Q&A With Laurel Podlich, RA Architectural Designer

Q&A with Laurel Podlich

Career & Design

You’ve been with the team for five years—what’s the biggest way your design approach has evolved?

Laurel: It's been a slow evolution, but I think the biggest change has been honing my production skills so that I can shift into influencing the design of the spaces as I produce the drawings. I also focus on the project team. We work together and everyone has good opinions to share that make the best projects.

You recently became a Registered Architect—what did that milestone mean to you personally and professionally?

Laurel: Getting licensed took a lot of time, energy, and discipline. It is an achievement and it's important to celebrate those in our personal and professional lives. The certificate looks great at my desk and I know I worked hard to get it. More importantly, getting my license was a good reminder that learning new things and restudying old things with a new perspective is actually fun.

What part of the design process excites you the most: concept, problem-solving, technical detailing, or seeing it built?

Laurel: I enjoy the concept stage during schematic design when we have the parameters from the client and the site. Parameters might sound restricting, and they are, but they help guide a design and make it successful because good design will meet (and surpass) all the needs of the client and site.

If you could design your dream project with no constraints, what would it be?

Laurel: I’m going to make this plural - dream projects. Small chalet/bungalows/casitas that are perfect for each climate. Climate and site have a great impact on the experience in a home. Taking the time to perfectly design a home to accommodate and accentuate the natural elements through layout, openings, materials and more would be an interesting exploration.

What’s a small design detail you notice everywhere that most people overlook?

Laurel: This could also be a long list….Gutters and where they are going.

Education & Life Outside the Office

What’s a favorite memory from your time at school?

Laurel: I went to college at Montana State University (MSU). I chose to go to MSU because their tagline was ‘Mountains and Minds.’ I couldn’t picture myself going to college in a town with churches and bars. Mountains sounded like a much better fit for me. My favorite memory of MSU (besides snowboarding all winter) is walking around campus with weird architectural homework - models, huge pieces of cardboard, plastic art bags filled with supplies, etc. I am not embarrassed to walk around with weird things anymore.

When you’re not designing buildings, where are we most likely to find you?

Laurel: On the trail with my dog and my husband.

Favorite local hiking trail you’d recommend to a newcomer?

Laurel: Mount Lilian - you can see it from almost any other hike once you know where it is.

What’s your perfect weekend in three words?

Laurel: Just need two - no shower. A weekend full of camping, hiking, and natural bodies of water that either by careful planning or perfect coincidence makes a shower unattainable or unnecessary.

Fun & Personal

If your personality were an architectural style, what would it be?

Laurel: Probably some mash up of modern brutalism and tudor craftsmen.

What would your dream house absolutely have (non-negotiable)?

Laurel: A courtyard. This could be a long list… root cellar, shady spots, sunny spots, plant rooms, dog amenities, neat yard features, the perfect utility/mud/pantry/laundry room, a farm kitchen, etc.

What’s something your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you?

Laurel: Probably that comment about no shower weekends.

If you could swap jobs with anyone for a day, who would it be?

Laurel: Fire Lookout at a remote tower

Describe your last five years here using only emojis.

Laurel: 🏡😷🏢📚🏰☕🍞🏠🐕🏭🏡🎶🚵🏕️🍻⏳🥇🏡

Looking Ahead

What are you most excited to tackle in the next five years?

Laurel: I’m excited to continue getting better at design and creating beautiful unique spaces for people to live in that are also space efficient and create a sense of home.