Doug Dahlkemper

There’s little doubt architecture is the right professional fit for Doug. "Architecture is a creative and dynamic profession," he enthuses. "It continues to challenge every aspect of what I think it is." But what did surprise Doug was how much he enjoys the environment of a larger firm like SmithGroup, in comparison with the small design shops where he began his career. "There are opportunities here to see a broader range of practice and to contribute to a larger discussion," he says. "I truly believe in the power of collaboration, working with a connected and engaged team that challenges one other." Doug has an artist’s eye. He’s a believer in the "exceptional value of design," and while he can't imagine pursuing a profession other than architecture, he muses that it might be fun to run an art gallery someday after he retires. If given a week to go anywhere in the world, "I would like to go somewhere very remote and untouched by civilization," Doug says, "so I could understand what the world was like before we got here."