Architecture and construction have always been two halves of a whole in Junior Designer Chanel Fiegen’s life. After growing up on job sites as the daughter of a carpenter, she attended architecture school knowing that she would ultimately incorporate both into her work. In her first year with AT6, it’s already clear that design build is fully integrated into her thinking, and also that her work draws from both her heart and her talent.
The Path to Design Build
Chanel’s early life in Alberta, Canada included a close-knit, creative family and a second home on job sites. What it didn’t include was much travel. As a young adult she remedied that, becoming attuned to the importance of the built environment while on the road experiencing different cultures. Her travels opened her eyes to the connections between people’s lives and their homes—across the economic spectrum—and she knew she wanted to be part of the process of creating those living environments.
Finding a Work Home at AT6
The beginning-to-end integration of design and construction drew Chanel to design build. “We don’t want to create design that looks great but can’t be built. In design build there are a lot more touch points that help you resolve problems earlier and more easily, without creating contentious relationships between the architect and contractor.”
At AT6 she loves that the entire team has the same goals in mind from beginning to end and works hard to support everyone’s efforts. “We all care about each other’s work. We’re all making sure we reach the same thresholds and asking how we can help,” she says.
Operations Manager Camila Williams confirms Chanel’s contribution to that environment. “What stands out most about Chanel is her willingness to show up for others. She approaches every opportunity with a positive attitude and a collaborative spirit.”
What stands out most about Chanel is her willingness to show up for others. She approaches every opportunity with a positive attitude and a collaborative spirit.
Lauren Martino, lead designer, agrees. “Chanel approaches everyone she works with in a friendly, thoughtful way, and regularly shares inspiring architectural projects that bring fresh ideas and perspective to the team.”
Chanel approaches everyone she works with in a friendly, thoughtful way, and regularly shares inspiring architectural projects that bring fresh ideas and perspective to the team.
Chanel is grateful for the emphasis on work-life balance, as well. “There’s this contradiction in architecture where you’re creating spaces that are peaceful, or evoke positive emotions, but then there’s a pressure to sacrifice your health and well-being to create those spaces. Here we don’t have that.”
She enthusiastically supports all aspects of the team’s design work. Redlining plans, coordinating samples, following up on orders and doing quality control on the products are all critical aspects of any successful project, and she finds the work both interesting and rewarding.
A Habit of Collecting Hobbies
A creative childhood fostered her inquisitive mind, and today she finds fun in a variety of ways. She grew up playing guitar and bass, and was in a band with her husband in Canada. Her siblings are also musicians and artists, and their dad pitched in by doing lights at the concerts. These days she collects vinyl, does aquascaping and sewing, and has recently taken up water colors. “My hobbies peel my brain off end goals and just let me have fun,” she says. “Also, I would always travel if I could.”
Architecture in Service to Everyone
Talking about what inspires her as an architect, Chanel says, “Architecture is for the human race and a lot of it reaches people who have ownership of a home, but I’m passionate about one day finding a way to have architecture cross over to help people who don’t have that privilege—the unhoused, or people who rent and can’t afford a home. I want this profession to be for those people. We have the morals and social dynamics, but don’t yet have the way to that, and that’s what I want to help find.”
The profession—and we at AT6—are lucky to have her.
