Drew Haley Smith is the youngest female licensed architect in the United States. She completed all the requirements at just 23 years old, over six years sooner than the average architect. Smith now works with SS&L Architects, a firm focusing on architecture, interior design, landscape design, environmental design and master planning.
I STAY EXCITED BECAUSE every day is different. Some days, I am at the computer, some days on the jobsite, some days sketching with an intern, and some days working with engineers. My favorite days are client-presentation days because they are the “climax” of the design process.
I’VE LEARNED THE HARD WAY THAT sometimes the “perfect” design in your head isn’t always the best solution. Asking for constructive criticism early in the process is key.
THE TOOLS OF OUR TRADE are innovative technologies, such as Revit, Lumion, Matterport, Rhino, AutoCAD and Speclink. These programs help us produce our drawings and specifications. However, at the end of the day, the innovative minds behind these programs are the most important.
OUR CLIENTS DO BUSINESS WITH US BECAUSE we strive to be the path of least resistance for them. Our goal is to provide high-quality designs that are tailored to the needs of the occupants. We enjoy taking a seemingly impossible problem and providing a step-by-step solution.
YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS how much trial and error goes into making a design simple. Jimmy Seay always reminds us that anybody can make things complex, but quality designers make things simple.
WE VALUE developing talented individuals with a passion to serve God and serve our fellow man.
OUR SECRET SAUCE IS our people and our unique firm structure. At SS&L, the project manager always communicates directly with the client. This cuts out any middlemen and gives younger staff accelerated learning/mentoring opportunities. Instead of having separate teams for separate phases of one project, our project managers stay with the project throughout the entire process—from Schematic Design to Final Inspection.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE WORKING ON a variety of project types including the 17 Springs Fieldhouse, Jones Hall at Troy University, Wind Creek State Park Cottages and various projects at Maxwell Air Force Base.
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