OPA Inner Circle Interview - Yvonne Gilbert, Architectural Project Manager

In the first edition of our brand new OPA Inner Circle series, we’re taking a little time to introduce the world to some of the most talented professionals working in the architecture industry today, people we’re proud and honored to call our teammates at OPA Design Studio (home of The Brewery Architect).

In 3 sentences or fewer, what does your daily life at OPA look like (bonus points for haikus)?

Pencil, Paper, Mouse
Inspiring words on the wall
Collaboration

What is the best thing about being in the architecture profession?

I love that good architectural design requires not only artistic skills, but also technical knowledge and personal experience. It is very satisfying to bring those together and to help create something both practical and beautiful.

Why do you think OPA is a good fit for you? What’s unique about our team?

The OPA office immediately felt like home not only because of the size of the office and the types of projects, which were similar to my previous architectural work experiences,  but because I found a match in what I deem to be important factors in a happy workplace: inspiration, mutual respect, a desire to get better at what we do, and having fun doing it.

Aside from officially now being licensed in TWO STATES, what do you consider your greatest architectural accomplishment so far?

Being Project Manager at OPA Design Studio is an important accomplishment for me, being the result of all of my previous experiences and efforts. I am honored to be here as a part of such a great team!

What motivates you?

Wanting to be good at what I do, and wanting to be surrounded by beauty and inspiration on a daily basis.

If you could have lunch with any famous British Victorian-era writer, who would it be and why?

John Ruskin (8 February 1819 – 20 January 1900). An independent thinker who wrote what he believed to be the logical truth on several subjects, including architecture, despite the criticism it incurred. I would love to discuss his points of view and how he came to those conclusions, especially in an era where media and politics did not create as much bias in each person’s view of the world. It is much harder to be an independent thinker today because of all the external influences present in society.

If your daughter told you that she wanted to be an architect when she grows up, what advice would you give her?

I would be secretly delighted, but would advise her simply to know what she wants, determine the steps to getting there, and to do what it takes to make it happen. Architecture is not the easiest career choice, but an architectural education is a great foundation for several different creative career paths. The future is wide open after that for whatever she decides to do with it.

Please fill in the blanks

“Technology in the 21st Century makes architectural design easy to do the complicated things on the best days and complicated to do the easy things on the worst.”

Define good design in 5 words or fewer.

Proportion, Balance, Functionality, Authenticity, Poesy

Austin, Texas: Craft Beer Boomtown

* Image provided by OPA Design Studio, a local Austin-based architecture firm specializing in brewery design.

* Image provided by OPA Design Studio, a local Austin-based architecture firm specializing in brewery design.

It's only been a little over a year since Austin's iconic South by Southwest festival drew Fortune Magazine's attention to the city's burgeoning craft beer scene. In their March 2015 article, they acknowledged the presence of 18 production/destination brewery locations in the greater ATX area at the time. Speculation into national and local growth in the craft beer industry has since run the gamut from suggestions that the market was already over-saturated to optimistic assertions that it had not even begun to hit the peak of its growth spurt. One thing is certain; a lot of the big corporate beer manufacturers have to be looking more closely at these little start-ups as they continue to significantly gain market share, winning over more and more customers who look for the unique beers craft brewers are putting together to differentiate themselves.

Fast forward a mere year and a half, and the growth naysayers are eating their hats. But if they're in the Bat City, at least they can wash them down with any one among a plethora of delicious local brews from the 54 micro breweries or brewpubs now in operation or being planned in and around Texas' capital city, 31 of which operate inside the city limits. That's a 200% increase in less than two years!

Time will tell how much and how quickly the craft beer market will expand in coming years, but it would appear that local, regional, and national consumers and enthusiasts are still thirsty for more -- signalling many home and hobby brewers to consider starting their own micro breweries and many established craft brewers to eye expansion plans. Those aspiring Austin garage brewers looking to realize their "hoppy" dreams would be well-informed to have a close look at the charts above (provided by Austin-based brewery architecture firm OPA Design Studio) before taking their leap, showing how the numbers of Austin breweries are dispersed in and around the greater ATX geographic region and in which zoning areas they're running operations -- because as competition increases, strategic planning, particularly as to location selection and facility design, will work in the favor of brewers who know how to best reach a growing throng of thirsty craft beer customers.