Five Questions: Ben Webb

Q: Why change the name of your company?

A: The services have been available for many years, and I noticed in the last few years that many of my projects specifically involved interior design. So I thought it would be best to go ahead and change the name of the business, since that seems to be a trend that I’m leaning toward.

Q: What are the biggest trends in commercial interior design right now?

A: I’m seeing people who are more interested in reflecting the image of their business to people who come in as clients or patrons. They want to take a greater stand to present a positive image as opposed to painting all the walls white and putting down some mundane carpet. They want to develop an image that stands out and people say, ‘Wow, this was exciting.’ The best example is Bass Pro Shops – one of the best display situations in retail.

Q: Why is it important to put so much effort into positive designs in the workplace?

A: If you look at an office setting, people spend eight to 10 hours a day in their office, and if they have a stimulating environment in their office, they’re more productive. Then you go home and find people who do all of these elaborate things in their home, and they’re only there maybe an hour and a half in the evening awake, and then they spend eight hours sleeping. Most of the time when we’re awake, we’re working, so we should build and design positive environments there.

Q: What are some notable projects that you’ve worked on?

A: I’ve worked on the TelComm Credit Union on Chestnut Expressway, and the building where Mudhouse is on South Street – the historic renovation and the loft apartment upstairs and developing the space for Mudhouse. There’s the TelComm main office remodeling on Sunshine, and the Parrino’s remodel in the Galleria. At one point in time, I had done about 15 percent of the retail spaces in the Battlefield Mall, as well.

Q: Why did you decide to go into architecture?

A: It’s like a calling. I decided when I was 7 or 8 years old that I wanted to be an architect. I was artistic and capable mathematically to solve the engineering issues like structure and everything else involved in architectural design. That was just my goal in life, and I went into college knowing what I wanted to do. I’ve found over the years that the architecture students are the ones that are really committed.