Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Stubb.
Hi Laurie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I feel fortunate in that my mother was an artist and my father was an engineer, exposing me to the free-thinking and rigor that comes with each endeavor. I guess these are qualities that I seemed to inherit, so I see myself as both a creative thinker and a problem solver.
Take that a step further, for example, my grandfather worked for a truss fabricator, how cool is that by the way, and would bring me house plans to pour over every weekend? When asked what I wanted for my 12th birthday, I said “A box of wood studs”! My story came together in 1977 when our 7th grade elective choices included “industrial arts” in addition to the typical Home Economics classes, which was the first year girls were integrated into this curriculum. While hard to believe, in that class I found a way to pursue my creativity and construction interests through both drafting lessons and hands-on building in the wood shop.
Becoming an architect takes 6 years of schooling, culminating in a master’s degree. For me, it was an incredible journey that delivered on expectations for hands-on creative thinking. There was a contingent of women students, some of whom are still my friends, however, it was evident that our numbers were few amongst the student population. I also took note of how few women were represented among the faculty at the time.
My early career was based in Baltimore and Washington, DC. working for large institutional firms and smaller boutique residential firms. During that time, I learned a lot and appreciated the mentorship I received. It was also another time when I saw the lack of role models that were like me and saw the lack of diversity in the profession.
After almost twenty years of working in this context, I realized it was time to venture out on my own to have more control over my destiny. Eighteen years later, with lots of hard work and many great clients, we are thriving, delivering what I would consider honest architecture, with programmatic clarity, that is sensitive to context, and to the needs of our clients.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I leaped to start my business, I had one client and honestly wasn’t quite sure the direction this path would take. Being a devoted planner, I created a business strategy and had visions of grandeur.
But truthfully, early on we worked on whatever we could catch and committed to networking and doing what we could to get noticed in the community. Thinking back to architecture school, the design was what we were taught but they didn’t quite cover “how to run or build a business” so there was a bit of a learning curve with which to wrestle.
It takes a lot to start a new business in a very competitive field, but there was one thing I knew I was committed to doing as we shaped our business was to provide the freedom, or rather the requirement to focus on my family.
Countering the prevailing attitude at the time, I sought ways to be both a thriving architect and a committed parent to my two daughters and to set an example to them that one can both manage the expectations of life and the desire to fulfill your dreams.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Building on my previous experience, I launched our experiment in 2005 to deliver full-service design solutions for custom residential projects. Initially, projects were fairly modest in scope, but no matter the scale of the project I focused hard on the client and their particular needs and personal desires.
Most clients have not gone through a building project before and I made it a goal to honestly engage them in a fun and satisfying experience. Renovating or building a home is a very personal undertaking, and as much as “design” is the heavy lift in terms of the work, building a sincere rapport is the key to making meaningful and transformational environments for our clients. I was sure to recognize and accommodate in our approach the uniqueness of each project and every client and integrate our clients into our process to best realize their vision.
My passion resides in delivering clean modern solutions. Our family moved into a stellar example of Mid-Century architecture about 20 years ago and it became a lab for how to live in harmony with one’s spaces, needs, and the environment. I truly believe this experience has translated into our ability to deliver thoughtful, timeless, and innovative architecture. We have built a solid reputation for our skillful practice in renovating Mid-Century homes, inserting 21st-century technology while retaining the essence of the original structure.
Many people seek an emotional connection between their homes and the outdoor spaces they inhabit. The sensory experiences of natural light and good proportion lead to happiness and tranquility. Our holistic approach seeks to blur the line between indoor living and the outdoor experience.
We take seriously our responsibility to reduce the carbon footprint in our projects by introducing renewable energy alternatives, tighter building envelopes, and sustainable and sustainably sourced materials. In the spirit of true Mid-century architecture, we are proponents of building less square footage without compromising the quality of life.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Simply put: Trust, listening, and problem-solving are the key characteristics to the success of our projects. Those are the foundational qualities of good relationships which ultimately lead to good design.
To me, our client’s trust is key. It unlocks creativity and the ability to push boundaries. When we get into construction it allows me to advocate for our clients as by then we’ve formed a meaningful bond.
I take pride in my ability to listen, to hear what our clients are seeking. It is an indispensable part of understanding the project and the unique qualities of our clients.
Ultimately, we are really good problem solvers. Design is a complex puzzle that requires real-time 3-dimensional thinking. It relies on deep experience and respect for traditions while requiring agility to flex to the particulars of a project.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.placearchitecture.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/placearchitecturedesign/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-stubb-79718b42/
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/placearchdesign/__public
Image Credits
Tom Holdsworth Photography and Vince Lupo Photography
