New Member: Victor Smith, Associate AIA

Victor Smith, Associate AIA, Project Designer at SHP

What inspires you? 

My personal inspirations are my wife, who has just been a rock of a human being and I learn so much from her everyday, and my grandfather, who said he was lucky that he loved what he did and he never worked a day in his life. Keeping that perseverance and positivity in the forefront of my mind gives me the fortitude to soldier through. 

Building-wise, I had an instructor who had our seminar class take a deep-dive into postmodernism and I really admired the way that the movement attempted to create a more robust design ideology.

When I am on deadline, I listen to Egyptian death metal or audio books by Manly Wade Wellman and H.P. Lovecraft.

 Of your recent projects, which is your favorite and why? 

I don’t really have a favorite project; it’s hard for me to think of things like that. There are elements of all the projects that I really like, and elements of all the projects that I really don’t like. There are areas where I think I nailed a design intent and areas where I think I botched it up. 

What do you consider your strongest skill? 

Coordination and organization.

What do you love most about what you do? 

I like the idea that in a couple of years, somebody will be in that space that was designed and it will be the backdrop for some memory that lives with them forever. A first job, meeting a new romantic partner, the best chicken wing they ever had, something will make an indelible mark and a space I designed will be the backdrop for it.

When you’re not being an architect, what do you enjoy doing? 

Taking my kids to go and ride bikes and scooters. It’s such a pure expression of joy.