Kicking Off Your Career at FOX Architects
It’s no secret that the architecture and design industry is competitive. For up-and-coming designers, all those hours working in the studio, years building a portfolio, and summers learning as interns culminates in monumental decisions about where to start your career — and where to even look. It can be intimidating searching for a city and a firm that’s the right fit, but with a few introductions, we think we can shed some light on our firm and the city we love to call home.
As a leading firm in Washington, DC, FOX Architects is proud to be a place that excels in both welcoming and developing young design talent and building seasoned leaders who are looking for a challenge. We may be biased, but when it comes to our junior designers, we have the best people around. Meet Kelsey, Demar, and Andy and hear about their experiences building their careers with us!
Kelsey Hutton
University alma mater: Virginia Tech
Program/Degree: Bachelor of Science Interior Design
How did you learn about FOX Architects? What were your first impressions?
I was a sophomore in college (Go Hokies!), and our interior design program took a trip up to Washington, DC to visit design firms, and one of those was FOX Architects! That was the first time I had ever stepped foot into an architecture and design firm’s office! I remember being in awe of the bright colors, fun design, and open office and pantry concept. Everyone at FOX Architects made a great first impression, and as I continued my college career, I never forgot about their energetic office and fun culture!
Why did you choose to kick off your career at FOX Architects?
As time was flying by at college (those four years go by SO quickly!), I continued to hear more about FOX Architects. I visited their career fair booth each year, and it soon became time to start the internship search process, which can be scary and stressful for a college student, especially when the opportunities to work in a design firm can be limited. I researched and applied to many firms, including FOX. And I bet you can guess where I ended up!
Fast forward to the summer before my senior year, I spent my days working as the interiors studio intern. I learned SO much that summer in the studio and had the opportunity to visit FOX’s completed projects and projects under construction. There were many events to attend and plenty of monuments and museums to explore in the city on the weekends. And that’s really what kicked off my career at FOX! After graduation, I joined the team at the new DC office as a staff designer. Returning to the office as a former intern made for a smooth transition from school to the “real world.” It was very comforting to walk into my first day at the office and reconnect with the FOXes who already knew me and my story! The designers at FOX Architects keep me motivated, encourage me to get involved in local industry events, and challenge me as young professional.
What do you enjoy about Washington, DC?
Thanks to Virginia Tech and my FOX internship, I had already developed many industry connections in the Washington, DC area. I love the combination of the old versus new architecture and design in DC. I often find myself taking a stroll down M Street in Georgetown, visiting a charming historic home, or checking out the rooftop views at a new high-rise building. It’s really the best of both worlds here!
What makes Washington, DC a unique place to live and work as a design professional?
Washington DC is constantly booming with new buildings, developments, and renovations of existing buildings. It is especially a unique place to work in the design industry, because the next project could be anything from a renovation of a 1900s building or a brand new space in a modern high rise. The great thing about this area is that the industry is always booming, and for a young design professional, that means lots of experiences right away! It’s also very interesting to see the local commercial trends evolve. For a while, everyone wanted a white and grey space with clean lines and then we saw residential and hospitality influence take over the corporate design world, so I’m excited to see what trend will hit DC next!
What are you most looking forward to next in your career?
New challenges, new design trends, and leading younger designers.
Demar Parris
University alma mater: Morgan State University
Program/Degree: B.S. in Architecture & Environmental Design
How did you learn about FOX Architects? What were your first impressions?
I learned about FOX Architects while seeking an internship during my senior year of college. My first impressions of FOX were that its culture is vibrant, energetic, and welcoming. During my internship at FOX, I was able to see the firm’s involvement in the community through events such as CANstruction and the annual chili cook off. These are the impressions that welcomed a budding designer like myself.
Why did you choose to kick off your career at FOX Architects?
Along with my first impressions, the size of the firm being what I would consider ‘just right’ also led me to kick off my career at FOX Architects. While working on interior architecture, I enjoy the impact I can make at this scale of architecture.
What do you enjoy about Washington, DC?
What I enjoy about Washington, DC is that it has a bit of everything from cuisines to activities, and its atmosphere changes with the seasons. These changes are a constant source of inspiration.
What makes Washington, DC a unique place to live and work as a design professional?
I believe DC is a unique place to live and work because its architecture is constantly evolving. It is a great canvas for a design professional to explore and test new ideas alongside like-minded individuals.
What are you most looking forward to next in your career?
I look forward working on projects of a larger scale that may have larger impact on the built environment and the surrounding community.
Shixiang (Andy) Zheng
University alma mater: University of Pennsylvania
Program/Degree: Master of Architecture
How did you learn about FOX Architects? What were your first impressions?
FOX Architects comes to our school’s career fair every year. Since my first year at PennDesign, I heard the name of FOX Architects and started paying attention to the firm’s website and social media. My first impression of FOX was that the firm’s design works are very disciplined and tectonic, and I was drawn to the work. At that time, I only had ambiguous ideas about the differences between academic projects and real-world projects. However, by looking at FOX’s works, I felt the close connections between theoretical design concepts and tangible architectures, which excited me a lot.
Why did you choose to kick off your career at FOX Architects?
To my understanding, young professionals need opportunities to get involved in every phase of projects to grow. FOX Architects offers me chances to figure out architecture details with the instructions from senior architects, talk with consultants, and attend client meetings to better understand clients’ requests and expectations. I learned a lot through each of the steps. Therefore, kicking off my career at FOX was a great but challenging choice because I have so many opportunities to grow in new areas. New challenges can be intimidating, but at the same time, by overcoming each of them, I get a little bit closer to my aim of being a successful architect.
What do you enjoy about Washington, DC?
DC is a dynamic city. The museums are amazing! You will never be bored with all kinds of exhibitions, performance shows, and nice bars and restaurants!
What makes Washington, DC a unique place to live and work as a design professional?
For a design professional, it’s always important to find the same points between your own design language and the city context. Luckily, DC is a place with huge diversity and inclusivity. Each street has its “personality,” while historical and new elements coexist here. Design professionals are always able to find that their design ambitions can be accepted and absorbed by the city, which will make you feel fulfilled and more motivated.
What are you most looking forward to next in your career?
My recent goal is to get licensed. I hope in the near future, I can be a more experienced architect that can lead a project. Besides, I believe a matured architect not only cares about the fresh design concepts, but also understands a project from a broader standing point — clients’ expectations, the cityscape, and higher human goals and ideals — and that is exactly the role that I am looking forward to growing into.