Each summer, we seek adventures for these longer, glorious, sunny days. I remember with great fondness my childhood summers, learning everything from new math to the trumpet. Here at TBA, we dive into summer school feet-first — and this summer’s adventure is really exciting! Learning has always been part of our culture: our team is constantly exploring new ideas that make us more skilled architects and better stewards of the built environment.
This spring, I’ve given presentations on design for the coast, adaptive reuse, and resilience. At the USGBC-CA Conference I learned about water conservation, material reuse, and waste reduction. I also taught a seminar for the ICAA on the Literature of Classical Architecture — which introduced me to books I really want to read.
LEARNING TOGETHER
One of my favorite traditions at TBA is that everyone learns — and teaches! Each year, every teammate prepares a brief presentation for the firm. Recent topics have included sustainability and healthier homes, and this year we’re exploring architecture in film, highlighting movies that have changed our own perception of architecture.
This spirit of shared learning extends throughout the office: “I’m committed to keeping our team at the forefront of evolving visualization tools and AI,” says David, Principal Architect & Director of Operations. “Fostering a culture where we learn from one another, especially as younger teammates bring new skill, has become essential to staying up to date and ensuring our continued success.”
Principal Architect Katie, who mentors project managers one-on-one, adds: “I provide guidance through my own experience and challenges as a project manager, focusing on a range of topics… Mentorship is a mutual relationship. I enjoy encouraging our team, but I also enjoy learning from them.”
Job Captain Ben is teaching our design and documentation standards while creating a visual library for future reference: “I’m enjoying teaching our junior staff our rules of thumb (for designing bathrooms, kitchens, closets, etc.) This summer we will review drawing standards as well (how to clearly illustrate our design intent in our construction documents). The experience has also helped me more deeply understand the reasoning behind our design standards.”
We are also proud to have 11 future architects on our team studying for their license exams using Amber Book and study materials from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Design Associate Jake describes our group study sessions: “While I study, I am constantly finding new connections between the exam material and the practical challenges we solve in the office every day… giving me a more cohesive perspective on our profession.”
RESEARCHING BETTER BUILDINGS
Continuing education also means staying ahead of evolving building science, codes, and design practices. Principal Architect Ari is helping the team navigate changing regulations and different requirements based on each specific fire rebuild project. “I am doing a deep dive into the nuances between Los Angeles City and LA County. A slight difference in the way an agency interprets or adopts an item in the code can have a significant impact on a project,” he explains.
Principal Architect & Director of Design Kelly has been sharing her research on fire-resilient design strategies and healthier home practices, while working closely with our team to evaluate new materials, fixtures, and appliances that support the firm’s design and performance standards. One of her favorite resources is Get Your House Right, a definitive guide to the principles of traditional architectural design. A passage from the book continues to underscore why this work matters: “The single most important issue for future development is sustainability: meeting our needs in the present without jeopardizing our resources for the future.”
BRINGING NEW IDEAS BACK
Learning also happens outside our walls. This year, David attended the National AIA Convention in San Diego alongside design associates Jaz, Jevan, and Cole. Jaz shares, “The AIA Convention was a valuable opportunity to connect with industry partners and vendors while exploring the latest advancements shaping the architecture and construction industries… I was able to bring back fresh ideas that can help inform our projects and contribute to better design and construction outcomes.”
I like to imagine this focus on learning and teaching as a modern version of the medieval guilds that trained architects, carpenters, and masons — minus the secrecy. Instead, we strive to be a “give-it-away, apprentice-model” firm that believes knowledge grows when it is shared.
That mindset carries important responsibilities: to learn everything we can to reduce energy needs, regrow our forests, care for each other, conserve our water resources, protect our oceans, and strengthen our communities.
These longer days of summer give us a little extra bandwidth to explore something new. What’s on your list?