Brent Buck, Principal of Brent Buck Architects, talks with host Brian Jones about the evolution of his career from Project Architect at Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects to founding his own firm and pushing the boundaries of architecture through design and material choices. He explains how the firm’s work is driven by a desire to take on new problems that haven’t been solved, and how this led to the design of Frame 122, a five-story residential building in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn made from cross-laminated timber (CLT).
Highlights:
- The importance of not only being able to create beautiful designs, but also being able to get your project built
- The struggle architects face when schools don’t teach the business aspects of building a practice
- How the firm uses social media to share its process
- The role New York City has played in shaping the firm
- How to attract prospective clients who share your view of design
- Potential differences in projects within NYC and in other locales
- Misconceptions about how “green” or “reclaimed wood” buildings have to look
- The risk the firm took with Frame 122 and how it paid off
- The best advice Brent received when he left Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Episode Resources
Connect with Brian Jones and Patience Jones
Connect with Brent Buck
About Frame 122
