Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Schrauben.
Hi Andrew, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After receiving a degree in Architecture, I accepted a position as a draftsman for a large architectural firm (Robert Lee Wold & Associates) in Grand Rapids. It was 1984 and we were still drafting with pencils. I soon discovered that I could draw but knew very little about construction. After two years with the firm, I resigned and went back to school and earned a degree in Construction Management. That gave me an understanding of how things were built, what kept them together and what made them structurally sound. With that information, I accepted a position with a developer and home builder in East Lansing (Fairmont Builders) and started designing single-family homes and townhouses.
The dominant architectural styles at the time were traditional and contemporary designed homes. Within a year, homes of all architectural styles were landing on my drafting board. Once conceptual and preliminary designs were accepted, I would proceed with the construction drawings. After three years with Fairmont, I came back to Portland (hometown) and opened Schrauben Homes. At that time, drawing with pencils became outdated, and most everyone was converting to computer aided design. I purchased the software and self-taught myself how to design and draw on the computer.
Initially, most of my work was local. As word of mouth spread I started accepting clients from further out, and business began to grow. To this day, I still work as the sole proprietor with design projects in Wisconsin, Indiana, Wyoming, Arizona, California, and Toronto, Ontario.
There has always been long-standing debate among scholars on whether architecture is art. I’ll always believe that it’s classical art – a form that blends math and science with artistry. The mother of all arts.
Alright, 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?
It’s problem solving and not all problems can be solved. And the profession is heavily influenced by economic factors. It has been a pretty steady workload year-in and year-out for the most part with the exception being the financial crisis of 2008.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in residential design. I take the ideas from a client, prepare preliminary sketches that they can review, and then we’ll modify, alter, or change the preliminary drawings at the client’s discretion. Once preliminary sketches are approved, then the work begins on a set of construction drawings. What sets me apart from others is the background I have not only in architecture, but in construction – construction management, and building codes. All three disciplines complement each other.
I’m most proud of the fact that I began the business on a hand built drafting table, doing what I love, and have been at it for 35 years. I’ve done very little advertising over the years. Most of the work comes from referrals and that’s based on the quality of past projects.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
The builders and developers deserve credit. They are repeat customers that keep bringing in a variety of design projects. Contractors and sub-contractors deserve credit because they bring the idea to life. My two daughters Correy and Carmen deserve credit, for understanding, how, where, and why my time is spent.
Pricing:
- All work is billed hourly at $75 per hour.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Schraubenhome.com
