Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Concepcion.
Carlos, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m Carlos Concepcion, founder, and principal of Studio Concepcion Architects (SC/a), a critical architecture, planning, and design practice, fully committed to innovative design and construction.
It’s difficult to pinpoint the beginning of my journey in design, as my passion for drawing and constructing goes back to my early childhood, but I suppose we could start at the beginning of my graduate studies in Virginia Tech University, when my Thesis Chair asked, “what do you want to do”.
As most students of architecture, up to that point, I was mainly directed on what to do, when to do it, and often how to do it. That pedagogical approach put me in a difficult position (now I had to figure out exactly what, why and how), but it also forced me to clarify/develop my focus and process.
I knew I was interested in modern architecture/design, but also in its relationship to its context, which obviously includes the past, thence, my thesis topic “A presence of the Past”.
My idol at the time was, arguably the master of modern architecture, Richard Meier, who was practicing out of New York City. I was also intrigued by a selected group of other modern masters that were on the cutting edge of design, I decided to write each a letter expressing my interested in working in their firms, along with samples of my work.
From 10 letters of interest I wrote, I was offered 8 interviews, and subsequently 5 job offers, including one from Richard Meier and Partners, New York. After several intense, and life-changing years of experience at RMP, I decided I was ready to leave the nest and chart my own path.
My first few solo projects were of modest size and scope, yet visible enough to show up on the radars of a number of academic institutions in search of “new talent”. Parsons School of Design, New York, offered me the space and flexibility to further develop my design philosophy while growing my practice and I joined their faculty.
in 1992, I was awarded the prestigious Cintas Foundation Fellowship in Architecture & Design, which brought me to Spain for a two-year fellowship. During this period I was successful in winning a number of international design competitions, further increasing my visibility in academic circles. in 1994 I was asked to come to UIC as visiting critic for a semester, and subsequently to join the faculty.
For the past 20 years, I have positioned myself at the cutting edge of both practice and theory, teaching and practicing in the US and abroad. Intrinsic to my work is a strong belief that design can be a catalyst for change, and although representative of the current human condition, it exists in the context of history.
Currently on the boards are two exemplary projects which synthesize this philosophy. One is a historic intervention/conversion of a 19th-century religious structure to cutting edge collective housing.
The second, a high-rise cargo container project which attempts to re-appropriate discarded cargo container units to a modular collective housing prototype. Each responding, in their particular way, to our current human condition, modern technologies, while defining responding to their context. I would welcome the opportunity to further develop my story.
Parallel to my professional (architecture) practice, I am a co-founder of Smelly Onion Sailing, a Chicago based charter and the sailing company established in 2014 with the objective of promoting the sport of sailing. Entering its 5th season, SO Sailing has grown exponentially and will be premiering its first Caribbean charter in June of 2018.
Has it been a smooth road?
Amongst the struggles (which most architects face) include budgetary constraints, educating clients to the (intangible) value of Good Design, and working within stringent code parameters
So, as you know, we’re impressed with studio Concepcion architects – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As principal of SC/a, I am in charge of operations, business development and setting the design standards/direction of the firm. Our practice is known for innovative design, attention to detail, and sustainable practices.
What I’m most proud of is our work, most recently, I received two calls, one from someone who recently purchased one of our projects completed over 24 years ago and another from someone who was invited to a dinner party at another one of our projects, completed over 18 years ago.
In both cases, they wanted to thank me for creating such beautiful, inspiring, timeless spaces.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like best about our City is its rich architectural history, diverse cultures, and arts. what I like least is the cold
Contact Info:
- Address: 2000 S Michigan Avenue Suite 303 Chicago, IL 60616
- Website: www.concepcionarchitects.com
- Phone: 312.718.7110
- Email: c.concepcion@concepcionarchitects.com
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