environment that families are eager to visit, thus improving the lives of the residents. We are now looking to bring this feeling to other spaces in their community. It is truly rewarding to witness the tangible impact of our architectural vision.
I hope to teach my boys the importance of hard work as I reflect on my father’s dedication; staying up late working at the kitchen table or being there when we got up in the morning to make changes to a bid or re-layout a drawing because the client requested a change. It's not just about meeting deadlines; it's about dedication to the craft and, above all, to the client's needs. This commitment to service defines our approach to architecture, ensuring we create spaces that people are proud to call home. I am happy to be just a small part of that through my daily architectural practice.
