Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work on many different types of projects, large and small. Many were for knowledgeable clients, experienced in contributing to design and construction projects. Other clients were new to the process, requiring detailed communications about each phase.

For me, the sophistication and knowledge of the client isn’t necessarily the key to a successful project, although it can help the process. What I look for—and most appreciate—is true enthusiasm on the part of our clients. Enthusiasm, energy, excitement, a willingness to participate and share ideas—these are ingredients that can really make a difference in the quality of our work as architects, and in the outcome of a design project.

Recently, I had the opportunity to work with the staff at the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors on their new headquarters. NVAR is actually our neighbor here at Dewberry; located right behind our own headquarters complex in Fairfax. Clearly, our proximity (they were located in our building prior to the construction of the new facility) helped facilitate strong communication and interaction right from the start. But NVAR staff brought much more than that to the table. They came to every meeting well prepared with questions and ideas. They set high expectations early on, addressing the functionality of the building and its visual aesthetics within our neighborhood setting. They also set an ambitious goal for sustainability—LEED^® Silver certification—and through their continued support and encouragement, we were ultimately able to achieve LEED Gold.

Most importantly, the NVAR team was enthusiastic and engaged throughout the entire process. Their enthusiasm was contagious—our design team benefited greatly from NVAR’s energy and creativity. We looked forward to every meeting, and were always determined to do our best, from early design concepts to the final walk-throughs.

The staff at NVAR has now opened their new headquarters and welcomed the community with pride—hosting events and partnering with a local school to offer tours focusing on sustainable building design. They’ve clearly carried their enthusiasm over to the new building—it’s evident in how they work and interact with the community.

Our offices here in Fairfax overlook their striking new headquarters. For me, it’s a daily reminder of how important client enthusiasm can be, and how grateful I am for clients such as NVAR.