In the latest episode of our Behind the Blueprint series, we sit down with Tanner Koeppe to explore the journey of a designer. From his roots in South Sioux City to completing his Master’s at UNL, Tanner shares how a summer job in roofing and a passion for creative problem-solving led him to CMBA Architects. Plus, we get a glimpse into Tanner’s life outside the office.
(Skyler): Welcome everybody to another episode of Laying the Foundation. I'm your host, Skyler. And joining me today for another Behind the Blueprint, where we take a moment to look behind the blueprints that are created and meet the architects that are designing them. Joining me today we have Tanner Koeppe. Right? Koeppe?
(Tanner): Koeppe.
(Skyler): Oh, so close. Joining us, from our Sioux City office, Tanner, welcome to the show.
(Tanner): Skyler. Thanks for having me.
(Skyler): Absolutely.
(Tanner): Great to be here.
(Skyler): Good. Yeah, I'm super stoked to have you. So when we do these episodes, there's always a set of questions that we ask everybody. And then we get into sort of the bonus questions. I try not to call them fun questions. I like to think that all of these questions are fun questions.
(Tanner): They seem like they are. Looking through the list here, there's some top tier questions.
(Skyler): Awesome. Sweet. So first of all, tell us about yourself. You know, where are you from? where'd you end up going? High school, college? What sort of journey did you go on to inevitably become the architect that you are now?
(Tanner): Yeah, so I am from Sioux City, actually South Sioux City, other side of the river on the Nebraska side. Went to South City High, class of 2017, then pursued college, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. I went through the six-year program there. So I got my four-year undergrad and then my two-year masters and then have been with CMBA since my third year in college, and we're going on year three this June. So it's been a fun. Feels like forever, but in reality, it's only been less than five years.
(Skyler): Hey, you know, you’ve got to start somewhere.
(Tanner): Yeah, it's been a good time.
(Skyler): Good. Yeah. No, it's funny, I remember because when you first started, you were like, “Yeah, I've interned here before,” and I missed you by like probably a month, maybe two months.
(Tanner): I don't even think it was that long. I think it was even shorter than that because I worked late into… almost into the semester, and then I left. And then you started like a couple days later, probably weeks.
(Skyler): Yeah, it was probably closer. So yeah, I missed you by that much. I got to meet Parker, but I did not get to meet you.
(Tanner): Yes.
(Skyler): So.
(Tanner): And I think that was one of those semesters where I was not able to stop in.
(Skyler): No, that makes sense. It was a bummer for sure. But you're here now, and that's what matters.
(Tanner): I am, I am, here for the long road.
(Skyler): Yeah. Right on. Awesome. Well, we love having you. So at what point in your life was that spark that said, “I want to do architecture, I want to design buildings and facilities and spaces.” Where did that come into play?
(Tanner): Yeah, the funny part about this is, into fifth grade, you actually write a letter. Our teacher had us write a letter like 10 years from now about, “What do you want to be doing?” And mine actually said some sort of architectural design or engineering of some sort. So I think it really started early on and for the longest time it felt like I didn't really know the difference between engineering and architecture until I went on that career that day tour, junior year in high school, and I was like, you want to know something? I don't want to do all the math behind these buildings. I just want to make cool buildings and then figure out how they come together later. And that's where I think it truly clicked that architecture is the route I want to go. And I'm really good at math, but I was like, I don't want to do math every day when I'm at work.
(Skyler): So it's funny because I feel like a few of the architects that we've talked to so far and interior designers, have said similar things where they're like, you know, there's that, that crossroads that you come to and you have to make a decision there. And it's basically art track or math track.
(Tanner): Yeah. Don't get me wrong, we still use our math.
(Skyler): Oh yeah, 100%.
(Tanner): I don't want to do it as often as some of those engineers like to use.
(Skyler): So that's funny. So, okay, so fifth grade was where you had to write that letter. Was there some point before that where architecture came to mind?
(Tanner): I don't know. Not really. Okay. I've always been intrigued on how things go together.
(Skyler): Sure.
(Tanner): Obviously Legos was part of that, but when I was in elementary, we actually built our house.
(Skyler): Oh.
(Tanner): And so like being a part of that and going to. We had a pre-built house, so I got to go to the factory and watch them build it in and then they bring it in on the crane and lift it in. So remembering those experiences were fun to look back at. And then the area we lived in was getting built, like because we live on the corner of a Cul-de-sac. So the rest of the Cul-de-sac was like being built as I, I grew up. So you got to see things come together and I'm like, this is fun. Yeah. And so. And then obviously living in Sioux City Metro, you get enough of the other opportunities of seeing like the development at Lakeport Commons and things like that come together over my youth.
