Brian spends his professional life designing spaces for children and his personal life letting them pick the music. He came to K-12 work for the balance it demands between creative thinking and technical precision, and has found that no two projects present the same problem. His next project is an elementary school in New Kent, Virginia, the community where he grew up.
What attracted you to this profession?
I’ve always been drawn to the balance of creativity and problem-solving. The opportunity to shape spaces that impact how people experience and interact with their environment is what initially attracted me to the profession and continues to keep it interesting.
What three words would you use to describe your job?
Creative, collaborative, challenging.
What are the most important personality traits to have in your profession?
Flexibility, patience, and communication go a long way. Projects can evolve quickly or slowly, so being able to navigate challenges and work well with different personalities is incredibly valuable.
What’s a typical week in your job like?
No two weeks are exactly the same, which is one of the things I enjoy most in my role here. Typically, my time is split between developing project ideas, working through technical details and coordinating with various team members and clients.
What do you like most about your job?
The variety and problem-solving is what I enjoy most. Every project brings unique challenges, and it’s rewarding to see ideas evolve into spaces that have a real impact on the people using them.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
One of the biggest challenges is balancing competing priorities while keeping projects moving forward. Every project has unique constraints so it takes creativity, collaboration, and adaptability to find the best solutions.
What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now?
Right now, I’m gearing up for a new elementary school project in my hometown of New Kent, Virginia. Having the opportunity to design an inspiring learning environment for the next generation of kids in the community that raised me is definitely a cool, full-circle moment.
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love staying active in the gym and spending quality time with my wife and kids.
What music are you listening to right now?
Honestly, whatever keeps my kids happy in the car. My playlist is 100% driven by whatever prevents a backseat meltdown.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
My first car in high school. It was such a total surprise that I was in pure shock and accidentally slammed the door on my parents.
.avif)
