May 16, 2013

Three former Mithun architects start a new design firm: Encore

Ferrese

Vincent Ferrese, Chris Nagamine and Andrew Hoyer have left Mithun to start a new firm: Encore architects in Seattle.

The three architects collectively have 75 years of architectural experience, and have collaborated on many mixed-use and student housing projects, including Thornton Place in Northgate and Lander Hall student housing at the University of Washington.

Encore is spearheaded by Ferrese, formerly a principal at Mithun in Seattle. He worked there for 35 years, and led teams on 105 projects, including 50 multifamily and mixed-use developments, 13 of them for college students.

Nagamine and Hoyer were senior associates at Mithun. Ferrese called them well rounded architects who are “darn good at anything they try.”

At Encore, Ferrese is managing principal, and Nagamine and Hoyer are principals.

Encore was formed in January. It will focus on multifamily, student housing, office buildings, houses and private schools, and will also do site utilization and capacity studies. The firm already is working on four projects, said Ferrese, who declined to offer details.

Nagamine

“It's a little bit sluggish, but there's a lot of stuff going on,” he said.

He said Encore has experienced “generalist” architects and low overhead. The goal is to provide “senior-level expertise at rates below those required by traditional corporate firms.”

The founders wanted to avoid a corporate structure in their new firm, he said. All full-time employees are part owners with an equal vote on policy — whether that's moving the office, delving into a different market or buying a company car. Managing principals will determine salaries.

“I don't carry more weight than the person who is 26 and who has a license and just started two weeks ago,” Ferrese said.

At some large architecture firms, lower level employees tend to keep quiet out of concern they will say the wrong thing or say “something that frustrates a principal,” said Ferrese. When staff members each have a vote you get a new way of looking at things, he said.

Hoyer

Younger people need to have input in decision-making, said Ferrese, who is 63. “I don't think I have all the right answers. Put it that way.”

Also, he said, owners tend to work more, and be more conscientious and service-oriented. “I think you get more energy from people when you have what they call ‘skin in the game.'”

Ferrese said he likes a smaller structure, but didn't want to be a sole practitioner. “I am a little bit too old to need to have my name on my door.”

He wants Encore to max out at 15 employees, so it can stay nimble and welcoming.

At some big architecture firms, you have to get a lot of approvals for everything you do, he said, and as more employees get hired you lose that sense of family.

Ferrese said he wants to give something back to people “who you think can do a wonderful job if they only they had a little kick start, and I hope to be a kick start for some of these people. I want each of the people (at Encore) to feel that even if they've just started, this is an opportunity ... They can build it. They can take it over.”

Ferrese said he has built a large client base, has some savings and it seemed that now was the right time for the “encore” of his professional career.

Besides, he said, it's an example for his 17-year-old son. “If you want something, just go give it a try.”

He said people have said to him: “You have a nice life ... why try something different?”

“I said I do, and I still do. It's just different.”

The firm's office is in Suite 1124 of the Vance Building.

The Encore founders will be part of the annual “Tour de Vance” building tour at 5:30 p.m. May 30 at 1402 Third Ave. in Seattle.