Category: Q+A Series

Huntsman Q+A: Nicole Egan

11/23/2015

Meet Nicole. She's a recent graduate of Syracuse University's Environmental and Interior Design program but comes from a family of architects. Here's what she's shared with us in our Q+A session.

Q: What aspect of interior design do you enjoy the most and why?

EN: I have always enjoyed the power behind solving problems. Growing up, I loved puzzles, watching how each piece had a certain place and purpose, all working together to create a bigger picture. This is why I appreciate the technical side of interior design and see it as a spring board towards a successful project. Similarly, programming shares this sense of challenge, incorporating the client’s needs and providing the best solution possible. Programming was also my favorite subject in school.

Q: Growing up, your grandfather was an architect. What did you learn from him that you are able to utilize in your work today?

EN: My grandfather exposed me to architecture at a young age. I grew up looking at his drawings, going to his office and watching how projects progressed, from start to finish. I remember one project in particular that has stuck with me. He was designing a local church. I recall looking at all the drawings and being so enthralled with the vast scale of the building. Every time I visited him I would love to see the new sketches and how the design of the church changed. When the project was completed, he took me to the site, and I was able to see all of the sketches come to life. It was my first exposure to the design process. Through this, he taught me appreciation for architectural design and the importance of patience and precision.

Q: What similarities do you see between designing for a major fitness brand and designing for corporate interiors? How are you able to apply this experience to workplace interiors?

EN: I see similarities in understanding the market and the client. While at Equinox, I was working in teams that designed health clubs that responded to factors such as location, client, market and current trends. We worked to craft a tailored fit for each club. This is comparable to the work I have done with Huntsman thus far. We cater towards the client’s needs, where they are located or moving to, and provide an understanding of the market. This comes back to being a part of a great company that works hard to produce quality projects for their clients.

Q: Based on your experience at Equinox, what are some ways the office environment can benefit from incorporating more fitness and well-being initiatives that are not yet present?

EN: In my opinion, treadmill workstations reflect the evolution/merge of a new lifestyle and professional environment, and it’s becoming more common in the workplace. It’s not limited to tech companies anymore. Healthy initiatives are becoming a part of the overall office environment. By incorporating more wellbeing initiatives, companies promote a healthier work environment and in turn healthier/happier employees. Studies have even shown that morale and employee performance increases as the office offers a better balance between work and personal life.

Q: As they join the workforce, millennials are bringing new trends, technologies and lifestyles to the workplace. How do you think the office will evolve to accommodate this new generation?

EN: The workplace is deviating from the idea of working at a permanent desk from 9-5. As millennials are joining the workforce, expectations about the workplace are changing. So are perceptions about office culture and environment. Flexibility is a huge factor, the need to have flexible hours and areas to work. The office is feeling the impact of these desires and making changes to accommodate them. Office layouts are integrating new strategies for flexibility and variety to enhance creativity and more importantly the productivity of their new workforce. This in turn is driving the innovation of office design.

Q: What do you want to learn or accomplish here at Huntsman?

EN: Having only recently begun my career within corporate planning and design, I would like to learn about every aspect and develop my skills as a designer. I am at that stage where I want to soak in as much information as possible, and I look forward to opportunities that will allow me to weave in my unique perspective. I find it fascinating to learn about the composition of a product and the testing it has to go through. I want to better understand the relationship between products and their impact on the designed environment.

Contact Nicole:
negan@huntsmanag.com
212.693.2700

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Huntsman Q+A: Kelly Goldsmith

10/19/2015

Meet Kelly. Having grown up in a family of general contractors, she is no stranger to the design and construction profession. After an internship at Huntsman and completing her B.A. in Communications and Mass Media from the University of Colorado Boulder, she returns as our new marketing coordinator. Here's what Kelly has to say on social media and making a buzz.

Q: What lessons from your communications program at UC Boulder will you apply in your position here at Huntsman?

