Today we’d like to introduce you to Marilyn Moedinger.
Marilyn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been interested in buildings since I was a little girl – I’d ask my mom to buy one of those plan books from the grocery store, and I’d white out all the walls and redraw them where I thought they should go. When I started looking at colleges, and I first set foot in an architecture school, I was hooked – all the models, the drawings, the creative mess – these were “my people!” I went to the University of Virginia for undergrad, and when I finished, I wanted to learn construction in the field, so I got a job as basically a laborer.
My first day of work, I was carrying rubble out of a basement of an architecture firm, actually, which meant that I had to walk past my former classmates working at computers, carrying these rubble buckets all day, covered in dust and dirt. I have to admit, it kind of made me question my decision! But I eventually worked my way up in another construction company and learned estimating, construction management, writing contracts, and all aspects of construction. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful mentor at that company.
I always knew I wanted to go back to get my Masters degree in Architecture, so after about 4 years in the field, I was back at UVA, which was a perfect fit for me. Graduating during the recession was a challenge, but I ended up here in Boston at Utile Architecture + Planning and teaching as an adjunct at Northeastern. I also had won a traveling fellowship, so I was simultaneously navigating living in a new city and venturing around the world for about 5 months – it was a lot of fun, and a huge learning and growing experience. I was at Utile for a few years, doing great work with great people, had a brief stint as a full-time administrator at Boston Architectural College, and launched Runcible Studios about 4 years ago….and I’ve never looked back!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course, it hasn’t always been smooth – I always say that you have to be an equal parts starry-eyed optimist and nose-to-the-grindstone realist to start, and run, a business, and if you really knew how hard it was, you might not choose to do it! I think the most difficult thing about running an architecture firm is the boom and bust nature of it. One minute all your projects have immediate deadlines and you could hire three people, and the next minute everything slows down – projects are held up in permitting, a client has a change of circumstances in their life, that kind of thing. Learning to prepare for this kind of uncertainty has made things a lot smoother for me over the years.
It can also be tough to explain exactly what Architects do – people ask me all the time whether I think about structure, or do I think about paint colors, or do I think about the outside of buildings, or do I know about HVAC or plumbing or other technical things – the answer is, all of the above!
Please tell us about Runcible Studios.
Runcible Studios is a full-service architecture firm, working on projects for private clients, developers, non-profits, and commercial clients. Full-service means we can work through all stages of design and construction – from feasibility to visioning to creating the sets of drawings used to apply for permits and carry out construction to construction oversight to interior design services and everything in between! We’ve done everything from helping clients figure out if a development project will be profitable – finding creative ways to read zoning regulations, or coming up with novel ways to fit more units into a lot – to helping private clients figure out the best layout for their furniture. We are most familiar with housing, either single-family or multifamily, but we’ve done all kinds of projects.
Our number one goal is helping clients solve their problems – we get most excited by the crazy, impossible-seeming problems – like when one client asked us to renovate their second floor to include a second bathroom and a re-organized master suite, without losing a bedroom, and without adding onto the house. That seems impossible at first – how can you add all that space without an addition?! But we figured it out, and the clients were thrilled. We thrive on those kinds of problems, large and small.
There are a few things that separate us from the pack – probably foremost that I came to architecture through construction. That means that I can “speak contractor,” which is helpful for clients and contractors alike. Our drawings are put together with the mind of those who build, which makes them efficient and clear. That means happy contractors and fewer mistakes and issues during construction, which means lower construction costs, which means happy clients! Our connections to the local schools of Architecture is also a plus, giving us a wide network, and an energy and vitality in our practice.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I feel pretty lucky to have learned a lot about business from working as a contractor, and from my parents, both of whom are business people. I’m not sure there is much I’d do differently, because even when there were hard lessons, I see now that it was important to learn them in that way, and grow from those experiences. I’ve found patience to be one of the most important virtues in business, as well as one of the most overrated – learning to differentiate when it’s time to wait, and when it’s time for immediate action, is very important.
I tell my students all the time that four or five years working construction, or for a developer, or in another allied field, seems like a really long time now, but later in their career, it’s those experiences that will set them apart and give them special insights into being an architect.
I’m also a big proponent of having experiences outside of the field, and traveling as much as possible. The more you can see, and draw, and experience, the better you’ll be at solving your clients’ problems. And the more you can see yourself as a facilitator and steward of your clients’ visions, of the community, and of the environment, the better your work will be. It’s quite an honor and privilege to do this kind of work, and my goal is always to approach our work with passion, rigor, and joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.runciblestudios.com
- Phone: 617-979-9888
- Instagram: @runciblestudios
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runciblestudios/
- Twitter: @runciblestudios
Image Credit:
Sam Balukonis, Runcible Studios, John Horner, Sam Balukonis/Runcible Studios, John Horner, Runcible Studios
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
