Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Brown.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chris. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
“Go to Rome,” my Italian cousin said to me when he learned that I wanted to be an architect. I was 14. I find myself saying it often to aspiring architects, for that year abroad was formational and priceless. That year solidified my love of travel and I kept a sketchbook to collect memories of one fantastic place after another.
From South Bend, IN, to Rome, to visits to Chicago and flirtations with San Francisco, I ended up where my 14-year-old self-thought I would, Boston. As stubborn as I was in seeking this profession at an early age, it wasn’t until many years of working in the profession that I sought to start the studio.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Economy is damned, let’s take the plunge. Opening a firm at the bottom of a recession and an uncertain economic climate was not for the faint of heart, but I had Julie Brown, my loving wife, and partner in everything by my side. Julie’s method for real business development and strategy paid dividends on day one. We actually had work, good work for great people and b Architecture had its start.
With that being said, it was still daunting to be a firm of one. While in school I interned at Shepley Bullfinch, which had about 150 people at the time. After graduation, I worked at Elkus/Manfredi which had grown to 200 people. In 2000, I changed pace and joined a small firm of 4 in Brookline which then moved to Boston, and in 2010 I was a firm of one-along with our cat. Thankfully that changed quickly with leasing office space, hiring Mike-now a registered architect, then Kurt-halfway through his exams, some talented and energetic interns, and Julie and her firm JB|BD right next door (a very good thing for our dog Royce).
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about b Architecture Studio – what should we know?
First and foremost we are a custom design studio. We listen to our clients to understand their goals and then collaborate with them and a team of talented consultants and builders to achieve their vision for their home or workplace.
I’m most proud to welcome our residential clients “home”. Again there’s nothing cookie cutter about our designs. We are designing within a vernacular to best fit our clients and their settings.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
That we do this together. It’s not just me-our team brings a level of service, commitment and fun to the studio and I think it shows in our designs, our meetings and on the project sites.
Contact Info:
- Address: 750 Main Street, Suite One, Winchester 01890&
Cape Office- 749 Main Street, Suite One, Osterville 02655 - Website: www.barchstudio.com
- Phone: 781.756.0515
- Email: info@barchstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b_arch_studio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bArchitectureStudio/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/barchstudio
Image Credit:
William Horne, Jessica Delaney, Greg Premru, Christian Scully, Dan Cutrona
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