Need advice on heading up a new experimental studio

[tjpineda]

Hey all, so here's a brief summary. The firm I work for does 95% healthcare and recently some movement in the firm has given myself and one other an opportunity to develop a studio. One in which we only do high design work. So my question is how would you all attack the problem of finding work not just locally. Is there some magical website out there that maybe display some possible leads on some new/proposed projects? Obviously we have our own ideas here just wanting to see if any of you could help us find more solutions. Thank in advance! :rock on:

if any of this is unclear or you've got questions please ask away!

[wizum]

I am wondering what industry/building type would this studio be getting work in? that is a big question as far as how you would aquire getting work and marketing to certain market sectors... I know in our firm how we get work from our main three building types is many times quite different... Medical being the one that is the most different in the way we market it or not... So what type of work will this studio be doing? will it be a continuation of the medical work your firm currently does? Or are you looking to branch out for new building types and markets?

[tjpineda]

wizum thanks for the response. it's exactly like you said we're trying to branch out and do absolutely no healthcare work. We're looking to really get our hands on anything and everything. Off the top of my head here are some ideas of work we'd like to get into some being more down the line but who knows (museums, theatres, mixd use, residential, urban renewal, pavilions, temporary exhibits, restaurants, libraries, etc.) pretty much anything beyond healthcare and really projects stressing more design work with the clients udnerstanding there will be more upfront hours during the design phase. Does this help clear anything up and forge some ideas? Thanks again!

[chuckmorgan79]

I work at a medium sized firm, about 85 people. There are a few of us that have been kicking around this idea as well, but not too seriously. One of the ways we'd try to market ourselves would be through competition. The plan would be that the entire firm would have enough income to support a handfull of designers going after competitions full time. Hopefully this group could win a competition and start bringing in work of a certain caliber. Who know's if it would work. Right now we're busy enough that we couldn't do competition on the side, another route we'd look at as well.

Chuck

[tjpineda]

Hey Chuck, that's exactly what I was thinking. I've proposed it to my boss and they were a bit reluctant because recently we've been able to get a few good lead by wining and dining a few people and showing them some analysis of how we'd attack their specific project. Personally I think competitions are the way to go. Thanks for your input I'm gonna defiantely push that idea more.

[tdmc]

some observations - wining and dining is fine but it takes a certain character type, and a heap of energy - it's the car sales pitch at work. Some people like it because they're good at it.

I'd go for competitions, and have a look at pro bono work for community groups

Depending how your community works you can also try exploring a few design solutions and float them around the place (a sort of self initiated approach). That can pay off after a while

But mainly it's ust a hard slog, being out there and talking to people - but be clear about what you're offering - the all things to all people often works against you

Hope this was helpful

[WilsonMetry]

I have entered only one competition so my experience is limited in that regard but I have be involved in discussing and managing competition entries for a larger firm. Competitions are not a way to get work via winning. The odds are too long.....

I think competitions are used in 90% of firms to inspire and challenge people and to bring the level of design discussion to a higher level. They work well to build a strategic and marketable portfolio.

It is the rare and highly talented firm that gets steady work from competitions.

[cacapis]

Other field you could push hard could be construction material research. That is something that can be implemented much more easily than "high design" with regular clients and you could be making architecture through detailing and extreme analysis of the behaviour of the building.
Btw. what do you mean by "wining and dining" somebody?

[ajwtaylor]

wining and dining = taking someone out for a meal, wine etc and in this case it is used for the purpose of improving business relations in an effort to gain repeat business

[cacapis]

aaahh I seee, thank you very much.
This forum improves my english in a way english classes couldn't ever.

[tjpineda]

Thanks for the continued discussion! I agree the competitions things is a long shot and like it was said only a select few firms really get to build their proposal. However it is true that it could build a portfolio and have some visual candy for prospective clients. Which can never hurt ya know.
cacapis great idea that's is an avenue we've mildly discussed. Actually we looked at the "construction material research" more specifically with ideas incorporating LEED stuff. The other guy in the studio is LEED certified and I'll be taking the test in a few weeks so we thought about doing some experimetal stuff on our own to learn real experience with these LEED type materials and how they work and what advantages they truly bring to the project because as of now we don't have much experience using them.

[ajwtaylor]

hey caca, no prob, its cool to give something back once in a while :D

[cacapis]

well then you have a great advantage being leed certified. You definitely know a lot more on materials than the average architect.
And is there an university where you live? Trying to work with them usually gives you much more field of research than you can do by yourselves.

[tjpineda]

Great point about a university but unfortunately the closest accredited arch school is 2.5 hours away but still is worth getting in touch with I'd say. Thankfully there is a lot going on in my town that if we do get involved with the right people there are some really interesting projects. Right now we are heading in the direction of proposing our own projects to people with deep pockets. Pretty much what tdmc suggested (thanks! btw). There is so much urban renewal and new proposed greenways through our downtown it has sparked so many ideas that hopefully we're bound to get our hands on something. Nashville is a great city that is currently going through a lot of construction it's downtown has a river that seperates the east and weat sides of town and since the beginning the core downtown has turned its back to the river and emphasized the seperation of the east and west. Finally the city is doing something about it and is proposing tons of new things and hiring master planners to re vamp the core downtown and it's surroundings so there is a lot of opportunity there.