PRP Now! Stancey Moore // Bernheimer Architecture

PRP Now! aims to showcase the great experiences students encounter within the Professional Residency Program. PRP offers upper-level architecture students a unique opportunity to expand their education through work experience in the architectural profession. Over the past twenty years, our students have been linked with 260 firms in 29 countries. We will feature a handful of students within each session, graduate and undergrad, domestic and international firms. PRP staff mostly recently had the pleasure to speak with Stancey Moore [B.Arch. '16] about his experience.

PRP: Tell us about your PRP firm. Where are you working?
I'm working at a firm in Brooklyn called Bernheimer Architecture. Since I've been there, the firm has been working on a lot of cool residential projects at a variety of scales and a large spectrum of client types. Everything from low income housing to high end lofts for developers. In addition, they've been doing a lot of commercial projects that I've been able to work on.

PRP: Do you enjoy the city you’re working in? Favorite aspects?
I really love living and working in New York. I had always said that I wanted to move here after graduating so this definitely was a good test. I love that there is so much to do, and that every thing is constantly new and changing. Also, for someone who considers themselves an art nerd, there are an amazing amount of museums. So that's definitely a plus.

 PRP: What is currently on your desk? What are you working on?
On my desk is obviously a large cup of iced coffee (wouldn't be my desk without it). But other than that, I have a stack of drawings that I'm checking over since we are about to send them out to file. They are for the project I've been working on since I got here. It's a spin studio in Manhattan with a really interesting client. So I've gotten both real world design experience and an introduction to client meetings and interactions. It's been fun!

PRP: Describe the firm culture? The office atmosphere?
The firm has a fantastic work environment. It's social, fun, and productive place to work. The office is definitely really busy right now with ongoing and potential projects, but the office environment keeps it from feeling too stressful. They definitely go against the over worked and tired identity that we've come to know of architecture offices. Also when I first came here they were moving out of the era of Rihanna Friday's where we would listen to her Spotify station after lunch. I've been voting to bring it back.

PRP: What is the first thing you'll tell your classmates upon your return to UT? 
Do PRP! Especially if you are on the fence about architecture as a profession, do it. Going to the right firm in the right city can completely change your out look on architecture and architects for that matter. Working in actual firm for this long is completely different from what studio and school is like.

PRP: As you’re finishing up the week, what are your plans for this weekend?
It's currently NY fashion week. This weekend I was gonna go to midtown in Manhattan and probably stalk the tents. I've been try to find viewings or shows of smaller designers that I could potentially get into. Fingers crossed, I can get in!