(Skyler): So a little bit outside of just residential, I get to see some of the other stuff too.
(Tanner): I think that was always the most exciting part and still is to this day of like, even if it's not one of our projects driving around and be like, hey, that's cool what they're coming up with there. Or that's an interesting, like, way to put something together.
(Skyler): So sometimes it's a little bit more critical. Like that's an interesting way to do that.
(Tanner): Exactly. So can't judge the. What's happening in the field always by what was drawn. It could have been drawn correctly, but,
(Skyler): that's a fair point. And now you've got obviously an inside look at, you know, those things. So. Yeah, no, that's very cool. Okay. So, yeah, getting that firsthand experience of seeing things being built around you. I mean like, I want
(Tanner): to be a part of that.
(Skyler): So. Very awesome.
(Tanner): And just looking at like my dad did physical labor for like all of his working career and I was like, I know I didn't want to go into the construction route, but I wanted to be a part of like that industry in a way. And so like, this is a nice medium. And then I can still go home and do my hands on activities.
(Skyler): Sure. Yeah. Keep that to a. Yeah.
(Tanner): Keep it as a hobby instead of as my like full-time job. So I can still enjoy it.
(Skyler): That's a good way to do it. Yeah. Ah. Find a very like, specific direction for what you enjoy and make that your career. And then the other stuff, stuff that like, I don't want to do this full time, but I do enjoy doing it. Yeah. Set that onto the. That's. That makes a lot of sense. Yeah.
(Tanner): especially on some of those longer days when I'm at home working on some of those projects. I'm just like, I'm glad I don't do this.
(Skyler): I can go take a break. I could just go, you know, be done for today. Yeah, no, that makes sense. So, I guess within that. So obviously, you know, you grew up with the, the residential element and you talked about how, you know, you drive around town, you get to see a lot of the other things being put together, with the time that you've been here at CMBA and obviously a little bit when you were in college, do you feel like there's a specific area of architecture? Whether that be a style of architecture of some kind or maybe a sector of architecture? You know, we do obviously K12, our higher eds, our healthcare, municipal, corporate, stuff like that. Is there an area where you feel like you really enjoy or that you feel like you specialize in?
(Tanner): Yeah, I wouldn't say it's really a specialization quite yet. Obviously not deep enough into the career. it has been enjoyable to see all the facets of all of them in my first couple of years here. But I would say that like the K12 and the higher ed and just even the commercial side of where you can interact with those people a little more one on one and actually see them enjoy the spaces you use by going to those community events after the project's built or even going to the businesses after they're built and seeing customers like interact with your spaces. Like that's the projects I like the most is the ones that are like truly like I can, hey, I remember drawing that or… But it's like that's cool. Somebody's interacting with it now and so…
(Skyler): You get a lot of opportunity to interact with the client, make a connection there. I know we just we just did a video talking about. It was probably a little while back from when this episode comes out, but we did a video talking about everybody's favorite parts of the project. And that was what Terry had mentioned from our Sioux City office was getting to really get to know the clients and their needs and everything obviously, but just like connecting with people, right? Yeah, I think Siouxland especially, and not to say this, not the case for other communities, but Siouxland especially with our tri state area, we have a lot of like really cool connection that we get to make.
(Skyler): And so, obviously you're from the Nebraska portion, there's the South Dakota portion, I'm in the Iowa portion. But we all connect really well and we all as a community grow and so yeah, absolutely.
(Tanner): I think that, also being from this area, I feel like the K12 and the Higher-Ed, it's a little easier to like give back to like areas that grew me like, oh yeah. If you think about certain projects that we do with some of these schools. I remember when I was in that class or like in this area of school and like now, we get to make those spaces better for the next generation.
(Skyler): But there's always that little bit of jealousy. Like, man, I wish it was like that when I was there. Exactly. I’ve seen that with, I went to BVU and they've been updating all kinds of crazy stuff. I went back maybe a couple of years ago and they had all kinds of cool new stuff. And I was like, man, what about when I was here? And I'm sure any project that you have a connection with is similar.
(Tanner): I'm on one of the advisory boards over at South Sioux High for their construction and engineering academy. And some of the stuff that they're doing nowadays and I'm just like, I wish I was doing that. They're building houses. They're like actually being able to design stuff and then print it. And like they got small little manufacturing stations going on and they're like, it's real cool. And I'm just like; I built a little two by two corner of a house.
