We were lucky to catch up with Jacob Green recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jacob thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

Hindsight is always 20/20. Architecture is a creative profession, but it’s also a business, and like many American businesses, it’s reflective of many of the social issues we are currently dealing with today. My story isn’t unique, and that’s the issue. As an African American, I have oft times found myself working to the point of exhaustion, not only to achieve success as I define it, but also to dispel the overriding sentiment in the American psyche that we are all underachievers, came from a rough upbringing, or have only arrived to where we are by means of a handout or mandated diversity quota. Just like doctors, architects are put through the ringer of professional degree requirements followed by examinations, required experience hours in key practice areas and continuing education certification to obtain and maintain our ability to practice. When we start our careers, it is with the expectation that with every position we are going to be exposed to the concepts and better business practices that are requisite for us to pass our exams, become licensed, and move on to positively and impactfully contribute to the profession. As linear as I had hoped that process would be, for me, it was anything but. When I received my graduate degree from the Academy of Art here in San Francisco in 2011, I knew I was going to have a difficult time getting my first position in a firm. The economy had slowed, layoffs were commonplace, and many firms were not in the position to take on new talent. I managed to get an internship here in the city which materialized into an opportunity to relocate to Southern California for my first real gig. I quickly learned that I was going to have to learn things on my own as position after position was to fill a specific need on a specific project, not providing exposure to all the facets of the field I needed to really start impacting projects in the capacity I knew I was ready to. The constant urging to “self advocate” and be “entrepreneurial” in regards to setting my professional path seemed to be directed my way, however when asking for opportunities to grow and contribute were met with “don’t you like your job?” and “we thought you were happy,” it was clear that perhaps maybe I just wasn’t the one the powers that be wanted to develop or invest in. For the better part of 14 years, I had established a pattern – 2 to 3 years in a firm, maximizing my efforts, saying yes to basically any task and proving my ability to learn, self teach, and work with others. During the pandemic, now at my 5th and final firm, I had been pegged to work on the project team out of our Chicago office on the O’hare masterplan. The team was inviting, fun, engaged, and even wanted me to consider moving from SF to commit to the project full time in Chicago. I had joined the firm to learn everything I could about Multi-family design and project delivery, so I decided to turn down the opportunity knowing that in the long run it wouldn’t contribute to my career goals. Along came review time and instead of the usual accolades and words of praise, I was met with critiques on how I was too serious when I worked and that when I was working I didn’t “look” happy. It was then, I knew that I had reached a point of mental finality as it related to working for a corporation. I had had the conversations about what was next for me, and those were dead ends. I had superiors let me know that “even though I was pursuing licensure, it wouldn’t guarantee anything” I felt stuck. So I went home that day and I had a moment of clarity – I love what i do, and I’m ready to do it on my own. I will not expend anymore undue energy trying to be seen. Now is the time to take what I’ve learned, keep going and make my mark. I started my practice in 2013 freelancing for colleagues who had already made the transition from corporate architecture to self-employment. I passed my final national exam in August of last year and became fully licensed to practice this past July. Through studying I learned more about my profession that I did on the job. In hindsight had I known that my day-to-day in an office would have been defined by being pigeonholed into roles beneath my capabilities with little to no opportunities for growth outside of finding new jobs once I had maxed out, I would have stepped down once I had completed my mandatory hour requirements and self trained from there. I have always maintained that one of my greatest attributes is being underestimated. You see, when they don’t see you, they never see you coming. I let that be my mantra each day as I lay the groundwork for my firm, reach out to prospective clients, network, etc.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve always been fascinated by the built world. I was drawing before I could write. I feel like my hands are an extension of my mind, and in many ways can better articulate how I see the world, and the potential that we all have to better it, than my words ever could. I knew I always wanted to be an architect, but like a lot of creative types, my pathway to pursuing it was anything but linear, I started my studies at the United States Air Force Academy majoring in Civil Engineering. I was burdened with the expectations of appeasing a military family instead of pursuing that which excited me. That changed to communications and Chinese, after I took two years away from undergrad to study Mandarin in Taiwan. When I graduated from undergrad I did the 9 to 5 for a nutrition company in the marketing department. While I was there I realized I’m only going to get to do this life once, so I might as well pursue what I really like and one thing led to another I and I was here in San Francisco studying Architecture. Arcain Design is a fledgling architecture practice specializing in bespoke single family design and multi-family design projects. My design philosophy is focused around efficiency and utility of space, inspired by my world travels where space isn’t something so readily available. In that there is so many opportunities for creative solutions that create inspired and informed living environments that reflect the lives we actually live. What sets me apart is my approach to the design process. Many firms aren’t as collaborative with their clients as I am. I like to have them involved from conception to completion. It provides them with a window into how design really does impact them more than they realize and moreover gives them a real sense of ownership over the final result. I also continue to stay abreast of the newest technologies available to architects in the production of design, documentation, and presentation deliverables, which allows me to more efficient with my time, thereby mitigating many of the inefficiencies still present in larger offices. I am most proud of making it this far. I may just be starting but it’s exciting and I can’t wait to see where it all goes.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Being a small local startup, there are great resources provided by the city to get up and running. Initially I did some research into business incubators that offer capital to specific groups. ESO Ventures is a business development incubator that gives out interest free loans aimed at small business owners that represent underserved communities. They offer great training programs that help you set up your company, its finances, insurance, and all those infrastructural parts that many business owners find daunting at the start. My initial loan of $10,000 helped with getting necessary software and other supplies necessary for me to work bringing client ideas to life.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

So far, the best resource I have found is other Architects. The community is large and diverse and staying active in local professional organizations gives me the opportunity to spread brand awareness among my professional peers. Many times you can get leads from firms and offices that due to current project demand, will hand off or refer smaller projects to you and other smaller operations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://arcaindesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcaindesign/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arcain-design