Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Phillips, AIA, LEED AP.
Hi Amy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Well, unconventionally. I started my undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa with the intent to attend medical school. Before my senior year, I was fortunate to get a research assistant position in a pediatric oncology laboratory. I worked through that year and then stayed on the year following graduation. At that point, for various reasons, I decided that a life in medicine was not for me. Thankfully, throughout undergrad, I had two focuses, one in biology and the other in art. While fulfilling my required art classes, I was able to take a course on design, a local Iowa City architect taught it. I had never thought of architecture as a profession. I didn’t know anything about it other than what I had seen in movies and TV shows. This class stuck with me, though, more so than I realized it would at the time. It was fascinating and required a different way of thinking than any other way my brain had grown accustomed to learning. I blame eight required semesters of Organic Chemistry for that;) After deciding I no longer wanted to pursue medical school, I needed to figure out what I did want to do. I had a degree, and starting over to work on another was incredibly daunting. But throughout the following months, the thought of architecture kept coming back louder and louder each time. So, I took a leap of faith, applied to graduate school, and moved to Lawrence, Kansas. KU offers a 3-year master’s degree for architecture students who do not have an undergraduate degree in architecture. I knew it would be one of the most challenging experiences of my life, but I was up for it; challenges and unfamiliar territories motivate me. I finished first in my class 3 years later and moved to Washington, DC with my future husband after graduation. My first job out of school was working at the Pentagon on the renovation!! Once in a lifetime project, for sure. What a surreal experience. So many great memories of that project and DC in general, such a great place to live. We were there for two years before relocating to St. Louis in the summer of 2007. Maybe a month after moving, a new colleague of mine asked if I’d be interested in becoming an ACE Mentor. I didn’t know much about the program, but I was excited to start. A few years later, our St. Louis Affiliate chairperson relocated to the East Coast and asked if I would take over. I was honored to be asked and said yes! I’ve been the Chair of ACE Mentor StL ever since. We are a 100% volunteer affiliate comprised of architects, engineers, interiors, trades, and construction professionals who donate our time. Our goal is to share with local high school students who we are and what we do with the hopes of shining a light on what the AEC industry may offer them for their careers. The program is entirely free to students. We typically meet with them from October through April, every other week. We take them on construction site tours, visit professional offices, and tour local colleges, universities, and tech and trade schools. We spend most of the spring semester working on design projects which they present to each other and their families and friends at our end-of-year party.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is it ever a smooth road? There are always struggles along the way. But truthfully, I’ve learned to appreciate them for what they are and am always thankful for them. Ultimately, it’s those times of struggle that mold us uniquely into who we are at this moment. I remember when I was about 5 or so years out of graduate school and had just gotten comfortable in St Louis in a new house and being a new mom. The question kept coming up about why I wasn’t licensed yet. And I remember thinking, sheesh, give me a minute to catch my breath! I’ve graduated for the second time, moved across the country, got married, moved back to a new, unknown city, started with a new firm, bought a house, and became a new mom! But even still, the only way I knew the question would stop would be to study, take all 7 exams, and be done. So, I did. I started at the end of April and finished the first week of November. I would put our oldest, about 2 at the time, to bed at night and then squirrel myself away in the furthest corner of the house and cram. I felt like I didn’t see my husband for months! What a relief it was to be done, though. I’d do it all again without a second thought. I think the other struggle that has been most challenging is being a mom and a professional. This isn’t unique to me; many working mothers struggle with the guilt of not being there for every moment. I feel as though I miss out on so much. But even feeling that way, I knew I wanted, and still want, to show both of our sons that women can be incredibly dedicated to their careers and families and that they don’t have to choose; they can do both. They know that sometimes I will miss certain things, but they also know that I will be there when they need me most. For the ACE Mentor program, there have been struggles as well. The past few years have been different than any of the previous years. Covid has challenged us to reinvent our program and rewrite our curriculum nearly every fall. We have had to find new ways to engage with students both virtually and in person. We would typically partner with several St. Louis Public Schools and some charter and magnet schools to mentor and meet with students. However, given their strained, stressed resources, and educators, we have struggled to make lasting connections. But we haven’t given up. We are very excited about some new partnerships that we are developing with other local nonprofit organizations and will hopefully be able to share those details soon!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started out focusing on design and following projects through construction administration. Once I relocated to St. Louis, my focus shifted to Justice projects. With those projects, I was more involved in the programming, planning, and conceptual design phases. Since then, I’ve worked on almost every project type in several different markets, including civic and federal work, some healthcare and Veterans Affairs renovations, and some smaller, local work, including co-designing a municipal aquatic center. That was very interesting and fun. We took our boys there to swim when it opened. They were the perfect age for it. There’s nothing quite like taking your family to see your project open and having them beaming with pride that their mom was the architect! At some point, I began shifting my role towards managing people and project management. I co-lead our CannonDesign St. Louis and Denver offices with some incredible partners. I am our Business Practice Leader in both locations. There is an amazingly long list of responsibilities, but my main focus is on people, project execution, and financial success. I am also now in my 15th year with ACE Mentor. I find it essential to be in and around the cities where we live, work, and design. Whether volunteering your time or serving on an organizational or local board, it’s important to be a part of the fabric of our communities, no matter your profession.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
Always stay curious. I remember an architectural theory professor at KU telling us during one class that people don’t like to be comfortable because people are at their best when they aren’t. And if they are too comfortable, then they aren’t growing, which for me has proven true. Every time I feel myself getting too comfortable, I know it’s time to find a new challenge, something new to me. It doesn’t have to be a big thing; it could be a new skill, a hobby, or anything. Another thing I would offer is to be your own biggest advocate. I know it can seem intimidating. I was there too, but talk to your supervisors, seek out unconventional mentors, and share with them who you are and what you want in your career. They will help you get there, but they can’t know what you don’t tell them. They will think it is incredible that you are sharing and asking questions. They want to help you be the best you! The last bit of advice would be to treat every client as though their project is the most important one on your desk because, to them, it is! We do this every day, but for them, this project may be the only one they’ll ever do. They deserve your focus and creativity!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.acementor.org/affiliates/st-louis-mo/ and https://www.cannondesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4acestl/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/cannondesign_stl/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACEMentorSTL/
Image Credits
Professional image of Amy Phillips by Laura Peters
