Utah County Architecture Firm Celebrates a Year of Relationships, Accomplishments, Activities, and Undertakings

As the holiday season is upon us, we at Curtis Miner Architecture (CMA) find ourselves thinking back on the past year with appreciation for our relationships, both old and new, and for all our activities and accomplishments – both as a group and as individuals. This is a perfect time of year to reflect on ten noteworthy happenings from 2017:

1.   Expanding our Family

This year, CMA proudly welcomed four new members to our family:

In May, Nathan Brown joined us as Senior Drafter. Nathan holds a B.S. in Architectural Studies and an M.A. from the University of Utah. During his studies, he placed an emphasis on Historic Preservation of Architecture. Outside of work, Nathan enjoys singing, to which he owes his beautiful family: he met his wife in choir!

Jane Healy came on board in May as Marketing Assistant. Jane was raised in the architecture and design industry, and coupled with a background in graphic design and document preparation, Jane brings valuable skills to our team. In her free time, Jane is a voracious reader.

In July, Mike Sroufe was hired as a Senior Drafter. With an eye for fine detail, Mike knew early on he would pursue a career in architecture. From a young age, he could be found designing, building, or serving as handyman around his home. Mike has a B.S. in Architectural Studies and an M.A. from the University of Utah.

Sam Lopez joined us in August as a Senior Drafter. Sam is an architectural student at the University of Utah, with three years of work experience as a draftsman and 3D modeler. Sam’s work is influenced by his love of traveling, sketching, and photography.

2.   Two Newly Licensed Utah Architectural Professionals

Nothing gets us quite as excited as seeing the professional growth of our peers and friends. We are happy to announce the licensure of two of our crew. Welcome to the ranks of Utah Architect status!

Mike Anderson, AIA, NCARB, earned his license in July.  Mike is a Project Architect specializing in automotive and auto dealership architecture.

Curtis Livingston, AIA, earned his license in December. A Project Architect, Curtis specializes in education Architecture, particularly K-12 facilities.

3.   Three Utah Architecture Design Awards

We are honored to be the recipient of three prestigious Utah architecture design awards this year – two from the AIA Central Utah Section, and one from Utah Construction & Design.

• Utah Valley University Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism, Best of 2017 Higher Education Architecture, Utah Construction & Design Magazine.
• Utah Valley University Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism, Honor Award, Higher Education Architecture, AIA Central Utah Section
• Star Mill, Honor Award, Commercial Architecture, AIA Central Utah Section

4.   Speed, Design, Craft, and … Tacos??

In May, we had twice the fun by celebrating Cinco de Mayo and holding our second annual Pinewood Derby competition. We enjoyed a potluck of Mexican fare, while many of our staff explored their design skills, revving it up in a speed-racer competition. Hats off to the winners:

• SPEED – Utah Architect and Principal Jay Taggart’s “Speed in Seven Steps”
• DESIGN – Utah Interior Design Specialist Christina Perry’s “Beaver on Logs”
• CRAFT – Utah-based Visualization Specialist Ian Anderson’s “Fish”

5.   Annual Lagoon Day

We celebrated another successful company Lagoon day in August 2017. The whole gang has attended Lagoon for the past seven years – and as we grow, so does the number of attendees and the amount of fun. “It’s great to work for a company that values its employees and hosts fun, family-friendly events between our typical day-to-day operations,” says Mike Sroufe, who joined CMA this year. “Lagoon Day this summer was a blast. My family enjoyed the time we got to spend together riding roller coasters, eating great food and meeting my co-workers.”

6.   Biking to Jackson

CMA gives a special shout out to Curtis Miner for completing his 5th LoToJa cycling race. This long distance, one-way road race starts in Logan, Utah and ends in Jackson Hole, Wyoming – just over 200 miles. Winding its way through Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, the scenic route includes three mountain passes as well as hilly to rolling terrain that results in over 8,000 feet elevation gain. Congratulations to Curtis for completing this grueling personal challenge!

7.   Dancing and Singing

Cheers to Senior Drafter Josh Baer for his theatre and music talents. In June, Josh played Mendel, the Rabbi’s son, in the Fiddler on the Roof. The production was put on through the Murray Arts Council. “Besides being such a classic show and story, this was a great cast,” said Josh. “We really became like family and still get together and support each other’s productions.”

Through November and December, Josh is playing Micah in the LDS Conference Center Theater’s production of Savior to the World. When asked about the show, Josh informed us, “This is my 3rd year being a part of this production, and even though it’s a large time commitment during an already busy time of the year, I didn’t hesitate to be involved again because it’s such a great way to celebrate the Christmas season and focus on what’s really important.”

8.   Pies and Camaraderie

At our annual potluck Harvest Lunch in November, we got together to share thanks for each other, enjoy one another’s company, and share some of our favorite dishes.

A very big cheer to Ian Anderson for his exceptional artistry on the holiday pies. They included a Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake and a White Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake, each topped with a salted caramel sauce and chocolate leaves, and an Apple Rose Tart, topped with thin apple slices arranged into roses. Ian also handcrafted the cake stands from African Mahogany wood, turned on a wood lathe.

9.    Nearly Two Decades Strong

In November, CMA celebrated its 19th birthday. From humble beginnings in Curtis and Janine Miner’s unfinished basement in 1998 to a staff now nearing 25 people and possible office space expansion in 2018, we really have come a long way. Curtis Miner Architecture was founded on the ideals of “Excellent Design and Outstanding Service” and we remain true to those principles. Thanks to our talented and dedicated staff, inspiring clients, capable contractors and others who have helped us along the way!

We are grateful for this past year and all the memories it affords us. We look forward to the year to come; to the relationships we will continue to build, the activities and accomplishments we will share.