Urban West architects have designs on the future

BOULDER — Necessity may be the mother of invention, but it’s been known to create some dogged determination in some people as well.

Boulder architect Leonard Thomas founded Urban West Studio in 2008 as the economy was tanking and construction contracts were few and far between. But Thomas said he had little choice but to put his head down and start working.

“I was brought here from California to be a project architect by Communications Arts,” he said. That well-established Boulder design firm, which headed projects including the downtown Boulder pedestrian mall and Staples Center near Los Angeles, had been around for 37 years until it was acquired by Edmonton, Alberta-based Stantec in 2010.

“It was a complicated ownership transition deal” that forced him out in 2008, Thomas said. “It didn’t appeal to me, and it didn’t pan out for anyone. So there were not many jobs to be had in 2009; you had to go out and create your own.”

Thomas already had been an architect here for almost two decades, and his design and construction management expertise wasn’t lost on area contractors. Specifically, he knows the ins and outs of getting a project through the city of Boulder’s notoriously difficult planning process.

“We do mostly commercial work, though we do some residential work as well,” said Thomas about his six-person firm. “We do a complicated land use where it’s very difficult to get anything permitted. That’s one of our specialties.”

Working through the hardships of the recession was difficult, but he was also able to align himself with other talented designers. All the employees are on contract, so either he has work or he tells them when he thinks the work is going to be thin for a while.

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Urban West Studio

2995 Baseline Road, Suite 306

Boulder, CO 80303

303-817-2533

urbanweststudio.com

Leonard Thomas, founder and principal

Founded: 2008

Employees: 5 on contractual basis

Primary service: Architecture

Growth: 129%

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“I think they all understand,” he said. “Mostly I look for staff that is technical, CAD capabilities, and I rely on them heavily to get the drawings out.”

Thomas said more work takes place on the construction management side. Long days in answering calls from contractor and design review staff can be somewhat overwhelming, he said.

“When I can occasionally pull my head out of that, I have a pretty good network of people I know” for scouting for new work, Thomas said. “Most of the work is referrals from contractors.”

Working with residential clients is very different, but often just as rewarding, he said.

“It’s a very personal experience; you become sort of partners with them to work through the process,” Thomas said. “You need to see not only what is going to work for them today, but also what’s going to work 10 or 15 years down the road.”

In the end, Thomas said, the most gratifying part of the gig is to see the finished product.

“There are movements when it’s very gratifying: showing your designs to your kids. See the things you did right and the things you did wrong,” he said. “You are making physical contributions to the community, and you are very aware of that.”

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