Meet Andrew Adegbamigbe, a lifelong learner and bona fide creative. In addition to being a Project Manager, he draws, paints, and sculpts. He’s also a licensed drone pilot and is working on different ways drone technology can benefit the architecture industry. With his passion for art and ability to always come up with new ideas, he’s a (more than) welcome addition to the Curran team. Here’s what Andrew had to say about his history, his design process, and what he finds most rewarding.
Where are you from? How did you find your way to Curran?
I was born in Nigeria and moved to Indiana when I was about 10. I grew up on the west side of Indianapolis and went to Ball State for my undergraduate degree. After that, I interned for a little over a year at an architecture firm in downtown Indy. I went to grad school in Chicago, graduated in 2013, and came back to Indianapolis. I worked at a few different firms before Curran reached out to me.
What drew you to architecture?
My passion has always been art. I love to draw; I love to paint; I love to sculpt. Anything creative, that’s where I feel most comfortable. Really, I wanted to go to school for art, but after having several conversations with my parents, I saw architecture as more of a practical path. Architecture gave me the best of both worlds: something technical that still involves artistic creativity.
You’re both an artist and an architect. When it comes to architecture, would you say you have a style?
I really just learn from whatever project I’m working on. I want to know its story; its unique, interesting facts; whether it’s neoclassical or contemporary. Whenever you’re working on a renovation project, you always have to keep in mind the history of the building. You have to be conscious and pay homage, to some degree, to the original style or motif of the building, even if you’re creating a more modern, contrasting addition. There always needs to be some sort of dialogue between the old and the new.
What have been some of your favorite projects?
It’s hard to pick a favorite project because they’re all so different. I will say that seeing a project all the way through to the end, especially if it’s been a little tedious, is always rewarding. You appreciate those types of projects because you learn what you did well and what you could do better at.
Speaking of “rewarding,” what do you love most about your profession?
Being able to see everything come to life. Seeing a project, especially if you’ve been involved since the beginning, during the proposal stage, is incredibly rewarding. You’re able to identify the client’s needs, help develop an idea, and allocate the space they have to meet their goals. Seeing those things come to fruition, especially when clients are thrilled with the outcome, is most rewarding. Nothing compares to it.
Tell us more about your relationship with clients.
I am learning how to help reinforce the value of architects and our profession. It’s important that clients understand we are here to serve them. We’re not just a formality they have to encounter or endure in order to get their plans approved. We’re actually experts in understanding and thinking through how spaces work within themselves and with one another.
Outside of work, what do you like to do?
I’m constantly playing with new ideas, either working on or working through them. For example, I’m a licensed drone pilot and have been developing and testing some models on how to use drone technology in architecture. I still draw and paint to some degree and go to Newfields quite a bit. Every time I go there, it takes me back to being a student and learning architecture while being surrounded by art. All that said, a lot of my extracurriculars have changed. My wife and I had our first child earlier this year, in April. That’s our little family.