Before a single wall is framed for a SmartPads home, a lot of time has been put into the process by our team and the homeowner. The design process is where all the customization comes into play, and Brian, our Senior Architectural Designer, plays a huge role in that custom home design process. He has a special ability to merge modular design with creative vision to complement the unique landscape and homeowner vision of each SmartPads home. Meet Brian:I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and graduated from Temple University with a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering in 2012. While in school, I discovered a love for rock climbing, which inspired me to move West to explore more of the outdoors. Just after graduating, I reduced my belongings to a couple of boxes, shipped them to a friend in California, and embarked on a three-month bicycle tour across the country.During the journey, I met a host of people who frequently mentioned Bend, Oregon, a place I had never heard of before. Intrigued by the recurring mentions, I decided to visit Bend at the end of the trip. I quickly fell in love with the area and spent the next ten years there. During this time, I got my best bud Moose, a mini Australian Shepherd, and met my now-wife, Taemi, while designing indoor climbing walls.With Taemi's background in architecture and my experience at the climbing wall manufacturer, I developed an interest in architecture. Eventually, we both left the company and started our own design business. Not long after, I connected with Darrin and Ryan, and I’ve been their primary designer ever since. We now live in central Washington and spend our free time enjoying the outdoors as often as possible.

Q: How do you like to spend your weekends?

My weekends usually include some combination of bouldering in the local canyons with my Aussie pup in tow, running in the nearby mountains or foothills, diving into a good book at our local coffee shop, or relaxing and enjoying drinks with close friends.

Q: What is your favorite place to eat out in your town?

My favorite place to eat in town is actually in my own home. Living in a small town with few dining options, my wife and I discovered that we love researching, cooking, and perfecting dishes that we crave but can’t find locally. Our current favorite is a South African chickpea curry.

Q: What part of your job is the most fun?

I love the combination of creativity and problem-solving involved in early conceptual design phases. Bringing customers’ ideas to life and building on their ideas with architectural best practices usually brings big smiles to their faces, which in turn is very rewarding for me.

Q: How do you bring value to SmartPads customers?

Building a home can be stressful, so I try to reduce that by being very friendly, approachable, candid, and attentive. I welcome them into the creative design process and use real-time 3D modeling to collaboratively hash out their wants and needs. By taking the time to explain the web of considerations that goes into each decision, the customers can understand, approve, and take some ownership of their cool new design! Warmth and guided interactivity go a long way during times of big financial commitments and reassures customers that they’re in good hands.

Q: What do you feel has the biggest impact on the look and feel of a home?

No doubt about it–flow and function.Brian is a cornerstone of the SmartPads design team. His unique blend of creativity, technical expertise, and a personal touch is evident in every custom home he designs. Stay tuned as we continue to introduce you to the talented individuals who make SmartPads the leader in custom prefab homes. We're dedicated to building exceptional homes using innovative prefab and modular construction techniques, saving our clients time and money. At the heart of it all, we celebrate the people on our team, the mountain lifestyle we cherish, and the clients we help along the way.