KG: One of the most influential takeaways I will apply to my position as marketing coordinator at Huntsman is the concept of organizational communication. In short, this is a form of communication that leads to effective management in a workplace environment. For example, this includes skills that lead to positive client and employee relationships.

An acute awareness I wish to bring, is the beauty that each encounter is unlike any other. Every person has their own experiences, cultural background, and personal identity. These differences are not only wonderful but can be used to our advantage. It is valuable to notice these variances and integrate them into your work. Each person has a different perspective or approach, and great things are created out of this diversity.

Q: How has growing up in the construction profession (or in a construction family) formed your interest in design and architecture?

KG: Growing up with parents in the construction profession brought architecture, interior design and creativity into my life at a young age. I have vivid memories of my father taking me to building construction sites and showing me the entire process from start to finish. I was (and still am) in awe of San Francisco, and love to look around the city and see buildings that I know my family helped craft.

This makes me proud because my parents are humble people who took a leap of faith, started their own construction business and now literally see their hard work pay off. Their drive for success, humility and creativity have been instilled in my mind. I hope someday to look at other buildings knowing that I played a part and have that same sense of achievement.

So, how did I end up in marketing? I love to interact with people! I enjoy communicating, creating respectable solid relationships, and helping others. I have always been interested in learning about human interaction, along with how our minds shape who we are, what we see and how we act. This is why I decided to focus on communication in college, and eventually move into marketing. I like sharing my voice, and helping those around me be the best they can be. I strive to assist in strategically advancing any company I work for and hopefully will add what I can to positively progress the efforts of Huntsman.

Q: What is your favorite marketing campaign of all time and why? Why do you think it was successful?

KG: “Like A Girl” was a marketing campaign for Proctor and Gamble. They asked a group of teens and adults both male and female to act out what it means to do something “like a girl”. These responses showed the negative stigma associated with being a “girl”. Proctor and Gamble aimed to show that doing things like a girl isn’t any different than doing things like a boy or man.

Through this campaign, Proctor and Gamble was aiming to appear synonymous with women’s empowerment. I was drawn to this because it not only is successful in promoting their products and reaching a large audience, but also in supporting a cause. This was smart because by addressing women, they immediately reached over half of the world population. Purchase intent rose from 40 to 60 percent after this ad was released. I have a passion for the equality and empowerment of women and I also respect powerful marketing promotions. This identified both and ended up successfully reaching over 80 Million views.

Q: What are you favorite three social media channels and why do you think they make a difference in marketing?

KG: My three favorite social media sites are LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

I like LinkedIn because it is multidimensional. On one side it helps to find future employees with solid references. You can get a quick grasp of who someone is without going through the entire interview process. LinkedIn can also explain who Huntsman is and help solidify our brand. Another positive is that LinkedIn is not limited to the younger generations, it does not have a specific age demographic. It is one of the first professional social media sites that reaches millions of people on a global scale.

Facebook helps to show the less serious side of a company. It expresses the personality of the employees and the environment a potential employee could join. Facebook has been an underappreciated social network for companies, but can really have a positive effect. For example, Sales Force ran a link ad campaign on Facebook to drive conference registrations. After their two month Facebook launch, they reached 9.9 million people, 2.7 times their goal for registrations and 40% lower cost per registration than the initial projection.

Instagram is also one of my favorite social media outlets for the sole reason that it is strictly visual. It focuses less on description or written language and more on visual analyzation. Letting a picture speak for itself is a powerful message.

And of course the best thing about social media is it is FREE marketing!

Q: What marketing initiatives would you like to take on at Huntsman?

KG: My main and immediate goal is to help in any way I can to advance the efforts of the marketing department at Huntsman. I hope to do this by consistently proving the firm’s added value to our current and potential clients. I hope to enhance the wonderful work that is being done every day at Huntsman and to broadcast this to the world.

