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

When Technology Fuels Design

All our clients are creative and passionate people, but even the most design-oriented find it challenging to easily navigate a detailed architectural drawing without a guiding hand. Time-consuming and expensive physical models have fallen out of favor for most architects, leaving a void for a way to provide a more intuitive visualization that everyone understands at a glance.

That is, until now –

Through computer generated 3D models rendered in virtual reality, architectural designers are now able to connect with their clients in ways previously unattainable, giving them a truly engaging experience with wide ranging benefits. All they have to do is turn their head.

Revealing 3D Models

In the early phases of building design, few things are as important to both the architect and the owner as aligning design vision with what is possible given real-world constraints. Critical spatial orientations and layouts can be visualized early through the use of simple digital models. This visualization allows for new ideas to flourish, ideas that may not have surfaced using strictly 2D tools. As the project progresses, finer details can be fleshed out as the models become more detailed and refined, and the potential for cost savings by catching design pinch points early on cannot be understated.

Immersive Virtual Reality Tours

It’s one thing to see an impressively detailed design of a building realized in three-dimensional space on a computer screen, but the ability to enter and interact within the 3D model through the aid of a cutting edge virtual reality system transports the viewer into the design in a way that isn’t normally possible. A full virtual reality tour of a defined model reveals how material selection, lighting, spatial dimensions, and flow between different spaces will actually be experienced by the people who will one day enjoy the structure – many months before the foundation is poured. The design can be fully explored and discussed as if it were already built, allowing for critical opportunities to spot potential problems and address them early.

Impressive Renderings

The successful construction of any building requires that three preliminary forces align: vision, direction, and financing. Many owners lack nothing in the first two categories, but financing can always be a sticking point, especially as unexpected costs arise. Lenders, investors, and permitting authorities often want to see what a proposed building will look like before they are willing to grant loans, purchase equity, or give their permission to proceed. Finely detailed renderings of previously developed 3D models that include eye catching lighting and textures often greatly aid in the convincing necessary to translate an owner’s vision into a feasible project that actually gets built.

OPA Design Studio is now pleased to offer to all of its clients full 3D modeling, rendering, and virtual reality services. The feedback we have received from current clients has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’ve found that the integration of these complementary technologies has provided a needed bridge between the more technical details of architectural design and the owner’s vision, aesthetic preferences, and functionality requirements.

It’s an eye opening experience.