(Skyler): The constant frustration of being the change you want to see, I guess is like, ah, But I wanted to be in part.
(Tanner): Yeah. So.
(Skyler): Oh, that's fair. So, one of the questions that I ask everybody, and I've tweaked it over time because people have criticized me for it and that is what is a typical, let's say like a week in the, in the life of an architect. What does that look like?
(Tanner): Yeah, so as a. I'm a architectural designer technically. So like my day to day, even outside of work is going to be slightly different than us, those that are licensed in our office. But I would still say I'm fully in the weeds with everybody else. Like we. Some weeks it's designing full time, some weeks it's detailing full times. And I would say my typical day is I'm in revit, I'm in Bluebeam Mark, like looking at red lines, things like that, trying to incorporate the next level of information into the drawing sets, whether it's schematic design, construction documents, design development, even ca. Making sure details are getting executed in the field and things like that. So I'd say my typical day is just in the weeds.
(Skyler): Yeah, absolutely. I mean I, I'm. We're in the same positive. Yeah, yeah, I hear you answering calls, meeting with, you know, Lee or, or David or whoever else. And yeah, getting, getting on the phone with clients and stuff like that. So. Yeah, no, that's awesome.
(Tanner): Yeah. And Then the. The after work is obviously still part of my career because I'm studying for my exams and, things like that. So always thinking about how that is balanced versus and, like, making sure what I'm studying in my thing I can apply in the real world, and vice versa of, like, hey, I remember this experience. I can now, like, apply it to what I'm studying and.
(Skyler): Yeah, 100%. And it's. It's cool that, especially at CBA, and I don't know if it is this way for. For every firm necessarily, but the ability for the architectural designers to be so in the weeds, right. To get that experience with all the elements of design versus being shoved over in the corner be like, until you get your licensure, you're only doing, like, these couple of things. Yeah. so it's. Yeah, it's. It's awesome that CNBA makes sure that you guys get a full experience. You get to see all the things.
(Skyler): And there's still limitations, you know, from
(Skyler): legal perspective, but at the same time, you guys get to. Yeah.
(Tanner): And then just the varying size of projects that we can offer to our architectural designers, as well as myself, is like, I have some projects that are 5,000 square feet and some that are 60,000 square feet. And being able to also understand the balance of those. So, like, when does it make sense to do certain things on this bigger project that you might already have done on the smaller project because it moves faster? And so, like, trying to understand those balances is a good learning environment item as well.
(Skyler): Yeah, absolutely. So, I mean, I guess of Those, you know, 5,000 to 60,000 square foot projects, and again, I know, you know, it's only been maybe at what, I think a little over a year. Right.
(Tanner): I've been here. I'll be here three years in June.
(Skyler): Right. Okay, perfect. So three years, plus the intern stuff, obviously, and the experience that came with that. of the projects that you've worked on, are there any particular ones that stand out as a favorite or one that you really feel like you got to do something really cool with or something along those lines?
(Tanner): Yeah, I would say Aveila Bank.
(Skyler): Oh, yeah.
(Tanner): It's being built currently behind target here.
(Skyler): I drive past it pretty regularly.
(Tanner): Yeah, it's a great project. but I think that one was probably the biggest stepping stone in my career because I came onto that one in schematic design, got to see it go through design development into construction documents, and now I'm there every other week with Lee, with the owners, with the construction team and being able to go through the construction process. So even just looking back through those photos that we take every other week when we're there is a really like cool progression of. It's like, wow, that didn't move much. And then you look back and you're like, wow, it's actually moved a lot in the month. Like so much has changed and.
(Skyler): Absolutely. I was gonna say about every time I drive past it, which is I probably argue about once a week, maybe a little bit more. It's like, it just feels like it's. That next step is already happening. I'm like, man, this is moving fast.
(Tanner): Yeah. And it's even gonna be crazier now. They got like the windows in and the glass in and so now they're gonna be able to finish materials back into all that and aw. really come together and it's going to be awesome when they open up in June and hopefully the community can check it out and yeah. Support a local business.
(Skyler): Absolutely. And, and it, it's cool to be able to be a part of the full scope of the project from A all the way to Z. I guess you can say so.
(Tanner): Yeah. In a. In a way. Even though Z doesn't always end where it is. We might go to AA and BB and things like that.
(Skyler): So start ending numbers or something.
(Tanner): Yeah.
(Skyler): Z1, Z2. So I guess looking back, what would you say across the board is that greatest, that key element you might say of architecture? What is like how do we, how do we make sure that we're making great architecture? What's like if you could sum it up in one maybe phrase or sentence, what makes great architecture?
