OPA Inner Circle Interview - Todd Hutchison, Architectural Project Designer

As we continue to highlight the people behind all of the awesome craft brewery design coming out of OPA Design Studio, we recently (virtually) sat down with Todd Hutchison, another of The Brewery Architect’s dedicated project designers.

Todd started with OPA two years ago and has been a valuable member to our design team in that time. We hope to see him continue to shine and grow with our team, lending us and our clients his unique perspective and passion for great design.

1) In 3 sentences or fewer, what does your daily life at OPA look like (bonus points for haikus)?

Log in to find OPA's "word of the day"
what should my background be, what should it say
rearrange lines in space
sketch on another paper of trace
until what once were dreams are set to stay

Editors Note: limerick bonus points given in place of haiku bonus points.

2) What advice would you give to our fellow architectural professionals, clients, and consultants from your experience working remotely for OPA these last 6 months during the COVID19 pandemic?

Working from home tends to be more fluid than the daily schedule of working in the office. Creating structure and connecting with work mates adds stability. Open communication is key. Fun Zoom backgrounds make for good conversation.

3) What is the best thing about being in the architecture profession today?

Architects problem solve to meet challenges. COVID has changed how we live in 2020 and architects are challenged with how our spaces look and function moving forward.

4) What do you like most about how our team has evolved in the time that you've been with us?

I have gained skills and grown as a designer from getting to know other's strengths, sharing current work through the open office Zoom meeting, and acquiring new rendering and VR tools.

5) What do you consider your greatest architectural accomplishment so far?

Finding enjoyment in the pursuit of an answer.

6) What motivates you?

Solution finding.  Smiles.  Joy.

7) Please fill in the blanks (feel free to use multiple words for each blank):

Good architectural design meets the needs, but great architectural design makes the moment.

8) Define great design in 5 words or fewer.

Efficient. Natural. Detailed. Inspiring.

OPA Inner Circle Interview - Carole Zuriek, Architectural Project Designer

Our deep dive into the people behind all of the awesome craft brewery design coming out of OPA Design Studio continues as we recently sat down with Carole Zuriek, another of The Brewery Architect’s dedicated project designers.

Carole started with OPA a little over a year ago and has been a valuable member to our design team in that time. We hope to see her continue to shine and grow with our team, lending us and our clients her unique perspective and passion for great design.

1) In 3 sentences or fewer, what does your daily life at OPA look like?

Life at OPA is full of surprises, each day brings with it new challenges, usually exciting ones. You can find me doing anything from designing, sketching, and coloring (the kid in me loves this part) to putting together construction documents and coordinating with consultants and clients.

2) What is the best thing about being in the architecture profession today?

This is the Tech era; we are diving into 3D modeling and the world of VR and other software and technology. It is not just super fun but also helps us and the client realize the design better and be more efficient in our process.

3) What do you like most about how our team has grown in the time that you've been with us?

The studio is like an extension of home. It is a comfortable, fun, healthy environment and that is what we need for this fast paced and demanding profession. The team is one of OPA’s best qualities, all our personalities are different, but we complement each other very well and I think that shows in our work. We all have something different to bring to the table. It was great to see how quickly we all form strong friendly relationships. We are always using our personal experiences as teaching moments that help us grow as a team.

4) What motivates you?

 Challenge, happy client, planting beautiful and functional architecture around the city.

5) Please fill in the blanks: “Good architectural design is seen , but great architectural design is noticed and remembered .”

 6) Define great design in 5 words or fewer.

Functional, beautiful, audacious, memorable, exciting