Chamberlain Architects hopes to increase design staff

While architect Joel Chamberlain is fairly new to running his own architectural company, he's been in the industry a number of years. Chamberlain started Chamberlain Architects PC, located at 2943 W. Chestnut Expwy., 16 months ago.

He moved to Springfield in 1995 with his wife and two children after practicing his craft in Rapid City, S.D., for three years, and in Anchorage, Alaska, for 12 years.

Chamberlain said he moved to Springfield because of the work opportunities here.

"I left Alaska because the bulk of the work there was federal and state jobs," he said.

"You had to have a big firm to get that kind of work. There's more private work in Springfield," he said.

Besides Chamberlain, the staff at his firm comprises another architect, an intern architect and a drafter.

Contacts

Before beginning his own company, Chamberlain was a principal at a local construction company. His initial work connections in the local market came from the contractors he knew and from being the past president of both the Springfield and the Alaska chapters of the American Institute of Architects.

Getting involved in volunteer work has helped Chamberlain's business as well. "My company has spent two years working as volunteers on a memorial for the Alms House Cemetery on West Divi-sion," he said.

"My volunteer work on the cemetery, and as a board member of the Greene County Historic Sites Board, has helped me meet people who later chose my company for paying jobs," he added.

Specialty

Chamberlain Architects specializes in design/build work.

"The architect and contractor team up as one entity to produce buildings," Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain's firm is doing the construction administration for the Jor-dan Valley Park pro-ject, overseeing the construction and doing some public facility design.

The company also is the architect for the Mid-County Fire Protection District Headquarters and two satellite fire districts that are under construction in Cam-denton.

The firm is serving as architect for the Challenge Treatment Center and the Court Visitation Center, both of which are to be built behind the Greene County Courthouse. The company has been the architect for schools and churches, as well.

Chamberlain Architects worked on the Lakeland Middle School in Lowry City. The firm is working on the Walk on Water Faith Church in Osage Beach.

Chamberlain said his favorite part of the job is "the nonstop stimulation of problem solving all day long. I handle a dozen projects a day in varying capacities," he added.

Economics

The downturn in the economy hasn't had a negative impact on Chamberlain's business.

"Business hasn't slowed," he said. "I signed two of my biggest contracts right before Sept. 11. I've had a lot of inquiries for work since then. I think that's because interest rates are so low. It's a good time to grow, to build a new building," Chamberlain said, noting that there's more demand for some types of projects than others.

"The smaller projects are going strong right now. The bigger projects have fallen off by the wayside. There aren't as many large projects right now because long-term money is hard to get. Lenders don't know if the interest rate will stay the way it is or if it will go up in several months."

Chamberlain eventually hopes to add two or three more people to his staff. "I want to continue doing commercial and industrial work," he said. "I hope to get into more public projects."