(Tanner): Listening to the client. Fair enough, fair enough. The client drives everything right. And we just have to be able to listen to what they want and be able to execute it. M. And that's where our expertise of the past experiences and with 70 to 80% of our projects coming in from repeat clients, it allows us to pull off of those past experiences or from a similar project type to be able to truly find what the client wants. Whether it's commercial projects, higher ed K12, they all have similar aspects, but we can pull different points from them to listen to that client and get them what they want.
(Skyler): Absolutely. It's not about cookie cutter design. It's just about using what we know works. using our research, obviously using what we've done in the past to help us drive innovation and to drive better design.
(Tanner): Yeah. And as we all know, like there's going to be similar aspects of each project that are going to be the same. Like a window might finish the same into a metal panel as it did on another project. But I think the overall composition of how those windows are placed and how the floor plan is laid out is unique to each client and what they want. And even if you're helping a client on three consecutive projects, each one's gonna have a slightly different solution just because each person's gonna have a different thought process. Each, like we might hit get keywords out of each different meeting. And so each one of those, you could be designing three of the same building, but each one's gonna have different aspects.
(Skyler): 100%. Absolutely. Absolutely. And where it's sitting at can be an influence of, of the process. Yeah. So tons of, tons of factors there. Obviously that's what we do. We take those factors into account and we, we make a design that works. So for those out there that are in college right now, they're studying architecture, maybe they're late in high school and they're thinking, you know, maybe I want to go into architecture. What would you say is your advice that you would give them, moving forward?
(Tanner): Yeah, I would say just understand that no matter what career you're in, if this reaches anybody in any other sector, like what you learn in school is the base concepts to what you're going to apply in the real world. And don't be afraid that when you get to the real world, there's going to be new items and new things to take on. And I think it's specifically true in architecture, like, there's sometimes a hardware, and software, like training that you have to go through to like, learn the new processes of a company. And obviously I've had the advantage of being with CMBA as an intern and then into full time. So I didn't have as many humps and lumps when I, like, came in. But just talking to friends that have worked, interned one place and worked for another, like, yeah, we use Revit, but this company may use it slightly different than someone else. And understanding those tips and tricks of just be willing to like, be adaptive and lean into it and respond to what's given to you as a task.
(Skyler): Absolutely, absolutely. Everybody's going to be different and just like how our clients are different. Right. The firms are going to be different and how they do some things. So yeah.
(Tanner): And do it your, like, take your time. Sure. Like, obviously the company doesn't want you to take too much time, but like, you Also gotta be able to be competent to be able to sit down and do your work. So if that means you gotta ask more questions, ask more questions, like be open. Especially at cmba, people are gonna answer those questions. Like as long as you don't interrupt them on a meeting, they're gonna be able to help you. So that's the best part too.
(Skyler): Yeah, absolutely. Always trying to, you know, obviously we want the best for everybody. We want everybody to be able to work at their best. So with that being said, speaking of cmba, would you. What would you say is your favorite part about working at cmba? What do you enjoy the most?
(Tanner): That's a tough one. There's a lot of good ones to pull.
(Skyler): Sure, sure.
(Tanner): I would say like just the project variety that we bring in is the, is my most enjoyable part. Do I want to be in a specific sector? Yeah, but at the same time, like working on a cool office building and working on a cool school or a cool concession stand, like all that stuff is awesome. Like you're impacting different groups of people and different times of the day and it truly helps you understand the complete cycle of like a day's a building during a day and how some buildings you close at 5 and it doesn't open back up till 8am where I just worked on a concession stand and that's used 95% time after hours. And so understanding how that even changes the way it's used and different things you got to put on the building and around the building.
(Skyler): That makes sense. Yeah. Versatility and it, you know, it helps it helps stay out of like a monotony. Right.
(Tanner): Like I think it helps our team stay as well balanced as we can.
(Skyler): Yeah.
(Tanner): Obviously we know there's enough projects in health care or NK12 that certain people are going to have to like be specific in those sectors. And obviously from a business development standpoint, you're going to have to do the same thing. But to be able to have your team be the most balanced and the strongest unit, I think it's key that we're really good at. Like everybody is going to be on something at some point in time. Whether it's a thousand square foot little renovation at a doctor's office or you're going to design this 60,000 square foot office.
(Skyler): Yeah, absolutely. Give everybody that diverse experience and we pull from those too. Like we, we can take. Even though a healthcare and a K12 might be pretty different in the long run, there are elements that we can pull of. we did it over here in this project. And we can do something similar over here in this project.
