A Day With After Architecture's Katie MacDonald

Katie on site with the Camp Barker Memorial

7:00am: My twenty-pound, furry alarm clock (ie dog) goes off! Time to feed and walk Ray. I try not to look at my phone right away, but my inbox is already brimming with e-mails.

7:30am: Showered and dressed, it is time for some iced tea, no matter the weather. I like to eat a full breakfast when I have time.

8:00 am: The morning starts with e-mail correspondence, scheduling, and billing. As a practitioner and academic, this means both design project and research administration. It is surprising how much of my time is eaten up by these types of tasks.

9:00am: After completing administrative work, I work in dedicated project time. We have a range of projects in the office right now as well funded academic research. I like to block time for different projects on different days so I can focus on one thing at a time -- a public art project or a house or the testing of a bamboo composite -- though I often end up working between different things. Oftentimes, mornings are more dedicated to After Architecture and afternoons are more dedicated to research and teaching.

Kyle and Katie, the founders of After Architecture

12:30 pm: Time for a quick lunch. I usually go for an avocado swaddled in a toasted tortilla. The central cavity provides storage for things like burrata cheese, balsamic glaze, onions, or other embellishments.

12:45 pm: If it is a studio day, I walk to the university to begin teaching at 1:00 pm. The best part of living in a college town is having a walkable commute. On other days, I switch gears between projects and research in the afternoon, checking in with subcontractors and research assistants. Academic committee meetings tend to occur during the morning but our afternoons fill up with meetings with our west coast clients who are just getting in to work.

5:00 pm: No matter what day of the week, I like to break up my schedule at 5:00 pm by walking a trail with Ray, taking a run, or meeting up with friends. After this activity, I am back to work for a few more hours.

8:00 pm: I make dinner with my business partner and husband, Kyle. He is the better chef for all things hot, and I take the lead on cold items like salad, iced tea, cocktails, and frozen treats.

9:00 pm: After dinner is reserved for diversion. Sometimes this means reading a new book or watching a show. I love to peruse opportunities - design competitions, conference submissions, grant deadlines. This drives Kyle crazy when he is trying to relax, but I love the hunt.