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42. zocalo may 26, 2010

Chris Achenbach.

Zocalo is a young development company in Denver. One of the managing partners is Chris Achenbach,  architect, who migrated into the development world. Chris started this transformation from design-building services that he provided to his clients and later on moved into partnership with a developer. He had to learn about financing of the projects and other specifics of running Zocalo.

As of today, Zocalo has built a few apartment buildings in Colorado. Their latest project is called Solera. Solera is located at 1956 Lawrence Street in Denver.  This is truly a mixed-use project. The site has commercial space, parking, and apartments on the site. The project is LEED certified and uses a lot of green technology throughout the building. This technology addresses water and usage, and materials.

Chris recommends for architects who are planning to go into the development world to create a partnership with other developers as a first step, and to start small.

Solera. Provided by Zocalo.	Solera. Provided by Zocalo.

Solera. Provided by Zocalo.	Solera. Provided by Zocalo.

Letters from Listeners

Terrific conversation here. My wife and I have been struggling to grow our small practice. We are both licensed for about 12 years now, and are both LEED APs- a credential predated by our own sustainable design values and efforts.

We are currently working with a developer to build a prototype "PassivHaus"- we will manage the construction of it as well. We hope to work further with the developer, and we intend to use this as an opportunity to get into our own projects. We are emotionally drained waiting for the next potential client to find us, and we are done with writing proposals that rarely get signed. We need to take the reigns ourselves.

Thank-you Arina for this great podcast!

James Hartford, AIA, LEED AP

Over the years I have been the Architect, Developer and the Contractor. These additional "avenues" place the architect in a potentially positive position. There are many issues involved with this type of "expansion" of the Architects role including the affect he can hve on the aesthetics, function, environmental issues, etc. Just as in any endeavor one must look at all of the issues involved (liability, finance, conflict of interest) as well as the benefits. The bottom line is the reason why the Architect would venture into these other areas. I am for it but caution that there are many pitfalls one needs to be aware of and to attempt to control those personal drives that are for money, power, etc. only. I have seen the results of the architect being not only the architect, but the developer, the contractor, the finance arm, etc. Greed (in any discipline) can destroy all one has worked for.

G. Paul Matherne

Paul,
I agree that going outside the typical role of the architect is very positive. I sold my interest in my practice about 10 years ago. I spent the next four years leading a hard-bid construction company and a multi-service construction company. That gave me the knowledge and courage to start investing in real estate. Now I do real estate investment, real estate sales and development.

The projects I do are much smaller than when I did conventional architectural services. However, the financial gain and professional pleasure is much greater. If I was starting into practice now with my current knowledge I would go the route of development/design/build. The traditional professional practice, does not provide the financial or professional satisfaction you get when you sell a product rather than a service.

I did large public works projects before and I missed it for a few years. Now I am really getting a lot of pleasure teaching the public about sustainable living and developing green properties. Even in a down cycle there is greater flexibility and financial reward.

Carlos Ruiz de Quevedo, AIA

In these interesting ecomomic times, we must think outside of the "Architect's" box about what else is out there for business development. I have been considering this business structure as well (a long with a Real Estate Agent and a contractor.)

Roland Noreika

Architect as a developer is a healthy trend, in my opinion.

I do recall when I first entered the profession that the AIA code of ethics, as well as some licensing boards with their ethics code, actually discouraged architects from building. There is much to gain from the collaboration of architect and builder. And when the architect and builder are one, then this can result in a well-coordinated, controlled building program. However, certain liability insurance programs do not favor this sort of relationship or activity. Clearly, they need to re-evaluate their stance regarding this.

The article linked above does provides a good synopsis of a successful architect developer.

John Cruet

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