Project Coordinator Matthew Lewis chose to work for WBA for a summer during architecture school because he appreciated the firm’s attention to design. He officially joined the team after graduation and is excited to be with a firm that cares about its people and its city.
Tell us about yourself.
I grew up just down the road in Flowood, and graduated from MSU in 2019. I moved to Belhaven in the spring of 2018, and I’ve loved living here!
What made you interested in architecture?
My dad is an architect, so I’ve been exposed to it since I was young. I’ve always been interested in design, and I seemed to always gravitate towards the arts and sciences. I did Mississippi State University’s Design Discovery camp before my junior year of high school and loved it, so I figured architecture was the right fit for me.
What has been the most challenging aspect of your job?
Getting off the drawing board and finding a balance between craft, budget, practicality, and other “real life” concerns, and also managing my time between different projects and different phases of projects. One of the most fun parts about architecture school was the ability to dig deep into a single project and explore lots of ideas without having to be as limited by those constraints.
What has been the most rewarding?
The most rewarding thing has been to see projects I’ve drawn become reality. I worked at WBA the summer before my fifth year of architecture school, and I’ve been able to see some of those projects begin construction after I rejoined the team in June. I’ve also been a part of several fast-paced projects. I did a lot of the drawing for them in the summer of 2019, and they are already under construction. I also love working with the team here; they make it fun to come to work every day.
When you’re looking for inspiration, where do you turn?
I love to travel, and I love to see how people in other places live. I love seeing how they interact with both the built and the natural environment (both in the present day, and throughout history). Some of my favorite experiences in school came from trips to different cities. I had the blessing of taking a class in New York City for a month, which allowed me to live and study how life works in one of the greatest cities in the world. I was also able to take a trip to Rome, and spend a couple weeks in various cities in Italy. Both of those trips were very impactful in how I view architecture and design. (Also, I love to just flip around in google street view and pretend to visit places all over the world. It’s so fun!)
When you aren’t at work, what can we find you doing?
If I’m not at work, you can probably find me enjoying one of Jackson’s great restaurants or coffee shops. If I’m at home, I’m probably watching The Office or playing with my dog, Lucy (most of the time, both).