Member Spotlight : Bobby Walker Design
We are excited to feature Bobby Walker Design in our latest member spotlight! Bobby Walker and Dane Torrens are two OG and beloved members here at our Tacoma location. Continue reading to hear more about what they do, and how they started a business together.
Hi Bobby, Dane, and Michaela! Can you share with us a little bit about yourselves and what you all do? What inspired you all to pursue a career in architecture?
Bobby : When I was 11, I went to an office opening in downtown Seattle (now the Filson building). The space had been converted from an old Seattle Machine shop into a advertising studio with big steel pivot doors, exposed framing, and windows that had been put on casters and converted to movable walls for meetings. I fell in love with the space, and asked my parents what type of person designed the space. That's when I first learned about architecture.
Dane : I have consistently been drawn to the built environment and how design influences our experience. From architecture defining our sense of space, to wayfinding systems creating a narrative as we navigate our surroundings. I can't pinpoint a single moment that inspired my interest in architecture, but I have always known I wanted to be a part of crafting those experiences for others and the community.
Michaela : In high school, I read a book about a girl looking for her father across Europe. She followed clues she found in the cloisters of Normandy, manors in Bavaria, all the way through ancient cities in eastern Europe to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Though I initially wanted to be a writer, to be able to make someone feel the grandeur of those spaces without ever having been there, I realized the fascination was with the designer of the space itself.
I followed architecture from a distance by studying history, visiting the places in person I had been so enamored with from afar. The more I saw, however, the more I felt like history (and historic architecture in particular) was kept too separate from contemporary, living society. The final jump into architecture came from a desire to create environments that can make important historic memories relevant in a modernizing world. Old and new aren’t competing concepts; they coexist and complement each other when given the room to do so.
Michaela, Bobby, & Dane
How did your business go from an idea to a working firm?
We both started at The Pioneer Collective working remotely for different firms based out of California. At the time, especially in architecture, working remotely wasn’t typical in our profession. Bonding over the struggles of working remotely, we both continued to chat about working together. After three years, Bobby started his own firm and Dane joined him about a year after. Michaela started at the beginning of 2024.
What are some of the biggest challenges you all have faced in starting your own business?
Starting out, landing projects, especially ones we are most interested in working on, can be difficult. Earlier in an architecture career, it's common to say yes to all opportunities. It takes time to learn where your passion and expertise is best suited.
How did being a part of a coworking space play a role in this new business venture? How has being a part of a coworking space helped you personally and professionally?
For our business relationship, we wouldn’t have met without The Pioneer Collective. Bobby was new to Tacoma in 2018, and drained by the isolation of working remotely. Coworking was a great way to meet like minded people. As OG members who have been here since Chris was still installing hardware in the kitchen, we have developed relationships with businesses in our field and friendships with other members.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?
Everyone has a different focus when going into architecture. So try to find a firm that aligns with your interests. Work hard and don’t be afraid to make mistakes and be honest. Be intentional about learning from every project and the people you work with. Don’t let the “work” side of architecture keep you from being creative, inspired, critical, and passionate. Also, starting a small business can lead to more responsibility more quickly. This is good for some people but can be challenging for others.
Are there any upcoming projects you're excited about?
We have a few custom houses that we are working on in Santa Barbara, CA. Those will be really great to see come to life. We also have a contemporary cabin project that we are working up North on the sound.
How can people get in touch with you or learn more about your work?
You can check out our website which we try to keep up to date, or come stop by and say hi here at TPC Tacoma!
Bobby Walker Design
Fill in the Blank :
The best kept secret in Tacoma is : Kids eat free at Trappers Sushi on Sundays.
If you could travel anywhere in the world next, where would it be?
- Bobby : I’d like to get lost somewhere in Argentina or Peru.
- Dane : Somewhere in Asia becuase I have never been. Possibly Singapore for the urban architecture or Tokyo for the nightlife.
- Michaela : Australia for the water, and to conquer my fear of spiders.
Tom Kundig, David Chipperfield, Austin Maynard Architects, and Peter Zumpthor : are the designers that inspire us the most.
