Hello.

I have been interested in architecture since I was young and after completing my Bachelor of Architecture at Woodbury University in Burbank, CA, I was lucky enough to find a job working in the themed entertainment field.  I worked at a number of companies over the first 3 years of my career, designing theme park rides, queues and environments.  It was the first time I had considered that my Architecture degree could open a few unexpected doors for me and this first door was an amazing experience.  I learned about the world of art departments and technical engineers often hidden behind the fantastical creations of some of our favorite lands and worlds.  During this portion of my career, I was often elevated to leader of the pack and learned that reliability and productivity were values prioritized by the clients.  

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After a few years, I shifted my focus to working at an architecture firm to receive credit hours required for my Architecture License in California.  I worked at a healthcare focused firm for roughly 8 years at 2 of their California offices.  From this firm, I learned that there is a better way to use drafting programs and maximize productivity with standards and libraries.  During my tenure at this firm, my experience on project types ranged from equipment replacements to small clinic remodels to full tenant improvements of 50K SF.  I found the most enjoyment from working with clients and understanding the "problem" they needed solved and working with their team to make the best design choices for the project at hand.  

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From my interest and skill of building relationships with clients, I decided to make a shift in 2022 and started working at a third-party management company that specializes in construction management, client representation and overall project management.  This company has taught me the value of being flexible in the role I may have on a project and reinforced my client relations experience.  

 

I was licensed in 2023 by the California Architects Board and Drake Nichole Design Studio Inc was formed.  As DNDStudio Inc grows, I look forward to working with new clients and producing beautiful projects that are solution-oriented and value-focused.