Barak is a creative architect at Shepley Bulfinch who specializes in library design. Inspired by his childhood experiences and a desire to shape lives through design, Barak traded in his guitar for a master’s degree in architecture. As a “professional puzzle solver,” he is passionate about understanding client needs, functions, and project constraints to bring all the pieces together that deliver the best design solutions for the client.  

Can you tell us the “backstory” about what brought you to this career path?    

I didn’t have a typical path toward becoming an architect. Although I played with Legos and Lincoln Logs, I did not spend my childhood days envisioning the buildings I could create as an architect. Growing up I was drawn to music. I played guitar and piano, wrote songs, and dreamed of becoming a professional songwriter. I began pursuing my music path by attending Greenville College, Berklee College of Music, and the College of Charleston culminating in an undergraduate degree in Arts Management. During my time in school, I played with a few bands and even reconnected with my High School sweetheart, now wife, who’s a drummer.  

After graduating, I reflected on the direction I wanted to take in my career. While I loved music, few musicians became rockstars and made an income that supported a family. I recalled a fond experience I had growing up when my great-aunt worked with an architect to build her house in Colorado. I remembered her telling stories of the process: but my main takeaway from her experience was realizing an architect’s ability to shape someone’s life and improve it. This is what I wanted to do.  

I began pursuing my master’s in architecture at Clemson University, fine tuning my technical skills and discovering parallels between my musical background and the practice of architecture. I’ve enjoyed the design journey every day since. 

Outside of your work at Shepley Bulfinch, are you involved in communities or groups? 

I am a member of the American Library Association (ALA), currently serving as the Building and Planning Core Co-Chair. My involvement with ALA has allowed me to gain regional and national insight into best practices and client needs while enabling continuing education and design thinking opportunities for our library clients. Having a network of peers that face similar triumphs and challenges that I have is incredibly valuable, and ultimately has allowed me to better serve our clients. Outside of ALA, I am a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Since becoming a member of the AIA, I had the opportunity to participate in their Christopher Kelley Leadership Development program which allowed me to hone my skills in firm management, collaboration, client development, industry trends, and community engagement. 

How do you approach projects? 

Each project is unique. What they all have in common is that buildings are for people, and it’s the activities in the space that drive their design. When I approach a new project with a team, I like to work the design back from desired outcomes, to first understand client needs, the functions of the space, and the project constraints. I look at the planning, programming, and design process as a puzzle solver trying to put the pieces together without looking at the picture on the box. Once the team gains an understanding of the pieces of the project, we can then find the best mechanisms and solutions to create the full picture. It’s incredibly rewarding to see all the pieces come together and result in a beautifully designed built project.  

What do you do for fun in your spare time? 

I have a few hobbies I enjoy in my spare time, the first being music. While I chose not to pursue my initial dream of becoming a songwriter, music is still a big part of my life. I play in my church band, which has been a great way to continue my passion for music.  

I also love cooking. I find parallels in cooking and architecture, playing with ingredients and working through steps to create something that creates delight, except the results are tastier and are realized in minutes rather than months.  

When I’m not playing music or cooking, I’m probably planning or executing my next DIY project for my 1955 ranch home. I’ve always enjoyed woodworking and carpentry, so I jump at the opportunity to lend my skills into restoring and renovating my home.