Our team continues to grow—say “hello” to Chloe Sackers! She’s a Fishers native who studied architecture at Ball State University and cut her teeth at a couple of Indy’s larger firms. At Curran, Chloe will develop 3D drafting standards and coordinate and complete construction documents. (In other words, she’s helping us elevate our work.) Read on to learn more about Chloe’s background, approach to design, and her love of fantasy books—Game of Thrones and Harry Potter included.
You’ve been in the industry for a while. What is your role at Curran?
I am the resident Revit expert and BIM Manager. So far, my seven-plus years in the industry have been invaluable. But before joining Curran, I was searching for an alternative to the more traditional Project Architect to Project Manager career progression. I really enjoy 3D modeling and was already teaching it in my previous role. So, when I was browsing the AIA job board and saw this position, I was like, “This is what I’m looking for.”
What else drew you to Curran?
I had actually shadowed Shawn when I was in high school, so I was kind of familiar with the firm already. Curran is a smaller firm, so you get to know people. It doesn’t feel cold or corporate.
Have you always been interested in architecture?
I’ve always had a creative/artistic side and a math/science side. In high school, I took one of those job career placement tests and “designer” was one of the careers that popped up. I was always building or drawing things as a kid, and taking pictures of houses and buildings on vacations, so that placement made sense. I was able to take some Interior Design courses in high school, and the summer before my junior year, I attended the CAP (College of Architecture and Planning) Summer Workshop at Ball State. Those two weeks of wacky and imaginative problem solving were led by current CAP students and faculty, and were some of the most challenging, exciting, and memorable weeks of my life. They essentially cemented my path into architecture.
What do enjoy doing outside of work?
I can be kind of a homebody. I like spending time with my husband and our dog. We got her last year and we’re pretty obsessed with her. Her name is June and we rescued her through Love of Labs just before everything shut down. Since we were home, we had extra time to work with her, which we’re glad about. She has lots of energy, but she’s totally content to lie on the couch with us.
She sounds like a great dog. When you’re not playing with her, what else do you like to do?
I brew beer and tackle woodworking projects with my dad—though not necessarily in that order. I also love reading and like pretty much anything fantasy-related. I have a serious love of Star Wars, for example. I’m about to start reading the Game of Thrones books. I gravitate toward “nerdy” things and think the Harry Potter books are infinitely better than the movies. I will die on that hill.
In addition to your family and your hobbies, what gives you energy? Where you find inspiration?
Kind of the arts in general, I suppose. I’ve always been drawn to anything artistic, even writing. I love when people have a way with words. I also love traveling, and I’ve probably visited Seattle more than any other place. I absolutely love it. The rain is different there; even when it’s overcast, it’s still ambient. There’s always something cool to find, some weird little shop to pop into. Plus, it’s close to everything—it’s a big city surrounded by nature.
Let’s talk big picture. What do you think the A/E/C industry should be doing?
In our industry, it’s the nature of the beast to meet project deadlines. But I think it would benefit everybody if we could slow down a bit, engage with more people, and determine what the biggest impact could be. I feel like we don’t always circle back post-occupancy; we tend to move on to the next project. It’d be great if we could focus more on the details that make clients successful long-term. It’s rewarding when you deliver a client’s needs, especially when they don’t necessarily know what they’re asking or looking for. Being able to coordinate with all the other trades, work through complicated details, and then have things turn out well is super cool.
Last question. What’s a solid piece of advice you’ve received?
Rod Underwood, a professor at Ball State’s CAP program, gave advice that’s always stuck with me: First, there is no “back” to a building, and two, avoid SLOOP—“space leftover on plan.”