FOX Features: International Women’s Day 2020
If you’ve worked with any of the women on our staff, you know that they’re amazing. The women at FOX Architects make possible everything we do. They win new business, foster relationships with longstanding clients, design millions of square feet, keep projects on time and on budget, and walk construction sites for quality control. They manage our finances, give back to our community, lead, and encourage our teams. In short, the women of FOX Architects are the future of the firm.
For International Women’s Day, we’re introducing you to a few of our talented professionals. We’d love to tell each woman’s unique story and brag about their contributions to FOX Architects, but as 60%, we wouldn’t be able to do it all on one day! Meet Kate, Savannah, Melissa, and Moon Jung.
Kate Mooney, Associate, Operations Director
How long have you worked at FOX Architects?
Since 2005. I’m not doing the math because it makes me feel old.
Which project are you most proud of, and why?
I feel fortunate that during my time at FOX, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a number of great projects, so it’s difficult to choose just one because they are all pretty unique. I realize that’s not a bad problem to have and if I have to choose, it would probably be the recently completed 1900 N Street project.
What was the biggest challenge you faced working on that project? How did you approach that challenge?
One third of the building is hanging 3 stories in the air above the main lobby entry. That’s 8 levels of office space suspended from 2 massive steel trusses. This hanging portion is by far the most complicated section of building I’ve ever had to work on. Everything about it was complex, starting with the design and continuing through construction. How big is it going to be? How are the floors below hung? How much is it going to deflect when it’s fully loaded and stressed? How do we build everything that the trusses support before we build the trusses? How do we get these things into DC, to the site, and up on the roof? The list of questions was endless, and they all required design collaboration and coordination not just between the design team members, but also with the GC (Harvey Cleary) and many of their subcontractors. Communication and problem solving as a team was one of the keys to the project’s success and I think everyone was focused on making that happen.
The project started in 2013 and throughout its life, the design team (KPF, FOX Architects, and DeSimone) had an on-going joke that it was never going to be built (or hung), but we were fortunate that JBGSmith was committed to the project as conceived. It’s been an exciting and stressful process, but the result was worth it.
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role or career?
I think the biggest challenges are those moments when I’ve had a transition in my career/role because of growth. Taking a step forward, away from things that are comfortable and familiar and towards things that aren’t can be both scary and exciting. I had a professor in college who would say that if you aren’t moving forward because you are comfortable then you might as well stop. I think about that when I’m frustrated, remind myself that the challenge is worth it, and that I have a strong support system around me when help is needed.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I really enjoy traveling and being active outdoors. While working on the Washington Gas project, one of the project engineers introduced me to the Washington Canoe Club, which is where I enjoy spending most of my free time. Canoeing provides me the opportunity to travel all over the world and has introduced me to an amazing group of people.
I also have a relatively new pup named Riley who has ‘encouraged’ me through his minor demolition of parts of my condo to think about starting some of the renovation projects I had been putting off. I’m grateful we have a dog-friendly office because he loves coming into work and seeing all his friends. (He’s also getting a little fat from all the treats people hide in their desks for him, but that’s ok.)
In your life outside of work, what are you learning right now?
I’m currently taking my AREs, so I’m learning that I really should have taken these earlier in my career and not put them off for so long.
What are your goals for the future?
Professionally, my goals are to continue to find ways to help with the growth of FOX Architects as a firm. I’m proud that much of my professional career has been here at FOX and it’s been exciting to be a part of the development of the architecture portfolio. These opportunities have allowed me to grow professionally and it’s important to me that those opportunities are available so others can have a similar experience here.
Who inspires you, and why?
My mom. She’s a strong, passionate, independent woman who has an amazing outlook on life. We talk every morning on my commute in to work and I love hearing about the latest travel adventure she’s planning or what painting she’s currently working on. She is a constant reminder to embrace the challenge, make the opportunities, to not be afraid to try something new, and to live life to the fullest.
Savannah Mills, Project Designer
How long have you worked at FOX Architects?
It’s been almost 4 years since I started as an intern!
Which project are you most proud of, and why?
I am most proud of ARC – in Arlington, Louisville, and Tampa – because these projects blossomed from an existing client relationship, which made it very exciting to create a concept for the redesign of their three locations. The client team has been great to work with, and we’ve been able to easily step into the role of trusted advisor. It has been rewarding to work with a client for so long, and to see them get excited about the new things, big or small.
What was the biggest challenge you faced working on that project? How did you approach that challenge?
A large challenge has been designing and completing multiple office locations at once — all with the same construction schedule! Coordinating 2-3 different sets of consultants and construction teams has proven to be difficult at times, but we are learning that prioritizing is key, as well as being intentional and smart with our communication, whether it be with a single consultant or the entire team.
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role or career?
A big challenge I discovered early on in my career was realizing the power of “knowing what you don’t know,” and then on top of that, being able to admit when you don’t understand something. As a mid-level designer, it can be especially difficult to accept the “I should have known that” moments, when past project experience can sometimes lend a level of false confidence and then new challenges end up taking you by surprise. It helps to keep in mind that I am continuously growing and evolving my career.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I really enjoy spending time with friends, both those inside and outside the design field. These connections can help reenergize me and inspire me. I also enjoy baking on the weekends. I am always curious to test my skills with new recipes, but my coworkers don’t seem to mind my tried and true banana bread! 😉
In your life outside of work, what are you learning right now?
