Adrian first came to RODE in early 2020 to complete his externship while studying architecture at the University of Michigan. We are thrilled to share that Adrian is back at RODE, now as a full time designer! Read on to learn more about Adrian and why he chose to return to RODE to begin his career in architecture.

What inspired you to pursue architecture originally?

I’ve been interested in architecture and design for as long as I can remember. Some of that I can attribute to my grandfather, who is a former Knoll furniture designer. I’ve also always enjoyed building models, drawing, and just generally working with my hands. I have a bachelors of science in civil engineering from Tufts University. I was never excited by engineering, though, so after a couple years I decided to return to school and pursue a degree in architecture. I attended the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning and have a masters of architecture.

You did your externship with RODE a few years ago. What impacted you as an intern to return to RODE as a full-time employee? Was it RODE’s body of work, office culture, or both?

RODE has a lot going for it. I really appreciate the range of projects—Passive House homes, restaurants, high rises, etc.—and the varied learning opportunities that those projects afford. I had a great time working with Ruthie during my week-long externship and appreciate the laid-back, friendly nature of the entire team.

What types of projects are you interested in working on while at RODE? What specific skills or practices would you like to hone during your career?

I’m particularly interested in social housing practices, domestic spaces, and alternatives to existing housing models. These issues are of particular importance in areas like Boston that experience gentrification and rampant housing inequity. I’d like to work on innovative domestic projects through Boston’s Compact Living Pilot or ADU program. In terms of skills that I’d like to hone, I’ve always enjoyed drawing and pushing architectural representation in creative new directions. I’m also actively pursuing licensure and need more experience with construction drawings, construction administration, etc.

What do you do to decompress outside of work?

Long distance running has always been a passion that helps me decompress. I’ve run four marathons, although it's been years since my last one—there was no time to train during graduate school. Gardening is a passion of mine. I primarily grow cacti and succulents,

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Every year Taubman College coordinates a weeklong unpaid externship during U of M’s spring break. The program is intended for students interested in exploring the architectural profession and adjacent design related fields. Students are hosted by a variety companies and offices across the country.

Students are expected to engage in observational and/or hands-on activities at their given firms in order to further their understanding of architectural practice. I chose to spend the week at RODE Architects for a couple reasons - I spent six years in Boston while (and after) completing my bachelor’s of science in civil engineering, so I was eager to return and visit my girlfriend old friends who still live in the city. I was also impressed with the variety of projects in RODE’s portfolio, projects ranging from small scale renovations to hotels to restaurants to multifamily residential, etc. - large scale and small. The smallish size of the firm appealed to me, and the culture surrounding the office seemed to be a good fit as well.

During my week at RODE I was exposed to a wide variety of projects - I attended a passive house meeting, visited the 960 Mass Ave. site, went on a walkthrough of the 233 Hancock St. mixed-use development, and sat in on a couple other meetings as well. My main responsibility during the externship was the production of a model of the 1515 Commonwealth Ave’s revised configuration.

I can’t take much credit for the model pictured here, though - that’s all Zoe Wong who built the site model and prepared all the laser files for the project - her hard work really set me up for success [ed: take credit, Adrian - the model looks great!!]. I had a lot of fun with the model building process, but mostly I’ve enjoyed getting to know the RODE team. Everyone’s been extremely friendly, helpful, and happy to fill me in on what they’ve been working on. I’d definitely recommend the experience to any Michigan student looking for experience in Boston!

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