Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Amt.
Hi Lauren, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
2008 was a year of survival for most and I count myself lucky among those starting their architectural careers that year at a firm with strong footing. My first job was in Washington, DC working in the education and government sectors under a project architect who was an artist at heart with a structural background. He gave me great appreciation for how drawings communicate to a variety of audiences. While the projects I began with are very different from the custom work we design at our firm today, there is a sensitivity to those we serve that creates unique and unusual design that carries through my career. It was essential for me to work with people who share a passion for drawing and for how visual communication can connect people with their environments.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Beyond the hurdle of entering the profession during a recession, working within a few very different regions and project types in the US posed challenges. Institutional architecture is very different from hospitality is very different from residential is very different from government work – they all come with their own language and play books, not to mention regulations and concerns. So you learn to be adaptable, and to get to the root of what is needed and what can be done. Recently I have become a mother, and am partnering with the two owners of my firm – adaptability alongside unwavering optimism and open communication are a must.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an Illinois licensed architect practicing in the residential and small commercial sectors. I meet with clients, create conceptual and construction images and drawings, consult with engineers and contractors, provide pricing analysis and solutions, develop contracts and proposals, and write specifications. I am proud of the projects we have created and the people involved to make them possible. These relationships live on through something tangible and continue to create new opportunities built on that trust and success. I am a loyalist: devoted to what I do and to my team, and am involved in all angles of my projects so that I can push my abilities in different directions.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Pete Blum was the architect I worked with in my first career. His talent and optimism were very inspiring. The partners of my firm, Pamela Lamaster-Millett and Gregory Howe, are incredibly intelligent and flexible in a field where endless new challenges arise. I had the pleasure of working with Linda Searl, who started our firm, for a year before her retirement. I cannot say enough about her poise, strength, passion, and compassion. Outside of the office my parents, sisters, and husband have always been proud and supportive, always encouraging me and making my professional life sustainable and fulfilling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://searlarch.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/searllamasterhowe/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/slharchitects/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/SearlLamasterHowe/