Beyond this (since I’m a Millennial) I use social media every day. I’m acutely aware of the advantages these media sites can provide to the firm. I would love to dip my foot into that side of marketing and share my point of view.

Contact Kelly:
kgoldsmith@huntsmanag.com
415.394.1212

Huntsman Q+A: Tiana Taylor

9/15/2015

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Meet Tiana. She brings more than 15 years of experience in architecture and interior design. Since starting Huntsman in 2012, she has quickly become an integral team member and project manager working with building owners and property managers in San Francisco.

Q: How do you capture client goals into a project's planning and design?

TT: Capturing client goals is imperative to the success of planning and designing any project. No matter how big or how small a project is, my goal is to meet with the client and ask them about who they are, how they work, and what they want in a new design. Asking these questions ensures my team and I fully understand the client’s goals so that we can start working to reach them. After listening carefully, I consider the various ideas and solutions most suitable for the project. Once the client approves our ideas, we can then move forward with the details of how to get the project built. This type of open communication fosters positive client relationships.

Q: How would you describe your approach to project management?

TT: My approach to business and project management is to provide great customer service by following up and following through. This proactive methodology allows me to address any issue that may occur in real time throughout the entire design process and schedule.

I believe that practicing good communication with my internal team, external team, and client will produce a successful project delivery. I aim to be open, willing to listen, and share. Collaboration is very important to me and how I lead my team. Promoting open collaboration shows everyone that you want to see them succeed. This recognition of their value to the project and team gets everyone motivated. The key is to create an atmosphere focused on communication, openness and collaboration.

Q: What areas of practice management would like to explore here are Huntsman?

TT: I would like to explore a higher degree of leadership within Huntsman, to grow my expertise and resume. I enjoy the responsibilities that come with leadership and mentorship. I like gathering a team and working to reach a common goal. Through this team work, I strive to share my knowledge with junior staff and help them to excel. In turn, I’d like to also take on the management of larger projects with higher construction budgets, because my goal is to be a technically seasoned project manager.

Q: Which of your projects are your biggest achievements? And why?

TT: One example is a mismanaged property where the building architect was not keeping up with the pace of the brokers. Huntsman was brought in to support property management in creating modern and economic building standards, while also providing a quick turn-around on space plans. Due to our great customer service and design, the property manager requested our services at another property in the East Bay. I view this project as a great achievement because we met the client's expectations, and it led to growing a long-term working relationship.

Q: Who is your biggest influence and why?

TT: My parents have been a consistent influence throughout my life. They have a great work ethic, which I aim to emulate! I definitely get my leadership skills, ingenuity, and determination from them. They have always encouraged me when I wanted to grow and expand. This support has led me to be where and who I am today.

My biggest design influence is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. I graduated with a Professional Bachelor of Architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology, where he taught for many years. His appreciation for minimal, structured open spaces and elegant details has strongly influenced my design aesthetic.

Q: As a member and former president of the San Francisco chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, how has being so involved influenced your personal and professional development?

TT: I am absolutely an advocate for diversity within the field and feel like I’ve been given an opportunity to disprove stereotypes and show that professionals come in all shapes, sizes and colors. I'm not self-conscious about being a woman or African American in a male dominated profession. Instead, my goal is to work with everyone as equals and to find the best solutions for the task at hand.

Being a part of NOMA has definitely strengthened me. The pool of talent that I come in contact with is so impressive and inspiring. I’m especially proud to be a mentor to NOMA student members. I’ve been lucky to have found mentors as well and have learned a lot from architects and designers whose point-of-view I respect greatly; people who experienced life during the 60’s and 70’s when working within design and architecture wasn’t as accessible as it is today. Hearing stories of how hard it was for minority architects to obtain work back then motivates me to do my best.

