When it comes to employee/client integration, valuing the creative process, listening and communicating effectively, and creating some incredible, problem-solving projects, the 2018 AIACC Firm Award Recipient, Johnson Fain, has people at the heart of every project, structure, and solution.
For the past 28 years and counting, the firm designs to specific client needs—from the budget to the technical and program requirements—they are focused. This is evidenced not only in their many awards throughout the years, such as Hard-Won Victory, Veterans Affairs Campus Master Plan in West Los Angeles, which recently garnered the 2018 American Planning Association, Los Angeles Chapter Award, to the 2014 Asia Pacific Property Awards, Residential High Rise Architecture, Verde II, Jakarta Indonesia, their work has been highly recognized around the world. (But don’t take our word for it, just visit their awards timeline page. And spend several seconds scrolling down. All the way to 1992.)
Partners Scott Johnson, FAIA and William H. Fain, Jr., FAIA, took some time out of their busy schedule to answer a few questions about how to create synergy, symmetry and symbiosis between their firm and the people. They are about connection—relationships between others and relationships to place—as you will read.
1. Earlier this year, Watercolor Program / Exhibit “A Squirrel Named Sparkle and Other Woodland Creatures” was abuzz on Twitter, and the pictures of the reception seemed like it was a great success. But as an architecture firm, how and why would one host a water color art reception?
With regard to our creative programs, in addition to off-site events, we’ve offered both furniture design opportunities as well as watercolor classes. Each year we attempt to provide staff an opportunity to work over several months on a creative project on their own, in these cases with a master furniture designer/maker or a professional watercolorist. They develop skills outside their work in the office and complete a project at which time we sponsor an exhibition and invite friends, colleagues, and clients for an opening reception to see the work. It’s great fun for everyone and the turnout is exceptional. The programs are open to everyone and frequently there are surprising outcomes.
2. Connection to team members, to one another, and to the client, and then creating connection for the client to have with others seems integral to the work of Johnson Fain. Can you elaborate or tell me more on why the human relationship is the central theme in the work?
Involving a team in the gathering of important information and data and synthesizing it in the process of inventing a plan or building for a project is the mantra of the firm. Ideas are discussed by everyone with “no stone unturned” to make sure the best alternative solution connects with the problem at hand. Involving the team in project decision making is key to connecting team members to “ownership” of a project. Listening to the client and connecting the client to design decisions is part of this ownership process as well.
3. From painting to yoga, this firm seems to invest in the mental and physical well-being of the employee. Expand on this philosophy.
We’re always interested that our people are comfortable working and collaborating in teams. Our studio is in a series of large interconnected warehouse buildings and work stations are designed around common tables, adjacent to long common walls with a lot of shared amenities. Architects on the whole are highly educated people with a lot of specialty interests. An informal and shared environment seems to us to be the best space for creative work. These extracurricular offerings stimulate that and challenge staff to explore other areas of design and art, which, of course, we think provides balance and adds to the quality of their work in the office.
4. What is the value of receiving the AIACC Firm Award?
Peer recognition is the most important professional accolade. It gives firm members a sense of pride and reinforces the culture of the office and the importance of the “place” as a supportive and desirable work environment.
5. It was an important and fun moment in the presentation when the original sign that is still advertising the building Johnson Fain inhabits as a reminder of what this building was and a nod to the past. Care to elaborate more on this?
Yes, it’s true actually. Our buildings were once the headquarters for one of LA’s earliest auto dealerships and there are faded signs in our parking lot that we decided to keep. “Low Down Payments” “Bank Terms” “Open on Sundays”. While not entirely accurate, they seem to capture the spirit, and challenges, of architectural offices today.
6. What’s next?
The current ownership is committed to moving the firm to the next generation. We have organized a process which will eventually lead to an orderly transition. A profit participation plan has been in place for a number of years which offers the firm’s leaders to share in the profits of the company. In order to encourage “up and coming” members to become involved in the firm, a Leadership Committee was established two years ago. Day to day operations of the firm is managed by subcommittees of this group and individual members connect with each other and learn to take responsibility for their actions. The vehicle for new ownership is being organized and the transition will be made possible over the next couple of years.
