JMA Team Spotlight: Steve Schmitz
Before joining JMA last year, Architect Steve Schmitz managed major civic projects such as the Tukwila Justice Center and a replacement JBLM Joint Regional Confinement Facility. Steve is also an AIA member and received the organization’s prestigious Henry Adams Award upon earning his Master of Architecture degree from Washington State University (WSU). We decided to ask Steve some questions about studying at WSU and his impressive career thus far.
How did the WSU School of Design & Construction prepare you for your career in architecture?
Steve studied abroad in Amsterdam during his time at WSU. He chose to share this group photo because he believes college is all about support and commiseration.
The education I received at WSU SDC taught me the importance of collaboration between not just designers, but also engineering and construction experts. Our design profession does not work in a vacuum, and while at WSU I was given multiple opportunities to engage and learn from our discipline partners. This is a career trait that is invaluable in the real world where you rely not just on your own creativity, but also the knowledge (and patience) of your consultants.
Do you have a favorite project from your career thus far?
Tough question to answer, but here it goes. Historic preservation is a particularly difficult design task while reimagining a program for a client. I was project lead on a century+ aged high school in Klamath Falls (Go Pelicans!) where the layout of spaces were designed with 19th century technologies and careers in mind. We had to reinvent the interiors while being respectful of the prominent features of this school on a hill. There is nothing like re-opening a campus to excited students and alumni with decades of memories, and you will never feel more relief than to be welcomed into a community that cares deeply for equitable design.
At JMA you’ve worked on many multi-family projects. Is there something particularly meaningful about work in this sector?
Providing housing options for those unable to buy detached homes in Seattle’s haute neighborhoods is both challenging and exciting. The projects require careful consideration for light, sound, and livability, all this requires extra thought and care for those families and individuals whom will eventually call the project home.
What do you enjoy most about working at JMA?
JMA is a great firm to work for because it has many passionate design professionals who get excited by the work they do. Larger firms with corporate agendas and shareholders can have the talent, but lack the sense of community and passion that small to midsize firms such as JMA have to offer. New designers benefit from being closer geographically to their mentors and company owners, as they can more easily connect and learn from those professionals.
What has your time in the industry been like?
My career has taken many turns since I graduated from WSU. Keep in mind that in your first projects you are always listening and learning from those around you, and write down the questions you have. I’ve worked on schools, stadiums, courthouses, offices, warehouses, and multifamily housing. You can learn more on every project, and no matter what you are doing you can always find other passions or project types to design for. Learn how to use the latest technology, but keep your handwritten notes and pen handy for sketching, for you and your clients will not always be in front of the computer.