Kip Kolodziejski NCARB

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, ARCHITECT 2016 - 2023

Kip Kolodziejski was with Salas O'Brien for seven years, but his career began in 1980 after college graduation. His architecture experience includes warehouse, food and beverage, and commercial tenant improvement projects. Before joining Salas O’Brien, Kip worked for two of the premier tenant improvement firms in the Puget Sound region, Marvin Stein and Associates and Burgess Design.

Kip's interest in architecture grew from a love for art when he was young. "I always drew pictures as a kid and I was very interested in the southern style of residential architecture characterized by the classic Charleston, SC, townhome. I would draw every brick and shutter and lattice in isometric, which I 'discovered' naturally. It took me a long time to learn perspective sketching," he says.

"The computer greatly changed the profession when compared to hand drawing," he continues. "Drawing by hand was an art form and a blessing. I still sketch, but imagine starting a working day with eight hours of drawing time and ending it with so much accomplished and a pay check! Clicking computers isn’t the same. I’d tell young professionals to try sketching or pick up a trade as a hobby. You need to learn how to build things to succeed as an architect."

Kip especially loves the challenge of learning new things. One particular project that he remembers well is the King County Election Facility, which he worked on for Burgess Design in 2007. "It had a complex program of new things I knew nothing about," he explains. "I had to educate myself on the election process and ballot counting. King County had to deal with rumors of cheating on a prior governor's race, and this building was an attempt to solve the missing ballot issue."

Another memorable project was the Infarm indoor farming facility in Everett, WA, completed in 2020. The project faced a unique communication challenge during the Covid-19 pandemic, with team members sheltered in place in Germany, New York, and Seattle. Kip's plans for retirement include cooking, working out, reading, writing, and travel. Of his experiences at Salas O'Brien, Kip is especially thankful for the opportunity to learn from others. "I was here for seven years and I’m glad that at my age I could find people who mentored me. At every stage of my career, I've been blessed by others who took time to share their knowledge. I hope I gave some of that back."