Cameron is an architectural designer at Shepley Bulfinch whose childhood appreciation for video games helped him identify his passion for architecture. Motivated by watching his teams’ designs turn from rendering to reality, Cameron is dedicated to creating impactful designs that uniquely meet client and user needs.
Can you tell us what brought you to this career path?
Growing up I was like many other kids in that I loved playing video games. Where I was different was that while I enjoyed playing the games themselves, it was the creativity behind the game layout and character creation that intrigued me more. When it came time to apply to colleges and consider my future career path, my initial thought was to become a game designer or developer. However, my father — a college professor — encouraged me to pursue a more conventional career. Reflecting on my interests, I realized that architecture aligned with my passions. Having uncovered the career path I wanted to pursue, I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Houston, and my Master of Architecture at Prairie View A&M University.
What motivates you the most? What are you most passionate about?
What I find motivates me the most is development — both on projects and as a professional.
As an architect, I find it incredibly rewarding to watch the designs I create go from rendering to reality. Knowing that my contributions to a building’s design can impact how users interact with the space, and each other, motivates me to create impactful designs that uniquely meet the client’s needs.
Another motivator is my professional development. I deeply value learning from the talented individuals that I’ve had the opportunity to work with. Learning from others’ experiences and expertise has pushed me forward in my career path and motivates me to continue learning and growing.
Can you describe an obstacle you’ve faced? How did you overcome those challenges?
A challenge I’ve overcome is learning how to effectively work with external project teams. With each new project comes a new project team comprised of developers, contractors, partner architects, and many other individuals that you need to learn to collaborate with. The best way I’ve found to overcome this challenge is to take the time in initial meetings to understand everyone’s experience and expertise, outside what may be found on their resumes. Gaining this insight allows strengths and weaknesses to be identified so that project aspects can be properly supported, and collaboration can flow more freely.
What do you do for fun in your spare time?
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends. Whether it’s coming together over a good meal or planning our next travel destination, we always seem to find an adventure and have fun doing it.