(Tanner): Yeah. Especially like when you see a child care center going at a hospital and you're like, that's different. But at the same time, it's like, we've designed childcare centers, so why not like take similar concepts and put it all together? Exactly. Just because the location's different doesn't mean we can't adapt and be able to serve that client what they want.
(Skyler): Absolutely. All right, Tanner. Well, we went through a lot of those, basic, questions that I ask everybody. And now we can go into our bonus questions. So first off, we have buildings on your bucket list. If you could go anywhere in the world, it could even be throughout. Well, we do have a different question for time period. So maybe just like in today's day and age, modern day, if you could go anywhere in the world and see a particular building, get to experience it and see, everything that's going on with it, which would you choose?
(Tanner): I would say it's the one World Trade center in New York. And that whole entire master plan that came out of a very terrible event. Sure. But I think it really shaped the New York surrounding around that area. And so being able to experience like just the scale of those buildings also in New York, not just the one World Trade center, but also everything else. Because in Nebraska, you know, the tallest building is the state capitol. So it's like you're not building these 20 story or taller buildings and now you go to New York and half of them are 110 stories or higher. And so like that, that would be the top of the list is like, go to New York. Go experience the underground, museum slash place that has like the beams from the Twin Towers, and those different experiences, but then also like remembering those people that were there that day to be able to. Yeah. Enjoy that.
(Skyler): Yeah, absolutely. It's. It's a really cool setup over there. Yeah. I know, obviously, like you said, very tragic event, but what they were able to create from it is very inspiring.
(Tanner): Yeah. I think the way they memorialize the tragic event, like, I think it hit it on the key. Obviously I'm not from New York.
(Skyler): Sure.
(Tanner): So it'd be nice to like get somebody's perspective that like lives there and was a part of that day. But I would say from an outsider looking in, somebody that was also really young when that happened. Like I was two.
(Skyler): Yeah.
(Tanner): like, so obviously I don't know it all, but we all know it's a part of our education every year now. And so being able to look from the outside in and be like, yeah, I think you guys hit it on the head and then you still get this nice architectural feature that stunning.
(Skyler): Yeah, absolutely.
(Tanner): Very awesome. And then just some of the sustainable features that I've read about that project on how they twisted the building so wind actually wraps around it, doesn't shake the buildings. Because the talk in the old twin towers is they were so square that you got up to like the 80th floor and higher and there's enough wind. The building would actually like sway goodness. Like you would be sitting in your desk and you'd be like three inches left to right.
(Skyler): Right. I'm like, you can feel it. If you have like an office chair with wheels, I feel like you'd almost start moving a little. That's crazy, man. Those like, crazy things about architecture you don't think of, but I mean, yeah,
(Tanner): we don't have to worry about that in our two stories, two story buildings in Iowa, Nebraska.
(Skyler): Right, Exactly. Thank goodness. Yeah. I'm not a big fan of height, so that's, that's a reassurance for me. Okay, backup plan. Let's say, you weren't. You didn't go into architecture way back in fifth grade when you wrote that letter. Let's say you wrote about something different that led you in a different direction. what would you have chosen? Would you have chosen the, the mathematical route or do you think it'd be something totally different?
(Tanner): Option 1A would have been the engineering route, like, just because that was always on the radar. Sure. But if we truly look back at like what I was interested in in my high school days and like middle school days, sadly, it probably would have been a county.
(Skyler): Oh, okay. There's nothing wrong with that.
(Tanner): But at the same time, I'm really glad I didn't because, like, the more and more I like get talk to, like it's tax season. Right. So like hearing is. Yeah. Hearing about accounting, I'm just like, I'm glad I don't do that on the daily basis. Like I can punch numbers in a calculator and balance sheets and things like that, but I'll do it on my own time, not as a full time profession.
(Skyler): So goes back to what you were saying earlier. It's like, I'll do my taxes every year on my own, save myself some money, obviously get it all filed like it's supposed to be, but that's about the limit.
(Tanner): Yeah. Like, I balance my own checkbook. You guys balance business checkbooks. I'm glad you enjoy that. Better you than me. Shout out Amy darling. She's great.
(Skyler): Absolutely.
(Tanner): Shout out all of our administration staff. Yeah. Like, they do such good jobs of doing all that stuff. I'm glad I'm not doing it. So thank you.
(Skyler): Absolutely. The most we have to do is our expense report.
(Tanner): Exactly. And sometimes that can be an hassle, just depending on how many days you're actually out of the office and where you went and what you did.
(Skyler): And, like, oh, I got to save all these receipts, and I got to get a good picture of them, too. Otherwise it'll get rejected.
