Erik Peterson of PHX Architecture

Feb 21, 2021

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The residential and commercial world obviously offer two different working experiences, both of which Erik embraces equally for different reasons. He loves residential because of the tight-knit bond he needs to create with clients in order to realize their dreams; whereas commercial brings with it the pride of being sought out for his professional opinion on major projects and being trusted, with minimal hand-holding, to find solutions.

Listen in as Erik shares his best practices for running an architecture firm with two office locations, as well as leading teams between his main office in Scottsdale and the satellite office in Beverly Hills. He then does a deep dive into how Instagram has impacted the design industry as a whole and how to leverage social media to build your brand. Finally, Erik touches on networking, mentorship, and collaboration within the architectural community.

Topics Discussed:

[02:50] Residential versus commercial projects
[08:02] Design involvement
[11:45] Passion for residential & commercial projects
13:26 How the clientele and team differ between residential and commercial work
[17:23] Erik’s approach to budgeting
[20:27] How designers, builders, and architects can strengthen relationships with clients
[25:37] Changes in the business model after establishing a satellite office in Beverly Hills
[33:51] The impact of Instagram on the design world
[44:05] Overseeing employees and day-to-day tasks between a main and satellite office
[48:03] Erik’s role in at PHX Architecture and the firm’s project flow
[49:23] Keeping the team motivated
[57:20] The importance of mentorship and networking within the architectural community
[01:01:53] What’s next for PHX?

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Key Quotes by Erik Peterson:

It’s a lot about word-of-mouth: realtors bringing us work, interior designers bringing us work, builders bringing us work. If you suddenly present yourself as a threat to that collaborative nature, then you’re going to find yourself out there on your own.
On the commercial side, these are business deals that have to meet timelines and budgets. On the residential side, it’s all about emotion.
A strong architectural community has mentoring firms that give stepping stones to our profession and really flourish careers of really great architects within our community.
The best thing to know is that you don’t have to go at this alone. If you think that everybody’s out there to stab you in the back, that’s the worst way to go into a business venture.

Resources & People Mentioned: