(Genevra Obregon and Aaron Haun at their recently completed home | Photo courtesy of BBT Architects)
Part of becoming a registered architect in Oregon requires 3,740 hours of supervised work experience. For your young designers like Genevra Obregon, this time spent in the studio planning, developing, and documenting are vital steps not only to licensure but in becoming a well-rounded professional. But beyond these thousands of hours, there are experiences where expanding one’s comfort zone with boots-on-the-ground involvement can prove invaluable.
On the Construction Site
In the parking lot of Vern Patrick Elementary School, a small group surveys the cracks and undulations in the weathered asphalt. A team made up of engineers, contractors, and project managers discuss the condition of the pavement and surrounding area. Among this group of men, Obregon represents the design team from BBT Architects.
In her role as designer during construction administration (CA), Obregon acts as an advisor to the Redmond School District. She regularly visits the site to answer questions from the project manager and contractor and addresses potential issues. “Since stepping into the lead role for the RSD projects in 2021, I have learned and grown a great deal professionally,” Obregon said. “Developing relationships, problem solving on site and seeing the additions go up has been incredibly valuable. There is so much to learn from the construction process about products, means and methods, and sequencing that I am excited to bring back to the design process on the next project. I have always had the backup expertise of mentors at BBT but allowing me to be the lead really has grown my confidence in this field.
“Even though this is my first time managing the CA process as the main point of contact, it’s been a great fit for me. I really like being organized, making lists, tracking tasks and I love the opportunity to use those strengths. The construction team has been great to work through this construction process and navigating it after the pandemic. This is a great opportunity for all young designers.”
While helping the Redmond School District finish their projects, the on-site experience has also shown Obregon some unexpected lessons. “I’ve really gained an appreciation for how construction tasks are scheduled, how much time they take, and how the sequencing works. It’s an appreciation I’ve brought to my personal project — building my own home,” Obregon continued.
At Home
After getting off the construction sites in Redmond, Obregon returns to a new one in Bend — the site where her home is being built. In the spring of 2022, Obregon and her husband, Aaron Haun, purchased a lot in Southeast Bend with the intention of building their first house together. Their goal was to have the house completed in the summer of 2023, right about the time when the Redmond School District projects should be completed. “Having most of my life and mindset in construction has been interesting and rewarding,” Obregon said. “Seeing the different perspectives and roles during the process has given me an appreciation for the effort it takes to complete a building, large or small.”
Scheduling the house construction has been complicated but Obregon has taken lessons from the school project, for lack of a better word, “home” with her. Making sure that you get discrete parts of construction done in a particular order — for example, making sure countertops are installed before plumbing can be fully completed — is a bit of real-world insight that seeing CA at the elementary schools has provided her.
The home is a small two-bedroom but the process has been complex and a learning experience. For her house, Obregon was responsible for making sure the site plan was complete before submitting it for permitting. This included making sure utility connections were set, setbacks were within requirements, and that parking and driveway measurements were adequate.
The contractor, Haun Brothers Construction, just happens to be her husband’s company. “With Aaron and I both in the industry, we knew our strength and where we would best function and it was easy to step into those roles,” Obregon said. “I handled the permitting, some of the scheduling, and ordering products. Aaron used his expertise to make comments on the scheduling, making sure we had all the tools for the weekly task on site, and most importantly providing the labor for most of the interior finish and site work. We were there working away most weekends, both putting in the hours to complete our home. I helped as much as I could on site, learning and adapting to the construction needs.”
Journey to Becoming an Architect
Today, almost half of the students in architectural programs across the U.S. are women but only 24 percent of registered architects are women. One obstacle to increasing the number is the myth around the roles women can perform in a project and a larger firm, i.e., that they don’t have technical skills. These numbers are trending upwards due in no small part to women like Obregon who are breaking through these myths around competency and qualifications. Having recently completed both her professional and personal projects, she is ready and excited in the next steps in her journey to becoming a licensed architect.
“Getting to know Genevra, seeing the way she really cares about the projects, being proactive, communicating — it was clear that she wanted to do the best thing for Redmond School District,” HMK Owners Representative and Project Manager Chad Franke says. “During construction, she has never been shy to question the contractors. And she doesn’t back down when she knows she’s right but shows humility and always make sure to follow up when it was needed.”
Franke adds, “It can be an intimidating world and she learned how to thrive in it.”
Paul Kim is the Marketing Manager with BBT Architects, a local, woman-owned business.
