Bio:

The great architect, Melissa is Vice President/Owner on the Interior Architecture team at Kirksey. She has been with Kirksey for 20 years. She manages large scale complex interiors projects, as well as team management, marketing and team finances.

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How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

This has always been a tough question for me. In the 4th grade, I was asked what I would be when I grew up & Architect was my answer. Maybe I watched one too many episodes of the Brady Bunch, but it stayed & I was determined to make it a reality.

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What do you do?

I am a Vice President and Senior Project Manager. I work on multiple large scale Interiors Projects and help run the Interiors team for Kirksey.

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What excites you in the work you do?

I have never done the same thing twice. I love working with our clients and understanding their cultures. Then translating that information and translating into a space that fits them and makes their daily life better.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

Our team inspires me. I love the collaboration and friendship. I love watching them learn and grow and I love what they teach me. Coming to work every day and working with this talented group of people is a treat, I savor every minute of it.

 

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

There are so many things, but for me I love going back to a built space and watching people use it. Seeing people enjoy their environment is so rewarding. Even when they use it in ways you never imagined.

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Featured Project Name: 

Motiva Conference Center

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Featured Project Location: 

Houston, Texas

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Featured Project Completion Date: 

April 2018

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Role in Featured Project: 

Melissa was the Senior Project Manager for this project. She has worked with Motiva since 2014 and has built a solid relationship with them. For this project, she set up the schedule, entire consultant team and ran point with the Client on all decisions.

 

Featured Project Description:

The Motiva Conference Center is a state of the art facility that hosts visitors and dignitaries from Saudi Arabia, the company’s country of origin. The project showcases Motiva’s brand, history, and culture through imagery, geometry, and materials. A two story water features anchors the entry sequence and custom storytelling graphics subtly punctuate the space throughout. The project won Houston’s Business Journal Landmark Award for Workplace Interiors and an AIA Design Award in 2019.

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Photography Credit:

Peter Molick