Jacob Brookhouse decided to explore a career in architecture during a high school independent study art class – and a hands-on exercise made him even more certain about his future career choice. “My dad, a civil engineer, had access to a set of preliminary construction drawings of an unbuilt Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house,” said Jacob. “I used those drawings to build a scale model of the house out of balsa wood and cardstock. The process was a lot of fun, and I was confident that I would enjoy continuing to explore architecture. Since then, my time at school and work have reinforced my enjoyment of the profession.”
Jacob, who begins his graduate architecture program at the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning this Fall, is the 2024 recipient of MAF’s Paul Stachowiak and Integrated Design Solutions Scholarship. “Winning the scholarship reminded me that there is such a large, strong community of architects, designers, and engineers that are dedicated to pushing the profession forward,” said Jacob. “The generosity and support of experienced professionals shows dedication by the industry as a whole to a life filled with learning, another one of the great reasons to study and work in the world of architecture.”
As part of their MAF scholarship application, students must include a personal statement describing their interest, experience, and plans related to architecture, information on their leadership and extracurricular activities, and a personal portfolio. “In my personal statement, I talk about my experiences thus far in architecture, specifically about my study at Ferris State University (Bachelor of Science in Architecture & Sustainability) as well as my work with Progressive Companies (PAE), and how these two paths have influenced my ideas and future plans,” said Jacob. “The portfolio I submitted contains primarily academic design projects from Ferris of which I am most proud, with a few professional projects from PAE, where I felt my contributions were significant and where I believed I learned the most.”
Jacob looks forward to starting his graduate architectural degree program, and in the meantime, is enjoying working at PAE. ” I love having the opportunity to see the work of so many talented and passionate individuals, and the mentoring that comes with the job is amazing,” he said. To date, Jacob has worked primarily on higher education design, a path he sees for his future career. “I think designing spaces that are for everyone is the most rewarding opportunity, and I appreciate those times where nature and the outdoors push and pull on a building. For me, architecture that is intended to be experienced, like museums, cultural centers, and university centers, is the most fun to work within.”
It’s no surprise that Jacob’s favorite works of architecture include the National Gallery of Art – East Building by I. M. Pei in Washington D.C. “The feeling of stepping out of a gallery and back into the sky-lit central atrium is memorable,” he said. “I also love the design of the metro system in Washington D.C. The effort in its thoughtful design is clear and done tastefully and timelessly and only makes the public transportation experience better for its users.” Another of Jacob’s favorites is the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, which he notes for its great presence on its site, and how creative methods of displaying art within the building’s interior architecture make for an interesting and ever-changing experience. Jacob adds, “I have many other ‘favorites’, and I feel it is easy to find interest in a building’s design after learning about it and the design processes that were involved.”
When asked what he loves most about architecture, Jacob states that in a word, it’s everything. “I like how there are so many opportunities within the design process to be thoughtful and purposeful,” he said. “I enjoy drawing and creating beautiful things, and think architecture and architectural drawings provide a great intersection of two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. I also like the passion I’ve seen in architecture; everyone involved seems to love it, and breadth of the field makes me confident that as a professional, there will never be a shortage of things to learn and problems to solve.”
MAF’s mission is to advance awareness of how architecture enriches life. How does Jacob think architecture enriches life? “I think architecture has the capacity to enrich the lives of anyone,” he said. “An individual building can easily improve an occupant’s quality of life, and many of the ideas discussed in the profession, like sustainability and stewardship of the earth, span to a much higher level and help architecture aspire to make life richer for everyone on the planet.”
“I also feel architecture enriches the lives of those within the practice by presenting them with so many opportunities, at so many scales, to be creative and thoughtful.”
(photos, top to bottom: a selection of photos of Jacob, including with fellow students; at bottom, two of Jacob’s favorite works of architecture, National Gallery of Art – East Building by I. M. Pei in Washington D.C., and the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects)