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Have you ever wondered about the genesis of architectural partnerships? Many architects have formed partnerships with one or more like-minded colleagues. Often, those partnerships have produced both successful businesses and award-winning work. Join us for a panel discussion exploring partnerships in architecture. We'll bring together architects from firms of different sizes, including emerging, mid-career, and established, to discuss their experiences and answer your questions. There are many advantages to having business partners, but it also presents challenges. We'll cover various topics, including organizational options, benefits of partnership, management structures, methods of collaboration, firm growth, and eventual transition. If you're considering creating or joining an architectural partnership, this session is for you!

Presenters:

Jim Voelzke, FAIA, LEED AP, MV+A Principal

Mr. Voelzke joined MV+A in early 1994 and serves as the firm’s Managing Partner. He has been responsible for the design and project management of multiple projects, including mixed use developments, new town centers, food stores, shopping centers, and office buildings. His projects have received numerous awards for Design Excellence from the American Institute of Architects. In 2016 Jim was elevated to the AIA College at Fellows, the AIA’s highest honor.

Janet Bloomberg, FAIA, KUBE architecture Principal
Janet Bloomberg is a partner and founder of KUBE architecture in Washington DC, a modern architecture studio that challenges the norms of daily life. Janet’s work has received numerous local, regional, and national design awards, and her projects have been extensively published nationally and internationally. She has taught architectural design at a number of universities around the country, and she served as President of the Washington Architectural Foundation Board, where she started several new programs for DC youth in architecture.

Adam McGraw, AIA, Studio Mb Principal
Adam’s award-winning work reflects a wide range of skills in the areas of residential and commercial design, hospitality, adaptive re-use, and institutional work. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with 26 years of experience practicing architecture, he has a passion for good design from large-scale new construction to transformative re-purposing of existing buildings.

Ashley Kirkland, NCIDQ, Wyn Design Co Partner
After earning a Bachelors of Science in Interior Architecture from Ohio University, Ashley has honed nearly two decades of experience designing and managing hospitality, multi-family, and corporate interiors projects. With a passion for adaptive reuse, Ashley draws design inspiration from historic elements with modern interventions. As a Partner and Managing Principal, Ashley oversees all operations and finances of the firm as well as leads major design projects with a thoughtful, organized, and creative approach.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate organizational options for creating an architectural firm partnership
• Gain an understanding of the benefits of partnerships and why architects choose to engage in them
• Explore methods of collaboration and management structures within architectural partnerships
• Learn how partnerships can help jumpstart firm growth and facilitate firm transitions

Organized by:

SFx (Small Firm Exchange) and Fellows Public Programs Committee

Sponsored by:

Actalent