When Associate Architect & Studio Manager Ryan Hansen joined the WBA family in 2013, he quickly settled in, enjoying the juxtaposition of high-quality, focused work and a lighthearted work environment.
What spurred you to pursue this line of work?
As long as I can remember, I have wanted to be an Architect. I’m not sure where that came from, but as I explored that notion, I found that it satisfied my desire to draw, to create, to deal with tangible things. It was hard, and that for some reason appealed to me.
What has been one of the most rewarding projects you’ve worked on?
It’s hard to pick one, so I’ll pick two. I was the project manager for our new office at 2727 Old Canton Road in Fondren. It was really rewarding to work with so many of our staff to develop the design and see it through to reality. In our profession, the moment you complete a project is also when you leave, so here, it’s amazing to come to work each day in something you had such a large part in creating.
My second project is some replacement buildings at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. I remember visiting this place as a child, and my children love going there as well. For the last four years, I’ve been working with them to replace some buildings lost in a fire and it has been truly incredible to work at this place.
What’s your favorite style of architecture and why?
I don’t really have a favorite style of architecture. I prefer architecture that is authentic, and is created as a response to the real needs and circumstances of its users and inhabitants. The way a building looks, its form, and materials should always serve the way people inhabit it.
When you aren’t designing buildings and experiences, what can we find you doing?
Lately I have been playing a lot of chess with my two sons. However, I always love a good book, and every now and then I find some time to design and build a piece of furniture.