Career path stories: From designer to partner

Career path stories:

From designer to partner

Malcolm Watkins, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP Watkins is a vice president with SJCF Architecture in Wichita, Kansas. His work experience encompasses a variety of project types, including education, fitness, community, and corporate. He also serves as a member of the firm’s management team with an emphasis on design technology, quality control, and recruitment. He is the young architect regional director for the central states, and he and his wife, Alyssa, have two sons, Emmett (8) and Everett (4).

We know that everyone’s career path is different, and some are even non-traditional. Members of the YAF Strategic Vision Group, are offering our insights into how we got to where we are, paired with contributing authors. The contributing YAF members of this career path series are Malcolm Watkins and Carrie Parker.

Carrie Parker (CP): Tell me a little about yourself.

Malcolm Watkins (MW): Since the age of 7, I knew I wanted to be an architect. Building and construction has been around me for as long as I can remember. I grew up on a farm (there was always something to fix), and I have six uncles in the building trades. This exposure mixed with my interest in art, math, and science made architecture a natural fit. Following high school, I attended Kansas State University and graduated with my M.Arch in 2008. After graduation, I began my career with Shelden Architecture, a small firm focusing on commercial projects. In the spring of 2009, half the firm was laid off. Following the layoff, I was fortunate to receive an opportunity with SJCF Architecture. Over the last 13 years, my role within the firm has continued to grow and evolve, from a designer with one year of experience to my current role serving as a vice president and partner in the firm.

CP: Did you always want to do what you are doing now?

MW: During architecture school, I always saw myself working in a small office doing residential and small commercial projects for a few years and then going out on my own to similar projects. I started my career down this path, but the Great Recession changed my trajectory and led to where I am today. I’ve found the emphasis SJCF has on community-focused projects very rewarding. Seeing the reaction of a teacher or student the first time they step into a new school is incredible. These projects often take years to develop with involvement from dozens of stakeholders and the coordination of a large team within our office and outside consultants, so you end up with a vested interest in making sure it is a success for everyone.

“[...] never shy away from asking for more responsibility or to be a part of a project you are interested in. The worst that can happen is to be told no.”

- Malcolm Watkins, AIA

CP: How did you get to where you are now? Describe your path/career progression.

MW: SJCF Architecture brought me on in 2009 to help with the firm’s transition to Revit. This helped to get me assigned to high-profile projects very early on as the “Revit guy.” From there, my technical knowledge, both software and building/ construction, opened opportunities for me to continue to grow and thrive with additional responsibility and was able to get licensed in 2011. After that, moved directly into a project architect role and then was promoted to an associate with the firm in 2013. During my time as an associate, I was the project architect on a large new high school project leading a team of seven in our office as well as a large group of consultants. Following the success of that project, I was promoted to vice president in 2016. Since then, I have taken on various management roles and continued to lead large projects for the firm, including the new 445,000-square-foot Junction City High School, completed in 2021.

Above The first football game at the new Junction City High School.

CP: What have been some challenges and failures you have faced?

MW: The biggest challenge I’ve faced is the financial investment (burden) required to even try to get started in the field of architecture. I was fortunate to grow up with two working-class parents, but the cost of any college was something I had to shoulder on my own, let alone the additional costs associated with a five-year professional program. It took sacrifices to get through paying off my student loans, but since then, my wife and I have taken a portion of the money that used to go towards it and started funding scholarships at K-State to help others from limited means more easily attain an architecture degree.

Another challenge I faced during my career was graduating in 2008 at the start of the Great Recession. As I started to look for a firm to start my career with early in the spring semester, there was already a slowdown, so many firms weren’t even willing to talk to new grads. Fortunately, I was able to get two interviews and received the one offer I ended up taking, with Shelden Architecture. I was one of the lucky ones, as only about half of my graduating class was able to find a position with a firm.

CP: What advice do you have for others who may be interested in following the same path?

MW: I would say to never shy away from asking for more responsibility or to be a part of a project you are interested in. The worst that can happen is to be told no. Showing initiative and a willingness to jump in and help the team/firm goes a long way in earning everyone’s trust and opening more doors for yourself.

The other piece of advice I would have is to gain as much technical and hands-on understanding of construction as you can. My experience of working construction, doing commercial concrete work and home building starting in high school, has paid untold benefits in my career. Understanding how buildings go together early in your career helps you with detailing and can give you confidence when speaking with a contractor about your design.

CP: What is next for you?

MW: Professionally, I’ve taken a renewed interest in construction. Earlier this year, I got my Class A general contractor’s license and am currently managing the complete remodel of our office. The continued retirement of skilled tradespeople has led to a greater and greater need for on-site involvement from architects. Being the architect and GC allows for a condensed information loop and expedites both the design and construction timelines, often leading to a cost savings, as well as a final product that more closely reflects the design vision.

Personally, my family and I are traveling more. During the height of the pandemic, we purchased a camper so that we could take our boys and go explore. We have already traveled to three national parks and seven different states with many more stops in the planning stages. Other trips in the works are West Virginia later this year for a college football game vs. K-State (Go Cats!) and a return to Europe in the spring of 2023.

Carrie Parker, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Parker is an associate vice president at CannonDesign’s D.C. office. She is also the young architect representative for Virginia and won an Emerging Professional Award from AIA Virginia in 2020.