(Tanner): Exactly.
(Skyler): All right, next question. We got the time travelers build. So before we talked about, you know, if you could go anywhere in the world in modern day and see a building, this question's going more, like, back in time. I haven't had anybody try to do, like, a futuristic thing. I don't even know how that would work. Like, I want to see this.
(Tanner): Am I going to an AI World or something like that, where we're all, like, virtual. We just have the Metaverse or something.
(Skyler): Have these little digital, digital people land and. Yeah, absolutely.
(Tanner): No.
(Skyler): but this one, I'm thinking we're going back in time. Any building, any structure building from it could still exist, but, like, being able to see it while it's in construction is totally on the table. Anything like that. What would you choose?
(Tanner): The pyramids.
(Skyler): The pyramids.
(Tanner): That's the.
(Skyler): You're the second person to say that. Z also said that.
(Tanner): I'm just like, how do you get such big boulders up into place? And I'm like, I want to just watch. Yeah.
(Skyler): Just like, sit there for a couple of, maybe, like, a week or
(Tanner): something and watch, like, construction superintendent and just, like, sit here and watch you,
(Skyler): like, oh, that's not up to code. Hold on a second.
(Tanner): Can I watch you put these studs into play?
(Skyler): That would be cool. No, I don't disagree. I don't disagree.
(Tanner): They're just such unique, like, building types also, that I'm just like. Then the thought process of what they all went through, like, in some of those underground, to, like, half the memorials for families and, like, what is it? King Tuts, like, buried in one. And, like, all those Egyptian kings and queens are all pharaohs and stuff.
(Skyler): All that good stuff.
(Tanner): Yeah, all that stuff I'm not big into. Oh, yeah. Egypt history, obviously.
(Skyler): Yeah, no, that's all good.
(Tanner): Yeah.
(Skyler): No, absolutely. Ancient. Ancient Stuff is fascinating. Again, like you said, how did you all do it? Like, that's crazy. Those are big blocks. Like, this would take. I mean, obviously it took years, but, like, man, just to see.
(Tanner): Imagine they're so much bigger than what you think they are. Like, even just watching some documentaries about them, and there's, like, a guy standing there, and he's, like, barely taller than the first row of Boulder. And you're like, is that building, like, 200 foot tall? Like, how tall is that?
(Skyler): It's really hard to visualize it in your mind's eye. Just seeing it on a screen or seeing a picture.
(Tanner): Yeah. And then the guy on camera is like, here. And the pyramids are like, a half mile behind him. And you're like, that thing is still taller than you.
(Skyler): It's like, a, you know, banana. For scale works fairly well. It's a little bit easier for our minds to wrap around, but to. To put the pyramids into scale is
(Tanner): very difficult to go back on this. You were talking about how, like, going forward and the thing. In college, I was in a studio. We looked at the new office environment.
(Skyler): Oh, sure.
(Tanner): And actually, one of our groups designed, like, a, virtual office.
(Skyler): Oh, okay.
(Tanner): You would be everywhere in world, but you would, like, get in this world. That then created an office space that, like, then you would go to your desk, right. Or, like, it would show, like, whatever you were doing. So if you were on a phone call, like, the guy would actively be, like, on the phone, like, walking around this, like, okay, alternate universe. And what they did to come up with, I'm like, you guys hit this, like, be cool to be a part of. But, like, yeah, everybody had their. What is it? In we, like their little me guy. Oh, yeah. That was awesome. Ah, that's exactly what they look like. They were just these blobs with, like, heads. And, like, some of them were dressed up. So, like, the one kid, he was big into, like, Pokemon, so, like, a Charizard tail. And, like, it actually, like, was shooting fire, like, and things like that. And so I'm like, you guys hit this on the head of, like, just, the fun that you can have of, like, what does the office look like in 10, 15 years, even 20 years from now? Like, when you and I are at the point of, like, what are the new kids doing? We're the. We're the newer kids right now. But, like, in 20 years when we're management and the people that are management now have retired, and it's like, what is next?
(Skyler): What Are we gonna have to manage? Yeah, basically.
(Tanner): Then we'll come full circle and be like, now we know why they struggled to make some of those decisions. Because I don't get it. Yeah, exactly.
(Skyler): I don't understand it.
(Tanner): Exactly.