I’m learning how to be more intentional with my time. I want to make sure I am spending time with people and doing things that are life giving. I’m learning how to rest without feeling unproductive. I’m learning how to balance giving energy to my relationships and recharging my energy with selfcare – and giving my mind a break from work! I truly believe that taking steps away each week brings us back stronger and ready to work harder.
What are you most proud of in your life?
I am most proud of the trajectory my life has taken: being accepted to the Virginia Tech Interior Design program, getting an internship at FOX Architects and working hard enough to be welcomed back full time, moving to a major metropolis for the first time, and growing into the independent woman I am today.
What are your goals for the future?
I plan to keep advancing in this career path and grow myself as a professional, building my knowledge and my skills to take on bigger and better projects. The biggest goal I have right now is being able to build my own house one day!
Who inspires you, and why?
To me, a person that inspires you is someone that gives you energy, excitement, or encouragement to keep going. For me, that person is my sister. Being able to be your complete self around someone is such a gift, and far more energizing and inspiring than people realize. My sister has also had far more hardships in her 22 years than I have, so if she can make it and keep going through each day with a positive attitude and be unapologetically herself, so can I.
Melissa Epstein, Associate, marketing director
How long have you worked at FOX Architects?
It will be three years next month!
Which project are you most proud of, and why?
One of the projects I’m most proud of since my time at FOX Architects is our office move campaign: ONE FOX. NEW BOX. With just a team of two, a limited budget, and a short turnaround time, we were able to develop and execute a robust and successful marketing and communications campaign for our office move. We received an SMPS award and NAIOP DC | MD award for this campaign, which were fun and unexpected wins.
What was the biggest challenge you faced working on that project? How did you approach that challenge?
An office move requires the support of many departments – Human Resources, IT, Operations, Accounting, Marketing, among others. Because of this, one of the biggest challenges we faced with this project was ensuring each department didn’t work on move-related tasks in a vacuum. For the move to be successful, we knew we must all work together and coordinate our efforts. Working with the principal overseeing the move, we established weekly “move team” meetings made up of a representative from each department. These meetings provided a platform for each group to provide weekly updates. From there, we developed a detailed schedule that incorporated each department’s move-related tasks. Establishing this team, along with an overall move schedule, was critical to the success of the campaign. It also helped to ensure the communications we were sending to staff and external groups were accurate and timely.
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role or career?
Balancing the needs of my family with the demands of my job.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my husband, Grant, our six-year-old twin boys, Luke and Evan, and our dog, Wrigley. Our weekends are filled mostly with kid activities, such as sports, birthday parties, and playdates. We’re also in the process of renovating our house, which is occupying a lot of our time too. When we’re not chauffeuring kids around, or working on our house, we’re travelling or going out to dinner with friends.
In your life outside of work, what are you learning right now?
How to design and renovate our house. What did we do before Pinterest?
What are you most proud of in your life?
Raising two, happy, healthy, and well-rounded kids.
What are your goals for the future?
To own and operate a luxury, boutique hotel.
Who inspires you, and why?
I’m inspired by the women around me. My grandmother for her sharpness, cooking and baking abilities, and passion for reading; my mother for her strength, courage and strong work-ethic; my sister Susan for her compassion, generosity and love for adventure; my sister Kristi for her intellect, positivity and kindness; my mother-in-law for her love of learning, passion for travel and kind heart; and my two best friends, Nikki and Ashley for their loyalty, support, and great senses of humor.
Moon Jung Choi, Senior Project Designer
How long have you worked at FOX Architects?
4 years and 4 months
Which project are you most proud of, and why?
I’m most proud of our work for a law firm client. I had a great team to work with and a great end product that the client loves. We also created project-specific design features that we hadn’t tried before. These features required some trials and errors, but all it came out successfully in the end.
What was the biggest challenge you faced working on that project? How did you approach that challenge?
The client had a tight budget that they wanted to adhere to, yet more elevated taste in terms of design. We presented them options with different design features and they chose to increase their budget for some areas. The client appreciated the time we took to uniquely meet their needs and they liked our work so much, they wanted to do even more!
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role or career?
As a senior designer, I get to work with a lot of people as a mediator between junior designers, project managers, and principals. It is exciting and rewarding but it can be challenging at times when we have conflicts with design perspectives and personalities. However, most of these experiences strengthen my capabilities and help me learn as a leader. The other challenging aspect is the fact that English not my native language. It has not been too much of an issue, but sometimes I am in short of words. However, I accept that reality and keep trying to overcome it day by day.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
While work life can be demanding and busy, I try to make time to explore all the new exhibitions in the museums and paint. I used to teach painting to high school kids, and that is something I still enjoy.
In your life outside of work, what are you learning right now?
I am not exactly learning now, but I would like to learn to play guitar and violin, as teaching myself has been not too successful. At some point, I will gather my energy and time to drag my guitar and violin out and learn how to play.
What are you most proud of in your life?
Being here in DC is both an ongoing challenge and something that I’m proud of. I started as a foreign student in Chicago, then moved down to DC after school to pursue my career and I’m still trying to build a life here. Despite some troubles, I am most proud that I did not give up and keep on going.
What are your goals for the future?
I think that I am at the stage of my life where I am revisiting my goals and purposes for the future. Meanwhile, I will continue to do my best, especially at work, while helping others as much as I can.
Who inspires you, and why?
Einstein was always has been my idol since I first learned about him. He seemed to have extraordinary visions that no one can imagine or visualize, which inspired me so much growing up. His remarkable talent and quirky personality taught me that it is fine to be unique and different than others and does not need to fit everything that society dictates. That attitude and perspective encouraged me to keep being creative and curious about my surroundings.