KATIE POTTS
Diekema Hamann Architecture
SAY IT LOUD - MICHIGAN Exhibitor
Michigan Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
My kids. Being part of creating a built environment that serves them and their generation well, is what inspires and encourages me.
KATIE POTTS
Bio:
The great architect Katie Potts, AIA, is a licensed Architect at Diekema Hamann Architecture + Engineering. She has been practicing architecture for 8 years. Potts holds a Master of Architecture from Montana State University. A summary of her thesis, "Adaptable Mentoring Framework to Address Female Attrition" was published in Construction Association of Michigan Magazine. As a continuation of her work, Potts was a panelist for the JEDI Committee at AIA Michigan's 2021 Leadership Retreat.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
My interest in architecture started when my dad and I installed a ceiling fan. We were in the attic in the heat of August, and I loved it! I was fascinated by the roof structure and the systems that are required to make a building "work."
What do you do?
I am an architect at Diekema Hamann. I am involved in everything from the initial stages of design through construction. My role is to design and manage the project, team and client.
What excites you in the work you do?
It is exciting to see ideas become tangible. I enjoy making a positive impact in people's lives though smooth workflow in office environments and user experience by prioritizing sustainable strategies, such as daylighting.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
My kids. Being part of creating a built environment that serves them and their generation well, is what inspires and encourages me.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
I am thankful I thought outside the box to take a "study semester" to focus on the Architecture Registration Exams prior to starting a family. With family support, I was able to complete all 6 exams within 6 months of graduation.
Featured Project Name:
An Adaptable Mentoring Framework to Address Female Attrition
Featured Project Location:
N/A
Featured Project Completion Date:
December 2017-present
Role in Featured Project:
Masters Thesis Student Author
Featured Project Description:
Females are leaving the profession of architecture. After conducting interviews, 9 challenges were revealed. I propose an infrastructure to address challenges, through mentoring, in hopes of retaining talent. It is a collective effort to develop knowledge and resources. The structure of the framework is fluid and directs its own development. A variable and trackable structure allows users to analyze the evolution of challenges and reveal trends with real-time feedback.
