Meet the Team: Nick Kineke
Meet Nick Kineke, who has recently joined the RoehrSchmitt team as Project Architect! Nick’s role is a bit like a fulcrum: managing coordination, implementation, and schedules to make the work of design happen.
What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture?
I can still vividly remember the excitement and awe as a child that I would experience during family road trips, when the first vista of a city’s skyline would come into view. As someone who grew up in suburban Upstate New York, there was something so foreign to me about these prodigious buildings and urban environments - and an unquantifiable energy to the structures. Even from a young age, I could tell that architecture had a profound impact on how we live, and that this was something I wanted to be a part of. It became a deeply rooted professional ambition, manifesting itself in scribblings and sketches of fictional cities by a distracted younger Nick on middle school notebooks.
What do you look forward to most about working at RoehrSchmitt Architecture?
What drew me to RoehrSchmitt is an environment that provides agency to staff at all levels to have stake in the design, documentation, and construction of projects, as well as aspirations and an openness to improving firm culture. I strongly believe that the most compelling ideas can come from anyone within the studio, and having a culture that supports this openness of contribution fosters the most successful projects for our clients. As someone who loves new challenges, I’m excited to tackle projects of diverse project types (expanding my areas of expertise) while continuing to grow professionally working with the talented team at RSA.
How do you want to make an impact on your firm?
With previous experience working on transforming buildings of historical significance, I’m hoping to bring a high level of research-based design that focuses on leveraging a building’s legacy, whether it be social, cultural, or tectonic. Each building offers unique challenges and opportunities, and I hope to help reinforce RoehrSchmitt’s strong culture of delivering beautiful projects that have meaningful impacts for the clients we serve.
Your favorite tool of the trade?
I believe that before you find the best solution to a design problem, you need to investigate a lot of less successful iterations along the way. Heavily influenced from my 1st year of architecture school, my favorite way of designing is sketching with a large roll of trace paper and a pen accumulating a large pile of disorderly drawings (the earlier in the design process, the thicker the pen strokes).
Describe your perfect day?
The key components of “Nick’s Perfect Day” would include, in some form:
-Delicious Food, whether it be cooked from scratch by me or from a great local spot
-A bike ride, run, or hike (preferably peak foliage)
-Enjoyment of craft beers at a local brewery, outdoors with a group of friends
- A competitive game (whether backgammon, cribbage, or Settlers of Catan) with my partner Sarah - a game of which I would clearly emerge from as the victor!
Coffee or tea?
Coffee, unquestionably. I’m an unapologetic black coffee drinker that has evolved from drinking instant coffee grounds in college purely for its high caffeine content during late nights in the studio to current day where I grind fresh beans for a smoother iteration in my Chemex. However, with more time spent working from home and the latest impulse purchase of a milk frother, I’ve begun to dabble in lattes (sans artwork).
What’s one word you would use to describe your team? Explain why.
Nimble: To work at a firm of RSA’s size you have to be prepared to contribute to not only all aspects of a project from design to CA. but be able to do that on multiple projects simultaneously. Our nimbleness is not only evident in how our studio functions, but in our ability to take on the design of a wide range of project typologies.
What’s your favorite thing to do that isn't work-related?
When I’m not working, I love to stay active, particularly running, biking, or hiking. Since moving to Minneapolis I have especially enjoyed running along the Chain of Lakes, soaking in both the picturesque natural scenery along with the diverse residential architecture encompassing the paths.
When racing is once again safe and open to the public, I look forward to running the Boston Marathon, which I had qualified for - it historically takes place in April, but of course was postponed in 2020..
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Challenge Conventions. Entrenchment in a certain set of standards, practices, and beliefs are the impediment to progress and growth, whether in a studio setting or personal introspection.
“ I strongly believe that the most compelling ideas can come from anyone within the studio.”