We were lucky to catch up with Joshua Thomasson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joshua, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Triangle Barkitecture, our mission is driven by a deep commitment to saving the lives of pets in need while celebrating the immense talent within our local design community. We believe in the transformative power of design to not only provide shelter but also to inspire hope and create opportunities for pets awaiting their forever homes.

Our journey began with a goal of supporting local animal rescue groups by harnessing the creative genius of our community. Each year, thousands of adoptable pets face the heartbreaking fate of euthanasia due to overcrowded shelters and limited resources. We refuse to accept this as inevitable and instead face this as a challenge—a challenge to leverage our collective creativity and compassion to make a difference.

Through our custom design competition, we invite architects and creative minds to envision and construct unique pet architecture that goes beyond functionality to embody love, care, and possibility.

As a volunteer-led event, Barkitecture is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a catalyst for change, a platform for collaboration, and a testament to the power of community. By selecting annual partners and donating all proceeds to their missions, we strengthen their efforts in keeping adoptable pets out of shelters and placing them in loving homes where they belong.

With each passing year, our event grows in scope and impact, reaching more people and touching more lives. We are not just raising funds; we are raising awareness, fostering connections, and inspiring action. We envision a future where every pet has a place to call home, and hopefully that home has a nice piece of Barkitecture for them!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Joshua Thomasson, an architect and graduate of Virginia Tech. I’ve been practicing in the Architecture field for around 12 years in a variety of sectors – everything from K-12 to healthcare all over North Carolina. For me, the drive of architecture has always been the community it creates and the ability to improve the space and world we live in. With so much of our lives spent in the built environment, I believe it’s the architect’s mission to improve this quality of life through thoughtful designs that respond to its users. Growing up in the small town of Danville, VA and having the chance to travel the world, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of design has on our communities and the possibility to impact change. I believe good architecture has a place in every budget, and challenge programs to get the most out of them.

I’m also President of the AIA Triangle Board of Directors, a local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, where I’ve dedicated myself to the theme of community—both within our architecture circle and the broader local community. I firmly believe that architects possess a unique opportunity to leverage their skills for the greater good. That’s why I’ve championed initiatives within our board that reach out to our communities, advocating for the importance of architecture and design in shaping a better future.

My journey with Barkitecture began in 2018, driven by a profound desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of pets in need. Drawing upon my past volunteer experiences and supported by a dedicated team of like-minded individuals, we embarked on the journey to establish Triangle Barkitecture event in 2019, and have watched it grow ever since. Seeing the event flourish and witnessing the tremendous support it generates for the rescue community has been one of the proudest moments of my career. and reaffirmed my belief in the power of design to effect positive change in our community. I look to continue to grow Barkitecture and expand ways to help pets in need, both locally and beyond.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think one of the important things in Barkitecture, and a volunteer event in general, is that failure isn’t an end, it’s feedback on how to make it better next time. In many ways for me, Architecture is a lot more rigid, and Barkitectutre has given me the opportunity to really try new things as we try and grow the event and have more things on site to reach more people and spread more awareness. We’ve definitely had some additions to the event that just didn’t work – either event planning or day-of logistically that we’ve had to take back to the drawing boards. Just about every misstep we’ve taken has offered some valuable lessons and insight for how we can improve. I still don’t have it figured all out yet, and that’s ok. Embracing a mindset of resilience and learning from failure has empowered the Barkitecture team to take more risks, push boundaries, and ultimately achieve greater success in my career. At the end of the day, we’re looking to have the biggest and best event possible, and if it takes a few times to get something right, we’re going to be better for it. We still balance our ambition with realism, but I don’t want to be afraid to take shots along the way.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Building strong and supportive relationships with local architects, designers, builders, and rescue organizations has played a pivotal role in shaping the reputation of Triangle Barkitecture as a respected community event. Through fostering a culture of collaboration and active engagement, we’ve cultivated a network that magnifies our impact and bolsters our credibility. By providing a platform for our partners and facilitating meaningful connections, we’ve demonstrated our commitment to transparency and honesty in our approach. This authenticity not only strengthens our relationships but also reinforces the values that define our organization.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aiatriangle.org/barkitecture/
• Instagram: @trianglebarkitecture
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/triangle.barkitecture/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuathomasson/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@barkitecture

Image Credits
Rose + Anchor Photography (Barkitecture Photos)