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– in school, in your career, or in general? Who were they and how did they help? TT: Doug Tompkins, founder of North Face and a noted conservationist. He was a personal friend and I had the privilege of getting to know him and his wife, Kris, and staying with them for two weeks. He had a profound passion for preserving biodiversity and instilled in me the importance of investing in the world. “We make sure that clients have access to any and all information. We reassure them that we’re not taking unreasonable risks with their money and that leads to an appropriate level of confidence.” TZL: Open mindedness seems to be an important part of the firm’s culture. How do you ensure you’re hiring people who have the same ethos? TT: It’s not so much about hiring people with that ethos as it is working to develop a group of colleagues who buy in to that culture. I often look for people who are on the edge of that culture or who challenge the overall ethos. You often get greater results this way. An ethos can be subtly shifted and that will often lead to a refinement of culture. We’re working to become more diverse and this is part of that. TZL: Howmuch time do you spend working “in the business” rather than “on the business?” TT: I spend a great deal of time on it. It’s a daily game. I want to create beauty, be profitable, and have financial stability. I am constantly monitoring howwe create the best product. I look at the big picture and also dive into the details. It’s about creating a balance between the two. TZL: Collaboration is also a key culture component at your firm. Does that process look different post-COVID? Has the process evolved or changed? Why or why not? TT: I’ve always believed in collaboration. Since COVID, we’ve become more transparent with clients. We used to just share information internally, but now it goes beyond that. COVID certainly challenged collaboration, but it also confirmed what was working and what wasn’t. It added a level of complexity that we’ve all learned from. When you collaborate virtually,
sometimes misinterpretation can happen, but better things can sometimes come from that. For example, you may think, “Huh, I never thought of that, but it could work.” TZL: Trust is essential. How do you earn the trust of your clients? TT: We make sure that clients have access to any and all information. We reassure them that we’re not taking unreasonable risks with their money and that leads to an appropriate level of confidence. Holding back information often leads to anxiety and that is something we certainly do not want to create. TZL: Your structures seek to enhance quality of life. Can you tell me a little about that? TT: We’re investing in historic properties in Louisiana and hoping to provide more accuracy to their histories by creating environments that will tell the story. We’re working to unearth the truth and hoping to bring healing to many communities. As architects, we have to be humanitarians first. TZL: What skills are required to run a successful practice? What do you wish you knew starting out that you know now? TT: Around 15 years ago, I collaborated with a landscape architect and was surprised that he referred to his clients as “friends.” I used to put clients in a silo, but he shifted my thinking about that. We spend so much time with clients and they invest so much in us that it’s only natural a friendship should evolve if the relationship is managed well. You need to be open to creating deep and meaningful friendships with clients. It doesn’t always happen, but when it does, it’s fantastic. “We’re investing in historic properties in Louisiana and hoping to provide more accuracy to their histories by creating environments that will tell the story.” TZL: Your firm has been ranked the number one design firm by Architect Magazine . What does this mean to you and to what do you most attribute the honor? TT: Three things – clients, collaborators, and colleagues. I am so very grateful for all of them. So many people have given so much and I will always remember that. It’s a team sport and you have to remain thoughtful and mindful of the talent that surrounds you. See HUMANITARIANS FIRST, page 8
HEADQUARTERS: New Orleans, LA
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 37
YEAR FOUNDED: 1992
OFFICE LOCATIONS:
■ ■ New Orleans, LA
■ ■ New York, NY
■ ■ Atlanta, GA
MARKETS: Global
SERVICES:
■ ■ Academic
■ ■ Performing arts
■ ■ Cultural
■ ■ Athletic
■ ■ Mixed-use residential
NOTABLE PROJECTS:
■ ■ The Coca-Cola
Stage at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA
■ ■ The Caesars
Superdome in New Orleans, LA
■ ■ Conservation
and preservation undertakings in St. Francisville, LA, and in Corcovado National Park in Patagonia, Chile
© Copyright 2022. Zweig Group. All rights reserved.
MAY 16, 2022, ISSUE 1441
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