We were lucky to catch up with Sharayah Jimenez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sharayah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Starting a new business during a global pandemic seemed like a crazy idea, but not just any business, an architecture design firm. Add to that, I am young, female and Chicana, in an old, white, male dominated industry. For years, the very idea of stepping out on my own seemed far too risky, it took years for me to develop the confidence and skill set that I would need to be where I am today. I spent nearly ten years working for an architecture firm that I very much respect, but after a while, things just started to feel stagnant for me.
I was offered another risky opportunity – a lead position at a start-up design firm that was in the midst of designing a private resort. It seemed too good to be true, and like so many things that feel that way, it was. We worked our hardest, but the brand-new, small team couldn’t quite pull off the epic magnitude of the project. I was let go, and devastated, but I counted my losses and learned so much! I learned what not to do when starting out a new firm, don’t bite off more than you can chew!
Determined to not be driven by other people’s ambitions for me, I decided to finally let my own lead me. I started freelancing and set up an LLC; initially I only had one large client (my previous employer!), but I slowly started networking and getting involved in ideas and projects that I wanted to pursue. I found myself attracting the types of clients and projects that I wanted to work with, and now, after nearly 4 years of being out on my own, my business is self-sustaining and I continue to pull in more revenue each year. I feel incredibly blessed, and although it’s a lot of hard work, to be able to say I am the Owner and Principal Designer of Cuadro feels amazing! To know that I am trailblazing for so many other latinx folx is equally profound. The design world can be so competitive, and throughout most of my career I always felt that uncomfortable tension, oftentimes with my own co-workers. Since being out on my own, I have not once looked back, and I look forward to more growth in the future!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Sharayah (Shay) Jimenez and I am a Chicana Designer and owner of my design firm, Cuadro. I graduated from the University of Arizona’s College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA). I am based in Tucson, Arizona, and I produce small architectural works ranging from public art to remodels/renovations, small casitas/ADUs, and single family urban infill projects. All of my works are within the urban environment, and I specialize in making these small projects work and getting them built. I strive for practical sustainability throughout all of my projects, and by working within the urban fabric, I am actively working against urban sprawl. I have worked over 10 years in the architecture industry and have experience with a wide range of projects ranging from affordable housing, historic preservation, commercial tenant improvements, and residential remodels.
I am a master of digital communication, and I use 3D Bim technology to communicate with my clients. This really sets me apart from the competition because most of my clients have never worked with an architect or draftsperson before, and don’t really understand how to read a plan. By offering 3D design service throughout the entire process, we can visualize what the project will look like the whole way through. It really helps the team to understand the implications of design decisions and helps clients enter into construction very confident in their choices. This helps to eliminate last-minute changes in the field which can be very costly.
I work in two phases, conceptual design and technical design. During conceptual design, I offer architectural visualization services like 3D massing studies, renderings, virtual-walkthroughs and concept plan development. At this stage, the design is pretty loose and quick and its’ usually the phase where I am most involved with my clients, because there is a lot of back-and-forth. This is the time to dream big, but I also help clients keep their ideas realistic by providing rough construction cost estimating during this phase. During this phase we are really trying to arrive at a great floor plan.
During technical design I will take the conceptual plans and turn them into a permit drawing set or construction document set. In this phase, I will start drawing the construction details and work with engineers if they are needed. I also handle all of the communications with the jurisdictional authority in charge of permitting, and I won’t stop until the permit is approved. After this point, I will also connect my clients with local builders who I have worked with before. By offering design support at every stage of a project, the team is able to execute projects with confidence and accuracy.
Sometimes clients will hire me for either conceptual design or technical design, or both. I’m pretty flexible and take on a wide range of project types. I feel really proud of the fact that I can work with just about anyone and I have worked with a wide range of budgets. At this stage of my design business, I am really focused on residential projects (I’m not currently taking on commercial work) that are centered on southwest living and creating works that are appropriate for the harsh desert climate. But, I’m pretty open to working with just about anyone, so if you are considering hiring me for a project, please give me a call and let’s talk!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
CUADRO began with an idea, let’s build simple, let’s build from traditional knowledge, and let’s utilize modern technology to create innovative, place-based architecture. In Spanish, CUADRO translates to “square, block or frame”, all of which are important concepts in architectural design. We start with the basic building block of a building, repeat it to form the neighborhood block, arrange it to create the squares of open space and compose these elements to frame moments, vignettes or views. Our elders built in this simple way, knowing that the most easy form to build is a box and that when we build with simple forms we can focus on quality materials. We are committed to ethics of sustainability, equity and authenticity. We are committed to building with materials and systems that are sustainable for the desert. We are open to exploring new modes of working in these awakening times.
Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?
In addition to small architectural services, Cuadro also provides graphic design services for logos, pamphlets or booklets. We specialize in vector illustrations, and are actively seeking new ways to generate passive income from these creations as well, for example there are many sites where stock vector illustrations can be uploaded and sold.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cuadro.design
- Instagram: @cuadrodesignbuild
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cuadrodesignllc/
Image Credits
first photo: Julius Schlosburg, all other photos Cuadro