Coffee Talk with Dr. Tyler F. Patak
December 2020
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American Institute of Architects Florida Southwest
December 2020 – Tyler F. Patak How long have you been with your current firm and what is your position? Nine years. I started as a project architect and became a principal. Moving into the leadership role of Principal allowed me the ability to direct the projects more completely. Additionally, and as important, this role gives me a platform to assist in the development of the next generation of architects. What is your must have item? Mechanical 7mm pencil w/ eraser; broad enough for sketches and small enough for lettering. |
Favorite song?
Don’t Stop Believing -Journey
Favorite quote?
“You can move through life seeing nothing as a miracle or seeing everything as a miracle.” -Einstein
What do you like most about the work you do?
I love the complexity and problem-solving opportunities in technical project typologies such as medical facilities, laboratories, and law enforcement training facilities. I enjoy the architectural exercise associated with dissection, analysis, and re-composition.
The safety and security aspect of the built environment is also of particular interest to me and has become increasingly important for all architects to think about in a meaningful way. Every project must wrestle with the implications in some form. Balancing the safety measures required with an appropriately inviting architectural expression is always an interesting design challenge. It’s my view that this is best achieved by a process of layering security and integration that is appropriately tailored to the user’s itinerary throughout not only the building, but the entire site.
Although most people think first about the school shootings, it is important for the public to know that we are designing for a wide spectrum of threats. These do include manmade occurrences, however they also include natural events like high velocity wind events, water inundation events, and of course biological events. It is interesting how nimble architects must be in our problem solving. Think of the pandemic for example. Previous urban planning ideologies focused on the idea of density to properly mitigate environmental impact caused by poor planning and things like sprawl. However, we now must consider that from a health safety point of view it is often density that can make populations most vulnerable. Therefore, from this prospective I think it’s increasingly important for architects to include outward expansion type development to our list of challenges.
Were there any influences early in your career?
As a kid I grew up watching my father, an expert cabinet maker and finish woodworker, fit the pieces of his work together so precisely. It was truly inspiring. That in combination with a natural pull toward model building, like train layouts, put the dream of being an architect in my mind at an early age. However, I was somewhat intimidated by the math until I realized I was actually a math guy. By the time I was a freshman in high school, I knew it was what I was going to do.
What makes you passionate about your daily work?
Pictures of family. I have pictures of my family all over my work space. When I look at them, especially my kids, I want to give them someone they can be proud of.
How do you bring back your inspiration, when you feel unmotivated or do not have a productive day? Do the difficult, tedious, “distasteful” stuff first and once it’s off the table and out of mind, then I move on to the more enjoyable and easier tasks.
What is your favorite historical work of architecture?
The Monasteries in Greece. Stone monasteries built literally on the tops of mountains. It’s staggering to comprehend the effort and drive that had to go into creating those places. The thought of getting a single stone up the side of a mountain, taking hundreds of years to build… and the dedication to make that happen. Any effort that we are asked to do today pales in comparison, and you almost feel guilty complaining. Also, other monumental projects that took Herculean efforts like the Hoover Dam; everything that went into that, the amount of cooperation and complexity of moving parts to organize I find awe inspiring.
Can you tell me a specific skill that helped you to develop yourself and your career?
The ability to read people. Knowing when to push, when to stop, and when to back off.
What development would you like to see in the architecture field in the next five years?
As architects we often assume people can visualize everything as easily and simply as we do. This often isn’t the case. I am excited for 3-D modeling, virtual reality, and other tools that will enable us to reduce surprises that arise when a client cannot fully envision the space from a set of drawings.
What have proved to be watershed moments for your practice?
Licensure.
Being trusted with running a branch office.
Finally finding a firm where the partners share my vision and my passions
What are some of the challenges your office faces now?
Getting people to understand what architects do, how they do it, and how critical it is to our quality of life. Decisions made during design are very purposeful. Conveying that understanding has always been a challenge for many of us. The occupants of spaces intuitively feel comfortable or safe or nervous or inspired or whatever, but may not be able to verbalize exactly why. The subsequent challenge is to use those skills to provide spaces appropriate to the functions occurring within.
