With so many different creative minds under one roof, we all organize our work in different ways. I spoke with Ben Bruce, one of PAYETTE’s designers about his work space. At PAYETTE we have an open plan office with similar table/desk setups for everyone (including our Principals!). This setup facilitates communication, collaboration and a culture of learning. We have the ability to make our workstations mobile – moving to a new station is seamless with rolling filing cabinets (many equipped with cushion tops to make a quick stool) and the same resources are available at each station.
Ben is finishing up work on the College of Engineering Master Plan at Penn State University working closely with Abby Klima, who he strategically sits next and the rest of the core team including Principal-in-Charge Jeff DeGregorio. This creates an efficient workflow, as Ben can quickly ask a question or easily collaborate on a task which otherwise would require him first to find Abby or send an email.
Each bay in our office has tables in the middle, which I learned were invaluable to the Penn State Team as they held impromptu team meetings to review the latest model and campus plans. As the Master Plan evolved, the alcove became a place to pin up the latest pages of the Master Plan book to review and edit as a team.
Ben’s desk is covered with different physical project work items including binders, sketches and printed emails. Some may call it messy, but Ben shared that he is a very visual person and having all these items readily available helps him complete his tasks. Once completed, he’ll shift those items away and bring out the next materials needed.
In addition to his project work, his desk is populated with a plant from his significant other, array of colored pencils, highlighters and pens, a yoga soldier reminding him to Do Yoga, Not War (fun fact – if you search our office, you can find a collection of these soldiers) and a hand-written note that helps remind him on hectic and busy days that architecture is a job he loves and is privileged to be able to do.
What’s on your desk? Where do you find inspiration in the workplace?
Related:
What’s on your Desk: Visualization Team
What’s on Your Desk: Rashad Baniabbasi
What’s on Your Desk: Miep Keller
What’s on Your Desk: Planning Group
What’s on Your Desk?
Sandrine Héroux, Sophie McKenzie, and Emily Chowdhury are each members of our in-house Fabrication team. Their day-to-day work centers on a simple question: what changes when design becomes something people can physically test?
These women challenge the notion of fabrication as a support service, framing it instead as an essential component of architectural authorship, a way to test ideas, share agency, and widen the boundaries of what architectural practice can include.
In our most recent blog, they discuss their individual paths in architecture and reflect on their experience using fabrication as a tool for fostering shared agency, community engagement and broadening the role of the architect. Link in bio!
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