From Vision to Impact: The Voices Driving Practice
Our team members and their unique perspectives are critical to the work we do, which is why we conducted a series of listening sessions and surveys during our rebrand. We wanted to get to the heart of what Practice is, as both a brand and a collective, and how that translates every day through the work of our team.
Over the years, we’ve grown and evolved, constantly iterating and becoming who we are today: Practice. More than a word, our name evokes a sense of purpose. Rooted in a commitment to architecture for public benefit, our work stretches across housing, education, and civic sectors to better our community. However, that work begins with the perspective of our employees.
As Project Designer Noel Vazquez says, “Practice is personal to each of us, reflecting our values and influencing both our professional and personal paths. As a brand, it's about more than just words—it's about action. It's about consistently showing up, being fully engaged, and striving for excellence in everything we do, knowing it serves a greater purpose.”
These unique voices create our collective and shape our impact on communities.
Bringing Our Values to Life
Everyone in our studio connects with our values in their own unique way, collectively bringing them to life. As we gathered employees’ thoughts, the diverse range of values that resonated with each person highlighted the distinct importance of each to our work and culture. When asked which value they relate to most, team members chose every single value multiple times, showcasing their collective significance.
For many, the values of listening and optimism form the bedrock of our culture and work. Echoing the philosophy behind our name, Project Designer Sharis Marnoukian talks about the importance of optimism, “showing resilience and creativity. Staying positive in challenging situations creates space for innovative solutions despite limitations.”
For some, the values resonate with personal passions, like Director of Sustainability and Associate Casey Castor, who says, “Sustainability! It is my lifeblood and passion.” For others, like Partner Harry Drake, they embody a guiding principle that shapes our work and philosophy. As he says, “The practice of architecture should not be ‘work or just a job’ but needs to be ‘a joy’. A joy to wake up each morning to be able to collaborate and create places for others to experience joy.”
Across the board, though, everyone recognizes their formation as the tapestry of our work, as Casey Castor continues to say, “The values resonate in all levels with the work we are trying to achieve.”
The Impact on Our Work and Clients
By refocusing our team through the new brand and values, the ways they carry through to our work, clients, and end users are clear. The rebrand comes to life in practical ways directly through our work. Beyond just a brand, our team applies these principles every day.
As Project Designer Nisreen Tarbell says, “Being able to collaboratively design equitable spaces that empower often underrepresented and underserved populations with enthusiastic and thoughtful team members is what this office is about. In my experience in affordable and permanent supportive housing, I've learned how to use architecture and design to address social and environmental inequities and how to take it steps further by innovating spaces that create a sense of community, dignity, and joy. Research and learning by listening is a crucial part of human-centered design. Learning from and engaging with community members, social workers, and others makes better architecture and evens power structures.”
Our goal is for our work to grow beyond ourselves and shape the people who learn at schools, thrive in quality housing, and build community in civic buildings. As Project Designer Mariana Uy says, “I believe that the beauty of architecture lies in what transpires after the architects stop directing and life takes over. At the end of the day, the communities that inhabit a space have to live with our work, and the best thing we can do for them is to listen.”
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