Looking Back on 10 Years!
Photographer: Ricardo Horatio Nelson, 2017
Dear Everyone, its Ajay Chopra the founder of EDA. I would like to look back at my ten years and share my thoughts on how they shaped my office. I hope it is not too long!
An architect’s goal whether it’s as an individual or as a firm, is to create work for a client that is comfortable to live, work, or experience while also being a catalyst for innovative ideas. My goal of starting my own architecture firm is to able to develop designs from new perspectives, there have been many journeys that brought me to this point. Like many offices, this was born out of a natural desire to have full control over designs, from the overall concept to the smallest details, to build your best space for each client. After 10 years of surviving and thriving, I wanted to share some of my own experiences and lessons to help those who may just be starting out or have been around for awhile and wanted to hear how others are doing in the industry.
Prior to opening my own architectural firm, I have worked for numerous other architects and consultants with a wide range of projects and philosophies. My own experience helped develop my personal perspective on architecture and learn the internal functions of growing a business. Having seen the potential pit falls and the difficult balancing act of being invested in your work and try to remain profitable, I felt comfortable enough to opening an office.
It was in August of 2011 that I opened my doors, Echo Design + Architecture was a dream become reality. I had a transitional period in which I worked under my own name for three years prior to this, but in creating a firm I felt the need to put a name to the office that would reflect my own ideas and the team I wanted to create. I chose the word echo as the manifestation of a source that is changed based on how it is received and reflected. By receiving the world, I reflect on it and in turn create a new world based on our own perception. And as I expand the office and incorporate more perspectives, I am able to create new and even more diverse echoes. Plus, it still had three letters of my last name.
This new chapter was exciting and like every new venture it had its own risk so I took that chance in full stride. Just like many other new businesses, there was a period of time that my apartment served as a workspace, but as soon the paperwork piled up it became harder and harder to organize. This was feasible at first because my projects were relatively small, but as I landed a larger commercial project and a retail renovation it was time to find a full-time office space. Fortunately, WeWork had an office nearby, and became my first foray into the co-working world. These two projects helped me springboard the office; increasing overhead, expand the team, and most importantly carrying professional liability insurance. Our early projects only required rudimentary commercial drawings and simple submissions for residential interiors that allowed me to focus on developing the firm itself while still producing designs up to my standards. I was still hungry to grow the office and our designs, so the journey continued even after I was solidly on my feet.
I believe we always had core fundamentals to the office that either made us unique or alien to other firms but we never did want to be just another firm. It was always important to organize every stage of the process from conceptualization to construction. We involved ourselves with everyone throughout process by engaging with the clients, contractors, and fabricators to learn the best way to work with them and get the most value out of our own designs, too. The goal is to have each person in the office to have a working understanding of every aspect of design and construction so they can become a better architect. In this regard employees are involved at every level of the studio design process as well; everyone is encouraged to question and propose designs so we can have the most refined and faceted design as possible. It was never about my design it was more about the most appropriate design that was right for the clients needs.
In trying to be a group of ‘Master Builders’ we have spent in-numerous hours working with and observing contractors, learning everything that is required of them and what they are capable of as well. We look to keep expanding our services with this knowledge, from custom millwork and furniture to on-site construction management. This in turn gave us even more contact with specific trades and fabricators, that let us see even more specific and granular aspects that affect budgets and schedules than before. This cycle gives us more and more insight into the potential pitfalls, critical aspects, and the time consumed by any given aspect of the process. We wanted to always keep an open mind so that more information flowed into various ways of understanding the process.
Through the beauty of detailing, construction can be beautiful from the growing scales of components into the assemblies that then turns a collection of spaces into buildings. Our clients and patrons are always excited in our ability to meet the most brutal deadlines and the tightest budgets while still incorporating our own unique solutions into the designs. In order to maintain this success as an office, my employees are considered the most precious commodity. Anyone familiar with architecture offices has heard horror stories of insane hours and crushing workloads, but these are typically failures of an office not allocating enough resources to a given project or taking on too much work to begin with. Other times, it can be the result of misguided or egotistical partners who do not mind overextending their workers for the sake of their own vision. It becomes hard to defend any offices that require 10 or more hours of work a day or even working 6-7 days a week for any extended period, this is a glaring example of an office failing its employees. In a field that has grown more a more competitive over the years, architects are constantly pushed to undercut each other which often results in employees voluntarily working in these conditions at the risk of their own physical and mental health in order to get ahead. Due to a focus on providing the appropriate amount of resources, time, and employees for each job, we rarely find ourselves in a situation where employees are stretched thinner than we need to be.
In addition to not overworking my team, I am always looking for new ways and opportunities to provide a better work-life balance for my office as well. Making sure everyone is as fulfilled in their personal life can easily lead them to being more fulfilled in the office as well by not having baggage to bring into the office. That being said I have had a number of employees who did move onto larger or more deadline-oriented offices. I do hope that they learned valuable lessons about their worth while working with me, but also enjoyed their experience in this office as well. I have always been and always will be utterly grateful to the employees and consultants that have come through my doors, spreading joy and sharing their lives with each other that helped create wonderful designs and great friendships, too. Working as a group of friends, I avoided making any part of the design process operate as a hierarchy, giving everyone the opportunity to make decisions based on the merits rather than on personal preference. This approach really gave me the chance to see everyone’s perspective on design and the world, while also letting me get to know them on a personal level rather than only on a professional one. We are able to see what areas someone excels in and what areas they may want to explore and develop more.
Photographer: Shruti Chopra, 2015
In my own life this is a relatively new approach, because in the past I have worked in some offices that only valued a person’s productivity, so feelings and personality didn’t play a large role in the design process. I found these periods to be demeaning and adversely affecting me mentality and my passion towards design. So as advice to the new generations seeking jobs, you should always look at how the office works and not just the work that the office produces, it could be the difference between a fulfilling career or a demeaning chore. Inversely, as advice to newer offices or offices reorganizing, it is your job to understand and appreciate the different backgrounds, education, and experiences that all your employees and hires may have.
Another aspect that I have learned to emphasize is transparency with all of my clients. I do not believe there is any part of the process that the client should not be fully aware of, so I do my best to also lay out what is and what is not within my role or in my services. This helps maintain expectations and avoids putting either of us in a position where someone’s needs are not being met. I also like to spend time throughout projects, and even before we are signed on, to educate a client about each stage so they are not going in blind or not being aware of how involved their intentions may become. Unlike the office that runs their staff ragged in order to meet inordinate deadlines, we provide realistic expectations before any agreement. It is easy to lose someone’s trust if you have to constantly walk back your promises, or are causing undue delays. I make it a very important point to my employees that we maintain open communication and are readily available to speak with our clients, contractors, and anyone else involved with projects not only to answer questions but keep an open dialogue that can lead to a more inspiring and thought-provoking environment.
Over the past decade, I have been honored to work on many residential and commercials projects, along with several competitions that allowed our visions to become a beautiful reality. I am also humbled by the many talented employees and collaborators that have been part of the office that helped turn our years of hard work, focus, and energy into a successful and dynamic space. Lastly, I am grateful to each and every client that has given us the opportunity to design and create spaces that brings them joy day in and day out.
Since the very beginning, my goal has been to keep pushing the office forward despite what the world may throw at us. To keep instilling my heart and vision into its very core while staying mindful of the joy that everyday can bring. So, thanks again to everyone who has played a role, whether large or small, in my journey and thank you for following and reading along with me. I hope you stick around to see us aim even higher!
Kind Regards,