As an architect, we understand that you want to work with a team of like-minded creatives whose passion is infectious and whose vibe makes work feel less like a job and more like a calling you answered. But it can be difficult to find this type of team and culture at big, stuffy architecture firms. Luckily, when you join Architecture Design Collaborative (ADC), you join a team of architectural all-stars who are dedicated to their craft and committed to designing and building a better world. And, after all, Isn’t that what you got into this for?
Since 2014, ADC has been a nationally ranked architecture firm that serves Southern California with innovative designs, which is only possible because of our people. In this next installment of our ADC All-Stars series, you will have the chance to meet Ken Burgess, a director at our firm.
ADC All-Stars: Meet Ken Burgess, Director
As soon as you step foot in the ADC office, you will see Ken Burgess engaging with his team, making the work fun, and bringing out the best in them. And these are the moments that have defined his tenure with our company.
Ken has been a part of the ADC team for three years and counting as a director. Before working with us, he worked in large companies and gained a wide array of experience in retail, restaurants, and other types of commercial spaces, which has propelled our growth.
A Montana State University-Bozeman alum, Ken discovered that his passion is developing strong relationships with clients, building dynamic teams, and empowering teams to enjoy, learn, and take pride in what they do every day.
Ken believes that, in doing so, he and his team will love what they do and take pride in their work, which is the secret to delivering projects that exceed expectations, and it creates a sense of fulfillment knowing they participated in that success!
Still, Ken had known ADC founder Craig Chinn long before he started working here, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that he joined our team. Ever since, he has been a source of enthusiasm and energy that, in many ways, is the engine of our industry-leading culture!
“I’ve known Craig for about eight years now. And we’ve gotten to know each other well over the three years I’ve been here. I came in during COVID, which was a crazy, crazy time to come in because everybody was working remotely, and I was thrown right into the deep end during design shoots and on-site meetings. Meeting people with masks on was strange, but the team made the experience a joy, and the hands-on, collaborative culture was a breath of fresh air the moment I stepped through the door.”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
Outside of work, Ken has a lively social life and appreciates the work-life balance at ADC because it enables him to enjoy his friends. Maybe his lively social life keeps him young, or maybe it’s his infectious and great attitude. Whatever it may be, it’s working!
“I value work-life balance. I have an amazing friendship circle. I’m at the age where a lot of my friends are now 60, and a lot of them are early retirees, so it’s fun. On the weekends, I join them in activities, travel with them, and go out to the desert. A lot of them have charitable organizations they’re involved in, so it’s fun helping them out with those.”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
What Ken Burgess Loves About ADC!
Ken appreciates the “heavier role” he has received working at ADC because it aligns with his passion. One of the aspects of our culture that he loves the most is, well, how fun it is to work here! Since being here, he has enjoyed the broad scope of work he has been able to do.
“It’s a zestful and inclusive environment, and it’s great fun. When you come to a place like this, it doesn’t feel like work. We love what we’re doing and we have a blast while we’re doing it. It’s truly contagious.”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
One of his favorite activities at ADC is a game we play often called charrette. This activity is designed to get your creative juices flowing and inspire innovative thought, and it’s also an excellent opportunity to learn and grow as an architect.
“Charette is this process where you sit down with a group and just say what comes to mind immediately as you work through design problems to find solutions. Usually, it’s short design exercises, and the idea is that you’re trying to come up with a solution within a short period. It could be two hours or it could be two days. You share your immediate thoughts and get immediate feedback. It’s an excellent chance to learn. It’s like I always say – if you’re not learning, you’re not living.”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
Ken says this exercise has helped him hone his ability to work with clients, especially those who hire us for our mobile design studio services. Charette is an activity many architects will know from school, and Ken says it promotes collaboration across the board, between colleagues and clients, which is the key to our success.
“Mobile design studio is a process where clients will come to us or we go to them, and we have a series of four or five short meetings with them. We show them several images and keep going back and forth and creating designs. Throughout that process, you discover what resonates with them and what they want. And we don’t shy away from feedback. We ask them to use really strong language. If you hate the designs, tell us you hate them. If you love them, propose to them right then and there! OK, maybe that would be a bit much, but you get the idea. We go between all the images, including floor layouts, elevations, 3D sketches, and diagrams. We do whatever’s needed to convey the idea. Within a couple of days, we’ll have a design idea or concept we can develop further. It’s pretty incredible. Not many firms do this, and it sets us apart.”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
As for Ken’s favorite project? It’s hard for him to decide, but he was particularly fond of Pacific University, where we helped design the Student Commons building for a prestigious but smaller campus, including their entire central building.
This project entailed working on the dining area, several eateries, the bookstore, and administrative offices, and creating a central facility for that particular community where everyone could feel at home.
“Craig was just out there last week, and he said it’s amazing to see every part of the space so well used. The kids love it, the staff love it, and visitors love it because they can do a bunch of communal activities, whether it’s worshiping, watching movies, studying, or holding lectures. I love building teams and helping team members grow, so this spoke to my passion.”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
And Ken loves more than just the work we do at ADC! He also loves our culture, how we celebrate each other, and how we find an opportunity to have fun and connect.
“My birthday is in July, and we plan something when there’s a birthday. So there’s always something to look forward to on the calendar! It’s a lot of fun. We bring in cakes for the month. One of my colleagues has a birthday in July, too, and we took a picture of us holding a knife together as a joke, like a married couple. Everyone had a good laugh. It’s what makes us so tight-knit.”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
Since Ken has been with ADC, he says he’s loved watching it grow and shift. In the retail group alone, we have over 15 new staff members in two years. Which is 15 extra cakes and counting throughout the year! New staff means more exciting additions to our culture.
“Over time, we’ve seen growth in the team spirit and camaraderie, too, because we’ve worked together for a while and built a rapport. As a result, everybody has more fun, and the younger staff, in particular, have given me more of an opportunity to learn and work on their tradecraft, and I love helping them hone their trade more with creative opportunities. We have a great thing going here.”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
As our staff grows, so does our company. Ken says, out of the gate, he noticed a lot of growth at our company, especially over the last two-and-a-half years as we have assembled several specialty groups within the retail and commercial department.
“It’s been awesome to see the continuous growth our company has experienced as we strategically bring in more staff and leadership with expertise that we can build around. As for the future? With our staff and my experience, we are building a more diversified portfolio with retail and restaurants. In doing so, we can get a wider variety of work, and our team can continue to grow and find their passion in architecture. That’s how you advance your architecture career.”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
As for the company culture, Ken loves how collaborative we are and how it’s truly baked into our DNA. Because it brings out the best in everyone and is the secret to turning a group of colleagues into something more like family.
“We embody collaboration. At other firms, it’s easy to get siloed and work in a vacuum. But here, the office environment is collaborative. That sets us apart, and I love being the fulcrum of it for my team!”
– Ken Burgess, ADC, Director
Do You Want to Join a Team of All-Stars and Create Innovative, Inspiring Spaces? Apply Today to Join ADC!
Your team should help you actualize your full potential, and at ADC, we have assembled an all-star team that can do just that! As Ken illustrates, our collaborative environment and commitment to growth and innovation are what brings out the best in the people who work at our firm. Do you want to be as creative as you always dreamed of when you first decided to become an architect? With us, you can rest assured that our team will be in your corner and help you perfect your craft and achieve that sense of fulfillment every artist strives for.
Are you looking for a workplace you love coming to every day? Visit our Architecture Jobs page to apply today to join a team of architectural All-Stars!
