We couldn’t achieve our success without our talented team members, whose creative thinking and unique design strategies elevate every project. This month, we celebrate Zach Barber‘s fifth anniversary with us. Over the past five years, Zach has played a vital role in numerous projects, consistently contributing his expertise and dedication. In honor of this milestone, we sat down with Zach to reflect on his journey and experiences with our team.
Over the course of 5 years at Bray, what have you learned?
I came to Bray fresh from graduate school, so this is my first full-time job. Since then, I have learned the ins and outs of Revit, how to thoughtfully design and detail the assembly of a building exterior, and how to put together a set of construction documents. I’ve also learned how to thoroughly convey design ideas to my team and clients. Looking back on the last 5 years, I have grown tremendously and am looking forward to what I’ll learn in the next 5 years.
What do you like most about Bray?
The team/firm motivation is truly inspiring, you can tell each person wants to create great facilities for our clients. Throughout a project, you can see the gears turning in people’s heads constantly trying to solve problems. Also, it’s a great office atmosphere, even during meetings when we are pushing to a deadline, we all have fun and enjoy what we do.
How would you describe your team?
Skies the limit; my team is an ambitious bunch who generate many ideas to find creative ways to solve unique challenges. Each project (especially in the educational /municipal typology) compares to a puzzle with numerous pieces. We all have strength in identifying and putting together those pieces to create energized, impactful spaces.
What is your favorite project you’ve worked on so far, and why?
This a tough question, so I’ll answer like this, my favorite built project is Vel Phillips Middle School in Oshkosh as it was my very first project (a steep initial learning curve). It’s a brand-new school where I was taught how to design, detail, and create a cohesive beautiful/timeless building. That project is my foundation here at Bray.
My other favorite project is Deerfield Middle/High School which is fresh into construction. We are transforming the beige labyrinth-style building into a beautiful like-new facility with a big addition along with another small addition, extensive renovations, a new secure entry, and a reclad façade. I’m very excited to see the final product upon completion, especially the building’s façade as I played a key role in designing the exterior.
