Meet Andrew Stiglmeier | Christian, Husband, Father, Architect

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Stiglmeier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Looking back, it was something I had been thinking about for some time. I had been gaining confidence during my experience at my prior firm (SHM Architects) and started doing a good bit of work on the side. Primarily at the time I took them on for financial reasons (had a baby on the way), but as I did more and more, I kept thinking I might just be able to do it on my own.

I had been at my old firm for 10 years, and at the time there wasn’t much of a path for me to continue to grow within the company. I loved the place and people, but I had to make the hard decision (and the right decision for my family) to seek out and find another opportunity. I was able to do that, but as they say, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Long story short, after a couple of months, things just weren’t working out at the new firm. The fit was forced, and they just weren’t ready to do what we had discussed when I made the move initially. NO hard feelings, sometimes things just don’t work out.

It was at that point that I had a decision to make. With a couple of clients on the books, I thought to myself (with the help of a close friend), what is the worst thing that could happen. I take a risk, learn a lot in the process, and if I fail, go work for someone else anyways. In all honesty, starting my own firm is likely something I had wanted to do subconsciously for a while, but it’s hard to leave a secure/comfortable environment.

I truly believe things kind of had to work out the way they did in order for me to take that leap and go for it. In reality, I always thought I would probably do it with a partner, not by myself. But given the circumstances, I had no other choice! And I am so thankful that I took that leap. I wanted more creative freedom, financial freedom, work life balance/family time (still working on this one as most small business owners can likely attest), and ide be lying if I didn’t say I desired a little more recognition for my work. So far, that has been exactly what being a small business owner has provided, for the most part. It has been the most challenging, yet most rewarding thing in my professional career to date. There is certainly a long way to go from where I currently am but I’m so excited for what the future holds.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
A. Michael Architecture is a small, client focused firm that specialized in high end residential design, both single family and small scale multifamily. We work hand in hand with our clients to collaborate and develop homes that are true one-off designs that are tailored specifically to their taste, lifestyle and long-term goals. We want our clients to LOVE their homes and do everything we can to help make that happen.

We feel that what currently sets us apart is our attention to detail, and our ability to listen to our clients wants and needs. We work very hard to tailor our advice from a design standpoint to line up with what the client’s dream is, not ours or anyone else’s, simply the client alone. While I have an amazing small team, I am overseeing every job on the boards and having weekly contact with our clients. It is that high touch experience that we aim to provide as we escort our clients through an already difficult process (even more so in today’s market) from initial design to receiving their keys.

Considering that I started the business in January of 2020, it is hard to say it has been easy. Certainly, the advent of COVID-19 presented some challenges as I was trying to network, win clients and develop projects, all while limited to a remote work environment. While it was certainly challenging, I saw it as an opportunity to hone the way we communicate with clients and how we move projects along. Meeting virtually or remotely has honestly created some efficiencies in the process that may not have been there previously. While I always prefer to meet and develop projects in person, there are times when an email and or virtual meeting can work best for the team and keep moving things forward. From a business standpoint, it is an ongoing and continuous education. I am continually learning how to run/grow a business while still trying to maintain a high touch, high craft experience for our clients. We are not always perfect, but I am working incredibly hard to make that a reality.

Lastly, I think the takeaway from what we are currently doing is that we want the AMA brand to ultimately be synonymous with Quality, Craft and Care in creating generational homes that our clients absolutely fall in love with!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That is a tough question as there is absolutely so much to do in the area. We are fortunate in DFW to have endless entertainment options.

It would highly depend on the person and what they like to do, but I think there are some general things within this city that you can’t go wrong with. The details may change slightly, but the big picture stays the same.

I would likely try to do any combination of the following. Eat some great food, get some great drinks, meet some great people, see some amazing art, spend some time outside, do some dancing and possibly watch some sports. This city has a number of opportunities under each of those categories that I think can truly provide a wonderful experience for anyone.

A few things that I do think are musts at some point (and things I don’t do nearly enough) are concerts at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Events at the DMA, Nasher, Perot, White Rock Lake, Klyde Warren Park etc. And that just covers Dallas. Going to see the Kimball in Ft. Worth is an experience in itself. All this doesn’t even take into account the small brewery scene, BBQ options among many other things.

I could have a wonderful day doing any of the above, and I’m likely still missing a ton of wonderful opportunities to enjoy the city. There is definitely a little bit of something for everyone here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are more people than I can truly list here, but as anyone who starts a business will likely admit to, it all starts at home.

My wife Elaine has been absolutely incredible throughout this entire process. From taking on additional family responsibility (on top of what she did already) to taking on more of the financial burden initially as a working mom, she has absolutely been our family’s rock. There is also a funny thing that happens when you have kids and come to the realization that they are completely reliant on you. For me it flipped a bit of a switch and makes it really easy to work hard with the goal of providing them whatever opportunities they may desire down the road. Whenever things get hard it is easy to look to them and know I have to just keep on moving forward. And lastly on the family side, my parents, siblings and friends have been the most amazing group of supporters and cheerleaders I could have ever asked for. The amount of support, encouragement and kudos have received through this experience has been incredible and appreciated.

Professionally, I would be remiss if I didn’t include one of my professors and mentors through school David Driscoll in helping me connect the dots and find my first opportunity out of school. Graduating in the fall of 2009 was a tough time in our industry and with him, i likely wouldn’t have ended up in Dallas, much less practicing architecture.

Obviously, I also owe a lot to the people who actually gave me my first opportunity out of school in SHM Architects. David Stocker, AIA, Mark Hoesterey, AIA and Enrique Montenegro, AIA took in a green, wide eyed aspiring architect and gave me the opportunity to learn and grow within the profession, while developing a network that has been critical to the success I have seen within my own business. I am thankful to have spent 10 years there during an incredible period of growth for them. I am even more thankful for their support and encouragement as I have ventured off on my own.

Lastly, and there are too many to mention, but the relationships I have built through the Dallas AIA have been invaluable. All starting with my involvement in their ELP program with Pete DeLisle. Onward to being involved in the Dallas tour of homes, specifically developing a relationship with my colleague and friend Blayne Ladymon, AIA. The doors it has opened to have relationships with local architects like Bruce Bernbaum, AIA, Michael Malone, AIA, and Laura Juarez Baggett, AIA to name a few have been incredible and invaluable to my education in this industry.

There are so many other people involved in what we are doing, but these are certainly the highlights.

Website: www.amichaelarch.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amichaelarchitecture/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-stiglmeier-aia-ncarb-rid-9688b630

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amichaelarch