ENCORE ARCHITECTS - Key Persons
Problem Solver. Andrew likens every Encore building project to a puzzle that needs to be figured out. He thrives on finding clever solutions to things that aren't quite working. Andrew's office specialty ranges greatly - from building codes to the entitlement process, constructability, design, parking and the list goes on. When Andrew isn't in the office he enjoys being with his kids or camping, and sometimes both.
Distiller. Andrew's strength is pragmatic design - coming up with attractive, achievable outcomes that clients love. He seeks the essence of a problem, and strives to simplify and streamline processes and design. Andrew is a fan of projects with enthusiastic clients and users, no matter how mundane. A father of four, he enjoys hiking, visits to REI and anything related to aviation. His biggest extravagance? Name-brand ketchup. He finds joy in the little things.
The Gatherer. Blair is a pro at getting people and opinions to come together. She excels at finding common ground between ideas, offering project management advice that moves solutions forward. Blair enjoys cultivating a nostalgic appreciation for all things art deco - whether the Chrysler Building or the gas station down the street. When she's not at work, you might find her plotting an escape to Barbados, where she imagines retirement life as a rum distillery owner.
Brainstormer. Quick on his mental feet, Brian thrives on visualizing multiple ideas and possibilities - and their effects. He has a knack for cutting through the mediocre to the magic of inventive architectural design, all while balancing priorities and strategy. A fan of everything art, science and design, Brian would invite Leonardo DaVinci to dinner if he could bring one historical figure back to life. In his spare time, Brian enjoys Ironman races, collecting Fluevog shoes and perfecting his amateur mixologist skills.
Analyzer. Chris likes to sweat the details and that bodes well in his work. He's primarily responsible for exterior envelope detailing and construction administration. Chris's most memorable projects involve the opportunity to work with sophisticated clients who have a willingness to experiment. Chris's advice to live by: "Don't take yourself too seriously."
Puzzle-master. Chris's conceptual strength in the office is putting puzzle-pieces together: finding the ones that fit, or creating them if they don't already exist. He finds inspiration in impact, believing that small kernels of information can be magnified in influence when their importance captures notice. But life isn't all philosophy - his personal motto is "when life gets complicated, go skiing," and appropriately-enough he's a certified ski instructor himself. Chris recommends investing in high-quality butter as a small-but-significant way to improve one's daily life.
Navigator. Chris's motto "No worries" stems from her steady and balanced nature. She's a versatile leader and creative designer who excels at managing divergent situations: taking stock of all the interests in a project and guiding people to thoughtful and successful solutions. Chris's favorite projects involve meticulous detailing and relating a building's form to its immediate context. When she's not contemplating the craftsmanship and transitions of the Katsura Imperial Villa or the scale and space of the Pantheon, you might find Chris studying the earth's marine life and how to sustain them.
Solution Finder. Christine is methodical and detailed-oriented, a technical problem-solver whose favorite projects are adaptive reuse buildings or those with a complex program. She thrives on solving puzzles, and is known for her calm-under-pressure personality, which comes in handy in all contexts. Along with her love of organizing beer and food events, Christine is the reigning office Chili Cook-Off Champion. She even has the trophy to prove it.
Calm under pressure. Derrick is known for his project management experience in all phases of design and construction, as well as his strengths in technical detailing and building/land use codes. His skills find a welcome home in urban mixed-use projects; their unique challenges provoke some of his most elegant design solutions. Derrick has lived on both coasts (and also in between them), but he's called Seattle home since 1988. If he were to die and come back as an object, he'd reincarnate as the Voyager spacecraft.
Advocate. Jen enjoys helping young architects succeed, mentoring new team members through the architectural process from conceptual design to occupancy. Her most memorable project was seeing the Main Street building evolve over time. Jen is an expert in all things board games, Seattle happy hours and traveling the world. If she could do anything, she would design and operate a giant, elaborate escape room.
Curator. Lauren is an expert at evaluating discordance and producing harmony. She thrives in the challenge of taking varied inputs from key stakeholders and molding them into a cohesive design concept. Contextually-driven projects lie at the core of Lauren's work; her sensitivity towards space-planning expresses itself through a general drive to enhance the urban fabric of Seattle. Although undetectable at first glance, Lauren is extremely competitive and wouldn't mind making a bet on it. On what, you ask? Anything, really. If Lauren were to reincarnate, she would prefer to come back as a bicycle, exploring nature and neighborhood alike.
Counselor. Maurice is a sponge for learning, but also feels incredibly inclined to share his knowledge. He's perceptive when listening and a pro at honing ideas. At Encore, Maurice enjoys working on well-crafted, socially beneficial projects that symbolically represent culture and empower users. Outside of work, Maurice is a powerhouse at pub trivia and karaoke, and enjoys combining his love of food with travel.
Troubleshooter. Since he was a kid, Rocky has always been fascinated with buildings and structures. He's dreamed of designing a building that will be distinguishable as his own. In the office, Rocky excels at diagnosing BIM problems, creating office standards and bringing new technology into practice. A fan of a complex architectural challenge, it's no surprise Rocky's motto is "every problem has a solution."
Sage. Tom's favorite projects improve the public experience, creating useful and fulfilling spaces for people to live, work and play. He enjoys working with people who have a genuine and vested interest in the work and the end-result. When he's not coming up with practical solutions for construction detailing or solving problems in modeling software, he's likely building something at home or downing multiple overpriced lattes.
Motivator. At the age of 10, Vince decided he wanted to be an architect, and he's never looked back. He'll never forget the time he saw Frank Lloyd Wright's "Falling Water," which he calls a "timeless, environmental feat; moving to the soul." At Encore, Vince thrives on continually pushing himself and his team to quickly develop strong solutions that exceed expectations. He performs extensive quality control reviews, provides site capacity concept studies and contributes to Encore's client growth.