(Skyler): You know, I could see a situation because I know a lot of people talked about when they work, like a remote job or something, being able to, like, be at home, but concentrate on the fact that I need to do work right now is. Is a challenge, right, to, like, get yourself in that mindset. So I could see a situation where digital office maybe helps you focus in. Because, like, I look around and it looks like an office because I got this VR headset on. Yeah, I, feels like I'm at an office because my dude is also picking up the phone and everything happens
(Tanner): when you, like, take your. Your break in the morning, you're like, you go to do your laundry and you stay in the metaverse and you're like, doing your laundry and it's like, does it show you folding the.
(Skyler): Reaching into the printer and you're pull
(Tanner): out this, like, big, long piece of paper as actually a towel.
(Skyler): So maybe there's some opportunity here. This just sounds like fun. feels like the office where Dwight, like, had a whole second Persona in that digital game that he was playing, except it was just him just in the digital world doing the same office stuff that. Yeah, but he could fly.
(Tanner): That's how I feel sometimes when I'm using like, our rendering software or something. Yeah, it's like from a single person point of view, like, you don't see the body there, but I'm just like. I'm just like flying through this space. And then like, all of a sudden you're 400ft in the air and you're like, above this building. You're like, this is awesome.
(Skyler): This is great. I got a full, full range view. So. Awesome. Last question for you, Tanner. And this is the special question that we've been asking everybody that we do one of these episodes with, and that's the snackitecture showdown. Obviously, here at the office, we've got a variety of different snacks. Each of our offices is interesting if you go around to the different offices and see their different, what they have in the mini fridge or whatever else. So. But for you personally, when you want to, have a snack, refuel, whatever the case, what's your go to for one, food, one beverage.
(Tanner): Beverage has always been and always will be a Dr. Pepper.
(Skyler): Dr. Pepper can't go wrong with soda.
(Tanner): 23 flavors of a Dr. Pepper. occasionally you can throw in there, like a cherry Dr. Pepper.
(Skyler): Okay. Is that not covered in the 23 flavors?
(Tanner): It must not be. Even though you definitely can, like, get a sense of, like, a little splash of wild cherry in your. But, they have a special one. I will say avoid the vanilla. Avoid the.
(Skyler): You don't like the vanilla?
(Tanner): Oh, no, no, no. Classic, classic. Give me the classic. snack wise.
(Skyler): Ooh.
(Tanner): That could be dependent on the day.
(Skyler): That's fair.
(Tanner): Jelly beans when I'm at home.
(Skyler): Okay.
(Tanner): Big Easter jelly bean fan. Like, starburst flavor, Skittle flavor. Like, I will buy two or three bags and, like, eat them throughout the year because, like, jelly beans at home. But if I'm working at the office, usually just a piece of chocolate or something like that.
(Skyler): Okay.
(Tanner): Or brownie on the counter.
(Skyler): Sure.
(Tanner): Like, yeah, absolutely. The food aspect, I'm not as big.
(Skyler): Sure. Not super picky and just what's available. I'm the same way.
(Tanner): As long as there's something in it that I'll, like, won't, like, be grossed out by. Yeah. Like, there's. There's sometimes some interesting things come in, and I'm like, I don't know if I touch that or when we get all those plates at Christmas and you're like, I'm not touching some of that cheese that looks moldy. And then you think about a cheese as mold, so.
(Skyler): Well, yeah, it's. It's. Yeah. it's a fundamental piece of the. The process. But, yeah, Christmas is a. Christmas is an interesting time where, you know, those couple of weeks before we let out for break, and then we just had stuff flooding in from all of our awesome clients and our business partners and stuff like that, and it's really awesome. But it's also, like, sometimes it's overwhelming because they're like, hey, we just got a meat and cheese tray in. We need to eat this before everybody leaving tomorrow.
(Tanner): Exactly. And, ah, then you go home and you're like, I don't need to eat dinner tonight. Or where you take. Take three or four slices with you on your way out the door. And you're like, yep.
(Skyler): All right.
(Tanner): I'm,
(Skyler): So since you said it first, I'll go with the jelly beans, because I'm. I'm thinking we might put together like, a bracket or something like that and just showcase bit a little everybody's choices and then maybe have, like,
(Tanner): the whole company vote jelly Beans aren't going to go, probably go far on that bracket because I, I would say they're very few and far between of people. Like, and I think it's one jelly bean that throws everybody off. It is the black licorice.
(Skyler): Oh, that's true. Nobody likes.
(Tanner): That's why I go for the Skittles and I go for the Starburst flavors because the one that looks like black licorice is actually grape. Oh, okay. I am a big fan of like, grape flavored anything. Like.
(Skyler): Well, we're going to do, I think a total of four of these behind the blueprints over the course of this year. And I don't think anybody's mentioned anything sort of fruit flavored yet. So you might steal the market on
(Tanner): a certain flavored option. That's true. Unless somebody comes in with something.
