DVDLWith experience reimagining community, cultural and public spaces, and buildings of the future, you are a multi-hyphenate architect/urban designer/real estate specialist who thinks about how these spaces might be even further improved through design approaches that embody community dynamics, public art and culture, and the impact of design on our minds and bodies.
DVDL is a growing and diverse team who is passionate about creating inclusive, hybrid, interdisciplinary, flexible, and contextual programs for institutions and buildings. DVDL clients and collaborators range from institutions (educational, cultural, museums, and health care), to corporations (real estate developers, hospitality, art fairs, design firms, and retail), to cities, public spaces, government entities, art collectors, private individuals, and families.
Working in close collaboration with the Principal, Managing Principal, other team members and our freelance network, the candidate for this role will bring excellent project management, strategic and concept development skills, experience in real estate and the design of buildings, spaces and cultural institutions (particularly museums), and field knowledge of environmental psychology, design innovation and arts and culture of the future, along with an aptitude to be client-facing, and inspiring in interactions with our team, clients and broad network.
Responsibilities
- Lead multi-faceted national and international projects and clients through arts and culture forecasting projects, content and interpretation projects, visioning, space plan analysis and program development, stakeholder engagement, architect selection processes, and design and building processes, along with providing strong creative direction on projects throughout the duration of conception, building, renovation and development.
- Manage, and bringing design advisory expertise to, projects that rethink public, community and cultural spaces, and create new designs, strategies, programs, governance and operational models, approaches, ideas and concepts that do more across people from different cultural backgrounds and contexts, are financially and ecologically sustainable, and make environments better for communities.
- Design-related tasks on projects may include, but not be limited to: overseeing space plan development and design processes, overseeing and guiding the work of external architects and designers and providing creative direction, conception and early design of flexible modules for programming and public facing design interventions/installations, exhibition design, architectural references and guiding concept development for public spaces, cultural institutions, large developments and private individuals.
- Develop and manage agency projects, ensuring projects are timely delivered with a high level of original creative and intellectual content, manage stakeholder and community engagement strategies and activities for specific projects, and oversee and collaborate on the development of project content and documentation.
- Develop comprehensive project plans to be shared with clients and collaborators, lead client relationships, drive meeting agendas, and make presentations to clients and stakeholders.
- Analyze existing buildings, programs and developments, including their urban and cultural contexts and financial, demographic and operational models, and provide comprehensive reports, recommendations and strategies that guide clients on what programs, spaces, and institutional missions to develop, and the types of architecture and buildings to create.
- Leverage network and connections to develop new client relationships for the agency.
- Delegate project tasks based on junior team members’ strengths, skills and experience.
- Stay informed on developments in the field and generate new ideas for environments, shared spaces, placemaking and content and interpretation projects where the agency’s skills might be applied for impact.
Qualifications
- B Arch
- Experienced project manager and architect/urban designer (8+ years of industry experience)
- Creative mind that can dream up and conceive inventive design strategies for spaces and environments, and guide and inspire other architects, designers and clients to stretch their imaginations in this arena
- Interest and experience in placemaking, space planning for public spaces and cultural institutions (especially museums), buildings and developments
- Experience with environmental psychology (since so much of our work is about how people are impacted by the spaces we inhabit)
- Aptitude for forecasting about arts and culture generally
- Experience working with architecture firms, architect selection processes, museums, art and public spaces, exhibition design, and real estate and building projects
- Experience in co-creation processes and community engagement work
- Self-starter who can anticipate project needs and communicate proactively
- Excellent external and internal written and verbal communication skills
- Solid organizational skills including implementation experience, attention to detail and multitasking
- Experience with visualization tools, software, processes and best practices
- Discretion and confidentiality, along with ability to travel
- Excellent MS Office knowledge as well as Google Workspace
- Experience with standard design software and the Adobe Creative Suite (mainly InDesign/Photoshop)
Preferred Qualifications:
- M Arch
- Experience working internationally, and with private clients and large scale developers
- Experience working with real estate sector and multi-use developments, including familiarity with processes, development stages, financial modelling and business planning
Accepting applications via email through December 30, 2023, and interviewing on a rolling basis, so apply early! Position open until filled. Interested applicants should email a cover letter, resume or CV, and two writing samples, along with the names and contacts for three references (including two past supervisors), in a single PDF file to danielle@lebontempsllc.com with the subject line “Director, Culture, Design & Architecture Initiatives”.