In turn, as a mentor to younger professionals today, I’m able to influence and provide guidance with my own personal experiences. I recently participated in SFNOMA’s Architecture Summer Camp. I was able to share my perspective on architecture and education with the students. I discussed with them the challenges they might face and the amount of effort they will exhaust throughout the process. Pulling all-nighters builds character! I also encouraged them to take every learning experience to heart and by doing so, they will be exposed to the essence of architecture and the importance of creating meaningful places and functional spaces.

Contact Tiana:
ttaylor@huntsmanag.com
415.394.1212

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Huntsman Q+A: Alaina Ladner

4/3/2015

Meet Alaina, a licensed architect, sustainability leader, and inspired educator. As one of the firm's "boomerangs", Alaina rejoins Huntsman after spending the past year exploring Southeast Asia and other design interests.

Q: What motivates you, and how do you motivate others?

AL: I am highly motivated being part of an energized team, one that values the contributions of each individual as a collective whole. Knowing that I can be a part of making something more beautiful, efficient, environmentally sensitive and human experience-oriented fuels me to bring my A-game. It's exciting and humbling to be part of an industry that turns ideas into three-dimensional experiences.

Q: What are some of your current projects, and what interests you about them?

AL: The repositioning of the 301 Howard Street lobby is particularly interesting for me because I spent years space planning in this building that has a challenging entry - an example of the Post-Modern Brutalism of the 1980s. The opportunity to transform the arrival experience, at a site soon to be reinvigorated by the new Transbay Terminal, is really exciting. The project poses intriguing challenges at the intersection of architecture and interior design.

We are also in design development for the Argonaut office at the former Avalon Ballroom. It will be a modern, open office housed in an early 1900s structure, once a Bill Graham concert venue. It’s fantastic because the clients value the history of the space and are interested in creating a uniquely juxtaposed modern aesthetic, which will honor the building’s colorful past. Plus, there’s rumor the space houses the spirit of Janis Joplin – who knows what construction administration might bring.

Q: What skillsets do you feel sets you apart?

AL: A skillset I bring is the eagerness to be part of transforming our industry into one which is more environmentally harmonious. It’s our responsibility to strive to create healthy, vibrant spaces, which are increasingly less harmful, and perhaps beneficial to the environment. But only when you know better, can you do better.

Education is the key to addressing the environmental and human issues impacting our industry. I enjoy learning how to better accept the responsibility of our profession and enjoy even more sharing information with my colleagues, particularly in creative and memorable ways.

Q: What is an example of a time that you were successful against the odds or particularly unique challenges?

AL: The FBI Regional Office was designed over a four-day all-hands charrette. This 75,000 square foot office met the requirements of LEED Gold certification and included a new elevator, intensive security features, gym, and many other programmatically cryptic spaces. It was a unique opportunity to work closely with the user groups, engineers, and contractors on a fascinating and tightly constrained project. The lessons I learned in those four days!

Q: Describe some of your most important career accomplishments.

AL: I really enjoyed developing a long-standing relationship with our Keker & Van Nest client through a series of tenant improvements spanning over three years in the handsome historic Jackson Square buildings. The highlight was the addition of the conference center, lobby, and reception, which brought new life to the ground floor of a turn-of-the-century paper mill.

Q: What is one project or assignment that you feel most proud of?

AL: The production of the Regionalism and Upcycle events at Huntsman is the type of work I take the most pride in and also that which brings me the greatest rewards. I am invigorated by the exchange of progressive environmental and human-centric ideas, particularly with real world applications. I strive to be part of making the sustainability message a positive, dynamic, and energized one.

Q: What are some of your goals here at Huntsman?

AL: I'd like to organize more events and develop resources to enhance the Hunstman designer’s sustainability tool box.

Contact Alaina:
aladner@huntsmanag.com
415.394.1212

Huntsman Q+A: Lisbeth Mendizabal

1/28/2015

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Meet Lisbeth, a licensed architect, project manager, and proud mother of three. We are thrilled to have Lisbeth on our New York team and took the opportunity to learn what fuels her ability to expertly manage projects and creatively problem-solve along the way.

