Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Wickersham.
Brian, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I got my start in architecture at a young age, and I’m lucky that I was exposed to both the practical and conceptual sides early on. My grandfather was a general contractor, and in addition to being on job sites even before I could walk, I worked for him all the way until leaving for university. I also had an interest in the arts, and after two years pursuing painting and sculpture as a BFA student, I decided that I missed the challenges of complex problem solving, and transferred into architecture. After graduate school, I was drawn to L.A. to work with the best architects and designers in the industry, and over several years I was lucky enough to work with a number of amazing architects: Daly Genik, Gehry Partners, and Graft. I always knew I wanted to have my own practice, and in 2008 I started it.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was an economically challenging time for everyone in 2008, but starting at that time taught me a number of important lessons about what it takes to get things built. At the time, the recession made it a struggle to get anything done, so I had to learn a lot, not just about hard work but also how to use creative problem solving to get things done on tight budgets. And what I’ve found is that those lessons of hard work and creative problem solving apply no matter what the economic conditions.
Coming out of the recession, because we had a few things in construction and not much else was happening, people started to take notice. Many of the first AUX projects literally came from people calling my cell phone number that was printed on construction site signs. There have certainly been ups and downs, but learning how to realize projects in such a difficult time proved to be an important and in fact crucial, lesson.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about AUX Architecture – what should we know?
We are an architecture studio, but really our specialty is in creative problem-solving. We design a wide range of projects, including residences, performing arts theaters, and multi-family housing, but what I think sets us apart is a strong focus on design. This focus is reinforced by an equally strong dedication to our clients and a commitment to building buildings the right way. I feel like creativity doesn’t stop at the napkin sketch and that you need good, creative people making decisions all the way through every step of a project. That’s what I’m most proud of: the group of people that we’ve been able to assemble and a positive & creative studio culture that is ready for any challenge that may arise. Growing the firm together, and bringing in more great people one by one, makes me really excited about the future with this group.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Unrelenting tenacity.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2404 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 12D
Los Angeles, CA 90057 - Website: auxoffice.com
- Phone: 213.568.3578
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @auxarchitecture
Image Credit:
AUX Architecture
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