What trends do you feel are important in Architecture/ Design today?
In southwest Florida we are experiencing unprecedented growth and subsequently presented with an unprecedented opportunity to do great harm or great good. It is critical to have architects, at all levels, in leadership positions in our area so that we may offer ourselves as thought leaders to our communities. The ability to see all the moving parts and their interconnectivity is a core strength of architectural design and practice. Our region desperately needs this type of expertise at many levels.
What do you find most challenging about being an architect in southwest Florida?
People do not understand that designing in southwest Florida is a different animal. When folks come here from elsewhere, they often bring with them preconceived notions about building science relevant to a different climate zone that is not applicable to our local environment. It can be a challenge to break through these mindsets. Everything from high velocity winds to what side the vapor barrier goes on; it’s just a different animal.
What advantages do you think we have as architects living in southwest Florida?
Opportunities around the growth in our region are incredibly exciting.
What do you see as the biggest challenge for our professions over the next 10 years? The environment. I hesitate to prioritize what’s more important - having clean water, renewable energy, seal level rise, clean air, habitat? The system is connected and the problems architects are going to be required to solve are complicated.
What is your design process? Can you describe.
Seven mm mechanical pencil and white sketch paper. Never throw it away, just keep unrolling, and keep the sketches. It becomes a chronology of how you got from one point to another. Clear your mind at the beginning, brainstorm, and keep sketching. Get the basics quickly before the mind starts working on details. Then immediately put the building on the site and start to develop the functions within the building. I design from the inside out.
What is your goal when it comes to your work?
What do you want to be remembered for? Listening to the client and enabling them to achieve their goals. Ultimately, at the end of construction, the owner, architect, and contractor are still friends.
What do you consider the role of an architect to be in society at large?
An architect’s methodologies around analysis and problem solving are a finely honed and comprehensive skill set. It is my contention that the architect’s skills are universally applicable to solving a variety of complexities within our society. I believe it is our role as architects to imagine and apply our problem-solving talents to more aspects of society and life.
If you could design anything in any location what would it be?
A cabin in the mountains. We already have the site.
What advice would you give to young designers starting out today?
The advice I was given. You will acquire the traits of the 10 people you spend the most time with, so pick those persons wisely.
Don’t Stop Believing -Journey
Favorite quote?
“You can move through life seeing nothing as a miracle or seeing everything as a miracle.” -Einstein
What do you like most about the work you do?
I love the complexity and problem-solving opportunities in technical project typologies such as medical facilities, laboratories, and law enforcement training facilities. I enjoy the architectural exercise associated with dissection, analysis, and re-composition.
The safety and security aspect of the built environment is also of particular interest to me and has become increasingly important for all architects to think about in a meaningful way. Every project must wrestle with the implications in some form. Balancing the safety measures required with an appropriately inviting architectural expression is always an interesting design challenge. It’s my view that this is best achieved by a process of layering security and integration that is appropriately tailored to the user’s itinerary throughout not only the building, but the entire site.
Although most people think first about the school shootings, it is important for the public to know that we are designing for a wide spectrum of threats. These do include manmade occurrences, however they also include natural events like high velocity wind events, water inundation events, and of course biological events. It is interesting how nimble architects must be in our problem solving. Think of the pandemic for example. Previous urban planning ideologies focused on the idea of density to properly mitigate environmental impact caused by poor planning and things like sprawl. However, we now must consider that from a health safety point of view it is often density that can make populations most vulnerable. Therefore, from this prospective I think it’s increasingly important for architects to include outward expansion type development to our list of challenges.
Were there any influences early in your career?
As a kid I grew up watching my father, an expert cabinet maker and finish woodworker, fit the pieces of his work together so precisely. It was truly inspiring. That in combination with a natural pull toward model building, like train layouts, put the dream of being an architect in my mind at an early age. However, I was somewhat intimidated by the math until I realized I was actually a math guy. By the time I was a freshman in high school, I knew it was what I was going to do.
What makes you passionate about your daily work?