Q: What motivates you, and how do you motivate others?

LM: I like to put myself in my client’s shoes and think of what I would like my experience to be if I were them. I remind others to think of each project this way. It is always gratifying to hear from a client or end user that they are really happy with their space. Even then, I like to look back and make notes on how it could have been better. This motivates me to tackle a new design with humility and desire to do my best.

Q: What skillsets do you feel sets you apart from your peers and colleagues?

LM: I think of myself as extremely patient, very persistent and always positive. In general, I like to look at every angle of a design, from the overall feel of a space to how it will be constructed. This is a direct result of many years of renovating my own home and doing the work ourselves.

I feel that there is always a solution to any problem, and you just have to step back to take a look at the big picture. If you sit and stress out about every little obstacle, you are not going to survive. I’d rather take the approach of everybody stepping back and see how many solutions we can come up with, or explore the solutions one step at a time. That’s my attitude in life, and not just in architecture and in work.

Q: Can you share an example when you were successful against the odds or particularly unique challenges?

LM: While at a previous firm, I had picked up a project from someone who left the office suddenly. When I started on the project, the fee was gone and DD had not yet started. To make the most efficient use of my time, I minimized the number of hours I spent on the project and focused energy on maximizing the quality of the time spent. Despite the scramble to pick up the pieces and a frustrated client, I finished the job. And despite the challenging schedule, the project was completed on time for the client.

The client, a well-known orthopedic doctor, told me after the job was completed that he had received many compliments on the new space and that he was happy. In the end, even with all of the obstacles I’d inherited, by keeping a level head and remaining communicative with everyone involved, the project was very successful. We managed to have a good outcome and the client was pleased.

Q: What are some of your most important career accomplishments?

LM: I feel that each finished project is a career accomplishment. All jobs have particular challenges and each time a job is completed, a sense of relief and accomplishment is achieved. On a personal note, as a mother of three I also felt proud that I ran jobs, attended site meetings, and worked up until the time I had each of my children. The challenges that go along with taking care of my family and working full time are to me an accomplishment that I feel proud of.

Q: What is one project or assignment that you feel most proud of?

LM: I feel proud of all my projects and love that, because of the nature of my work, they are enjoyed by many. In particular, I feel very proud of the lobby at 125 Park Avenue. It was my first experience running a job of that scale on my own and the one project where the transformation was the most evident. I recently met a person who worked in that building and remembered the lobby as it was before and commented on how they loved the new space. It was gratifying (and a surprise to him) to tell him that I was the architect who did it.

Q: Do you belong to any professional organizations or community groups?

LM: I am the consulting architect for the facilities group for my daughters’ school, The Ethical Community Charter School.

Q: What are some of your goals here at Huntsman?

LM: I would like to use my experience to continue to do work with NYC clients and thus help make Huntsman the go-to firm for corporate interiors. I would like to see our NYC office grow.

Q: Has your design work been recognized or received awards?

LM: The Betances Community Boxing Gym, located in the Bronx, won a Merit Award by the New York State AIA chapter and local New York City chapter. The Cooper Union Foundation Building won a New York Landmarks Conservancy Award. Additionally, my thesis on the significance of historical preservation and its impact on the cultural identity of the city won an AIA Certificate of Merit.

Contact Lisbeth:
lmendizabal@huntsmanag.com
212.693.2700

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Huntsman Q+A: Nicole Egan

Huntsman Q+A: Kelly Goldsmith

Huntsman Q+A: Tiana Taylor

Huntsman Q+A: Alaina Ladner

Huntsman Q+A: Lisbeth Mendizabal

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Huntsman Q+A: Nicole Egan

Huntsman Q+A: Kelly Goldsmith

Huntsman Q+A: Tiana Taylor

Huntsman Q+A: Alaina Ladner

Huntsman Q+A: Lisbeth Mendizabal

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