Q&A With Sam Wade, Architect / Project Manager

Q&A with Sam Wade

Professional Journey

What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture?

Sam: When I was in elementary school my dad became a realtor and a few years later my mom left her job at Boeing to become a realtor as well. I remember many weekends doing walk-throughs at houses for potential clients and dreaming about what it would be like to live in each one. I loved to dream and imagine all the spaces and fill them up with my imaginary life. I took a drafting class in high school and thrived in the precision and skill of drawing, which led me to the idea of architecture. I really wasn’t sure about it though until I did a 6-week summer program at Cornell University in New York. It included an architectural history class as well as a design studio and I fell in love with drafting and modeling and the interplay of very technical structure and art. It was the best of both worlds.

Design Philosophy and Work

Do you have a favorite architect or designer that you look up to?

Sam: I am not sure that I have a single favorite but one architect that I really enjoy is Renzo Piano. His work feels so weightless and I love the interplay between the very structured rectilinear and very organic spherical shapes.

What are some commonalities among the most successful projects you’ve been a part of?

Sam: Great clients. We get the opportunity to work with a lot of different people and I think my favorite part of residential design is how personal each design is. We could start two projects with the same exact parameters and end up with two completely different designs depending on the client. But some clients more than others are passionate about design, and really lean into the process and that is where the real magic happens. There is nothing more satisfying than putting your heart and soul into bringing some ones dream house to life and getting to experience that journey with them, as an advocate and in the best cases a friend.

Company Culture and Team

What do you enjoy most about working at Syndicate Smith?

Sam: The team. We are a small firm and that was important to me when I was looking for a place to work straight out of college. I wanted to be involved in the whole design process as early on as possible and didn’t want to get stuck designing bathrooms. But I didn’t really understand how amazing it is to work for a company and with a team that really cares about one another on a personal level. Its been an unbelievable pleasure to work and grow with the company and become a part of the community of Leavenworth.

What advice would you give to aspiring architects looking to advance in their careers?

Sam: Take initiative. Don’t wait to be told or asked to do something, especially if you are interested in a topic. Lean in to learning new things continuously. That is what makes this career so interesting and fun because its always growing and evolving.

Which of our core values resonates most with you at this time and why?

Sam: Design Everything. It might be cliche but having a new baby has really given me a new perspective about how impactful small changes can be. We tend to think of design at this macro level with big moves and obvious statements. But some of the best designs are small moves that change the way you interact with a space. I am working on really leaning in to using design in every aspect of my life.

Personal Insights

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of architecture?

Sam: Outside of architecture I am a bit of a home-body, don’t get me wrong I love to get out on a good hike and enjoy a river float but I am a voracious reader and I love board games. I live for a game with a big fat rule book that takes 20 minutes to set up and has 100+ pieces. Some of my favorites are Kingdom Builder, Catan Trails to Rails, and Dungeons & Dragons Wrath of Ashardalon. I have a dream of being a real Dungeon Master one day.

What is one of the most influential books you’ve read and why?

Sam: I am an avid reader so this is actually a tough one for me to pick. I mostly love science-fiction and fantasy novels like Lord of the Rings, Dune, Outlander, etc. But one book I keep close to my heart is Harry Potter. When I was in elementary school my mom, who is never caught without a book close at hand, and I read it aloud to each other. I think reading is a way to experience hundreds even thousands of different lives within your lifetime. It gives you a way to truly rearrange your perspective and I think it has taught me to be more mindful and empathetic in my life.

Looking Forward

If you could lead a dream project for the firm, what would it be?

Sam: I would love to design a library. I truly love books and reading, and I think creating space for people to do more of that would really be magical. I would enjoy it even more if it was a library specifically for children. I like the idea of the challenge to take something that is very standardized like book storage and make it an experience.