AUDREY JO (JODY) MCGUIRE
SALA Architects, Inc.
SAY IT LOUD - Minnesota Exhibitor
Minnesota Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by my students - their aspirations and their commitments. I think our world will be more sustainable and just as they take charge. We cannot only wait for them to do the work but must be inspired by them to make change now.
AUDREY JO (JODY) MCGUIRE
Bio:
The Great architect, Audrey Jo (Jody) McGuire is a principal at SALA Architects and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota as well as a mother of identical twin girls. Jody holds degrees from Yale University and the University of Minnesota. With Aaron Amosson, she practiced as Studio 8 in New Haven and New York City. Jody has received the AIA MN Young Architects Award and the AIA MN.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I wanted to be an artist, then a photographer, then a photojournalist. My dad was a civil engineer, and my grandfather ran a lumberyard. All of this led to my path in architecture.
What do you do?
As a principal at SALA Architects, I work with clients, colleagues and contractors to thoughtfully craft each project. At the University of MN, I teach studios in which students connect their curiosity and talents to the questions of architecture.
What excites you in the work you do?
Meeting new people and looking closely at new places. The magic is in the unique combinations of circumstances that combine to make new form.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by my students - their aspirations and their commitments. I think our world will be more sustainable and just as they take charge. We cannot only wait for them to do the work but must be inspired by them to make change now.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
When our first clients moved into their new house, seeing how much they love to be there and how grateful they were for what we all created together.
Featured Project Name:
Rooftop Sauna
Featured Project Location:
Minneapolis, MN
Featured Project Completion Date:
2017
Role in Featured Project:
Project Architect
Featured Project Description:
An often forgotten space, a garage rooftop, is now an urban oasis. It manages stormwater, is farmable, provides habitat for pollinators and relaxation for humans. A cedar walkway cuts through the garden and links to the sauna structure which was inspired by the clients’ love of a Japanese teahouse. The sauna is clad in charred cedar siding (burned by the homeowners, friends, and architects). From the sauna, the view back to the rooftop feels like you have been transported to a magical forest.
