As the Pacific Northwest continues to grow, Minarik Architecture is one of the numerous architecture firms helping to ensure the long-term quality of its built environment be preserved. From cabins to coffee shops, their work strives towards a kind of pared-down regionalism, minimizing unnecessary elements in order to create buildings that, in 100 years, retain their integrity.

For this week's Small Studio Snapshot, we asked founder Doug Minarik to offer some insights into working in the region and starting a practice.

How many people are in your practice?

3

Why were you originally motivated to start your own practice?

My first child; having a new baby provided a glimpse into the future and made me think about what I would be doing when she graduated from high school. I couldn’t see myself still working for someone, however it was easy to envision having a practice of my own, working and interfacing on a more personal level with clients and their projects. The consistent advice I received as a new dad was to savor every moment, because time flies. That advice quickly translated to my professional trajectory and made me realize that starting my own office would only get harder as more time passed. 

What hurdles have you come across?

Maintaining the integrity and quality of projects with the realities of schedules and budgets is a challenge that I was well aware of. However the hurdle I did not anticipate was the elevated stress and pressure as a result of being directly responsible as a business owner for how the budgets and schedules make an office profitable, keep clients happy and ultimately shape a project’s success. Understanding how to balance the increased liability and responsibility with a healthy lifestyle requires constant effort. 

The Pacific Northwest has grown a lot in the past decade. How has this effected what it means to be an architect in the city as well as design approaches?

Absolutely, with growth comes a wide range of construction and design quality. The PNW is full of projects developed for short term gains or hastily made design decisions in an attempt to capitalize on the current strength of the economy. This isn’t a new phenomenon, but it is heightened given the crazy current pace of growth. We are competing in a market where the quality bar is lowered and construction costs are inflated—creating added pressure when attempting to design long-term solutions. The silver lining is that this has enabled us to hone our design approach by editing design ideas to the core goals and values of a project. If the long-term quality of a project is to be preserved, there isn’t room in a project for excess architecture. Our design approach relies on a strong core idea, supported by multi-faceted decisions.

Is scaling up a goal or would you like to maintain the size of your practice?

We love being small. There is an intimacy to the work that is extremely satisfying. Although I don’t see us scaling up for a single project opportunity, I do see a small amount of growth for the purpose of added depth and knowledge within the firm. Ideally the size of our firm should not compromise the ability to create comprehensive and well-detailed projects.  

What are the benefits of having your own practice? And staying small?

We’ve been incredibly fortunate to work on projects with very involved and appreciative clients. This contributes to our overall satisfaction of the work we do. As an owner, the stresses of running a business are easily balanced by the satisfaction of a completed project and witnessing people interact in the space. Within our office, I am fortunate to have talented and dedicated employees that help contribute to the wide range of skills an architectural office requires to be successful. It is very rewarding to have a practice that combines multiple talents, elevating the work well beyond what I could accomplish as an individual.