Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.
A. We're very fortunate to have worked on a variety of project types. Our most common types of jobs, however, are custom residential projects. These consist of new custom homes on the one hand, and home additions/renovations/restorations on the other.
New home projects are wonderful because we have the opportunity to give our clients exactly what they are seeking, and build their dreams from the ground-up. But additions/renovations/restorations are also rewarding because we have the chance to take our client's beloved homes and breathe new life and energy into them. Oftentimes more difficult to design than a completely new home, renovation projects are challenging and highly rewarding - especially when we see the look in our client's eyes when they see something great happening to their house.
Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A. Understand that there is a vast difference between a non-professional who can provide you with measured drawings for your project vs. the services offered by an experienced, qualified, licensed professional. Your home or business is your most valuable and treasured asset - make sure that you entrust your most valuable asset to professionals who will protect your interests and provide you with exceptional service. Once the damage is done, there is no way to justify the savings that can be done to your home or business by an under-qualified individual who claims to provide the same service as a qualified, professional design firm - its just not worth the risk.
Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?
A. Our work stands out in several ways:
- We are experienced in a wide variety of building and project types, from custom residential to commercial buildings, from master planning to urban design, from signage to concept design;
- We approach every project - regardless of scale or budget - from the point of view of creating the best project we can, with the collaboration of our clients;
- We are LEED Accredited Professionals, and as such green design is a central and integral feature of our work;
- We bring to the table nearly 30 years of experience to the field of custom residential design and construction;
- We are licensed professionals, so the work we produce is always of the highest quality.
- We have dozens of built projects and project references we can refer you to. Our satisfied clients are our best advertisement and endorsement.
Q. What do you like most about your job?
A. The opportunity to get to know each of our clients, learn to understand their dreams and desires, the chance to work on exciting projects, and, in the end, deliver quality architectural services and finished buildings that exceed our client's expectations. There is no greater satisfaction to us than a satisfied client.
Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?
A. The quality of homes that we live in and the businesses we work in directly impacts the user's quality of life and well-being. Architectural designs by quality-minded professionals enhance the everyday experiences of those who use these spaces and buildings.
Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?
A. Continuing education is required by the State of Massachusetts in order to maintain Professional Licensure. Continuing Ed is also required by the US Green Building Council to maintain our LEED green design status. As a firm whose Principal is a professionally-licensed Architect, continuing education is not only a requirement but an essential ingredient to ensure quality designs and performance.
Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?
A. I think the biggest development in the field of architecture and design in recent years is the push towards "green" design - using materials and systems that help to protect the environment. From day 1 Tektoniks Architects has always striven to design buildings and spaces that are mindful of the natural world. This doesn't always mean selecting high-tech new products, or specifying materials that are unusual - sometimes this comes back to "good design": taking advantage of natural heat gain from the sun, using daylighting as much as possible for interior lighting, using local materials to minimize carbon emissions resulting from transportation to the site, etc.
Green design = good design, whether the project is a high-tech job or not. Designers must keep up with trends in green design, and help our clients understand ways that we can build to keep our environment protected and thriving. These changes will revolutionize the design industry moving forward.