(Skyler): Something sneaks in. Yeah.
(Tanner): What was the first one?
(Skyler): I think it was popcorn.
(Tanner): Oh, popcorn's a good one.
(Skyler): Popcorn's a solid one.
(Tanner): Not at work though.
(Skyler): No.
(Tanner): I'm a butter popcorn guy.
(Skyler): Okay.
(Tanner): I feel like,
(Skyler): Yeah, it gets all over you. Type it on your keyboard. Getting it on your mouse. That's a no go. Yeah, that's a fair.
(Tanner): That's why I go home and eat popcorn. Or like eat it before bed. Watch a mov.
(Skyler): Sure. Yeah, absolutely. And go wash your hands and call it good. Yeah. I'm a, I'm a weird guy. I like mine, like slightly burnt. A little bit burnt.
(Tanner): You're the one that we like, keep out of the microwave.
(Skyler): Everybody's like, I think something's burning. Yeah, I try not. I don't, I don't do it at work, but I'll do it at home.
(Tanner): Well, the interesting, thing about popcorn anymore is that on the bags, it doesn't tell you. Like, they don't want you to press the popcorn button anywhere. What's a. What's it there for? Yeah, like they want you to type in the time that they say. I'm like, you give me this range. Right. What if my microwave is like the only thing running in the house and I'm gonna get more power out of it? Yeah.
(Skyler): I think the, the popcorn companies really need to reach out to the microwave companies and they need to figure that situation. Yeah.
(Tanner): Or just change the popcorn button or just.
(Skyler): I don't know if they need to remove it because apparently not all pop pre made popcorn is the same. I don't know.
(Tanner): Technology is getting better, but obviously not the popcorn.
(Skyler): Not the popcorn. But I'm a stovetop guy, personally. So I'll just throw it in a pan with some oil and some salt and.
(Tanner): Yeah, I'm a. I'm a fan of that too. my mom's got all that stuff, and so that's always a good time. But, you know, if I'm in a hurry, I'm not going to spend five minutes to wait for the pan to heat up.
(Skyler): And it's a lot easier to do, like, if you want, like, different flavors to just have the pre. Pre mixed stuff.
(Tanner): Yeah. I also like the mini bags.
(Skyler): Oh, yeah.
(Tanner): Because they're, like, not too much, but that's like. Because a lot of times with some of those big bags. Oh, yeah. Unless I'm sharing it with my daughter, like, I'll eat only, like, half of it. Right. And I'll eat it the, like, next day. But then you run the risk. Is it, like, going to be stale?
(Skyler): St. Yeah, still, popcorn is like. It gets chewy in a weird way.
(Tanner): It's like when you go to the movies and you take home, the bag that's.
(Skyler): They have those, like, giant bags you can take.
(Tanner): You're like, do I really need to bring this with me?
(Skyler): Price it really well, though.
(Tanner): Two thirds of a bag. Yeah, I'm taking this with you. Which is so funny.
(Skyler): They. They sell like, those giant bags of it for so cheap. But then at the same time, you get, like, a normal bucket of popcorn. It's like 10, $20. Anyway, we're totally off topic.
(Tanner): Talking about popcorn way out of behind the blueprint.
(Skyler): Yes, that's right.
(Tanner): Well, we did.
(Skyler): We went deep behind.
(Tanner): That's right.
(Skyler): Yeah, we went super deep behind the blueprint, so. Awesome. Well, whatever the case, that was the last question. So, Tanner, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to sit down, chat with me. Tell me a little bit about what it looks like to become an architect.
(Tanner): It's been fun to reminisce on some of those histories, on those past adventures, and then see where my career takes me in the next two to five years and hopefully licensed and onto bigger and better things with CMBA at the forefront.
(Skyler): Absolutely. Well, right on. Well, like I said, we love having you. You've done great job, tons of good work, and gotten involved in a lot of project. So, awesome. Awesome. Well, thank you again, Tanner. And of course, thank you all for listening.
(Skyler): If you'd like to find out more about the Laying the Foundation podcast, you can head over to any podcast streaming platform, such as Spotify, itunes, Google podcasts, and others. You can also find out more about CMBA architects through social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Additionally, you can head over to the CMBA website at cmbarchitects.com. If you're an architecture or design professional or an intern looking for an internship within those fields, please be sure to check out our website and click on the Careers tab to find out more about what opportunities we offer. This has been another episode of the Laying the Foundation podcast. We'll see you next time.