Pictures of family. I have pictures of my family all over my work space. When I look at them, especially my kids, I want to give them someone they can be proud of.
How do you bring back your inspiration, when you feel unmotivated or do not have a productive day? Do the difficult, tedious, “distasteful” stuff first and once it’s off the table and out of mind, then I move on to the more enjoyable and easier tasks.
What is your favorite historical work of architecture?
The Monasteries in Greece. Stone monasteries built literally on the tops of mountains. It’s staggering to comprehend the effort and drive that had to go into creating those places. The thought of getting a single stone up the side of a mountain, taking hundreds of years to build… and the dedication to make that happen. Any effort that we are asked to do today pales in comparison, and you almost feel guilty complaining. Also, other monumental projects that took Herculean efforts like the Hoover Dam; everything that went into that, the amount of cooperation and complexity of moving parts to organize I find awe inspiring.
Can you tell me a specific skill that helped you to develop yourself and your career?
The ability to read people. Knowing when to push, when to stop, and when to back off.
What development would you like to see in the architecture field in the next five years?
As architects we often assume people can visualize everything as easily and simply as we do. This often isn’t the case. I am excited for 3-D modeling, virtual reality, and other tools that will enable us to reduce surprises that arise when a client cannot fully envision the space from a set of drawings.
What have proved to be watershed moments for your practice?
Licensure.
Being trusted with running a branch office.
Finally finding a firm where the partners share my vision and my passions
What are some of the challenges your office faces now?
Getting people to understand what architects do, how they do it, and how critical it is to our quality of life. Decisions made during design are very purposeful. Conveying that understanding has always been a challenge for many of us. The occupants of spaces intuitively feel comfortable or safe or nervous or inspired or whatever, but may not be able to verbalize exactly why. The subsequent challenge is to use those skills to provide spaces appropriate to the functions occurring within.
What trends do you feel are important in Architecture/ Design today?
In southwest Florida we are experiencing unprecedented growth and subsequently presented with an unprecedented opportunity to do great harm or great good. It is critical to have architects, at all levels, in leadership positions in our area so that we may offer ourselves as thought leaders to our communities. The ability to see all the moving parts and their interconnectivity is a core strength of architectural design and practice. Our region desperately needs this type of expertise at many levels.
What do you find most challenging about being an architect in southwest Florida?
People do not understand that designing in southwest Florida is a different animal. When folks come here from elsewhere, they often bring with them preconceived notions about building science relevant to a different climate zone that is not applicable to our local environment. It can be a challenge to break through these mindsets. Everything from high velocity winds to what side the vapor barrier goes on; it’s just a different animal.
What advantages do you think we have as architects living in southwest Florida?
Opportunities around the growth in our region are incredibly exciting.
What do you see as the biggest challenge for our professions over the next 10 years? The environment. I hesitate to prioritize what’s more important - having clean water, renewable energy, seal level rise, clean air, habitat? The system is connected and the problems architects are going to be required to solve are complicated.
What is your design process? Can you describe.
Seven mm mechanical pencil and white sketch paper. Never throw it away, just keep unrolling, and keep the sketches. It becomes a chronology of how you got from one point to another. Clear your mind at the beginning, brainstorm, and keep sketching. Get the basics quickly before the mind starts working on details. Then immediately put the building on the site and start to develop the functions within the building. I design from the inside out.
What is your goal when it comes to your work?
What do you want to be remembered for? Listening to the client and enabling them to achieve their goals. Ultimately, at the end of construction, the owner, architect, and contractor are still friends.
What do you consider the role of an architect to be in society at large?
An architect’s methodologies around analysis and problem solving are a finely honed and comprehensive skill set. It is my contention that the architect’s skills are universally applicable to solving a variety of complexities within our society. I believe it is our role as architects to imagine and apply our problem-solving talents to more aspects of society and life.
If you could design anything in any location what would it be?
A cabin in the mountains. We already have the site.
What advice would you give to young designers starting out today?
The advice I was given. You will acquire the traits of the 10 people you spend the most time with, so pick those persons wisely.
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