Kate East is a partner at AMR Architects, a Little Rock-based architecture firm, where her father was a founding partner alongside Jimmy Moses and John Allison, who both later went on to found separate firms. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Lake Forest College and a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Central Arkansas, and she has been a part of the AMR team since 2005. Though trained as an interior designer, she is also in command of the firm’s marketing, manages clients and is a major part of the firm’s effort to diversify its capabilities. In short, she does far too much for any one title to sum up adequately.
AMP: Tell us a little about yourself.
East: I was born and raised in Little Rock — spending my first few years living in an apartment on top of the Stone Ward building in downtown Little Rock. My father was an architect and my mom was an artist. My father, along with his then-business partners Jimmy Moses and John Allison, was determined to rebuild the largely desolate area of downtown into a bustling city. My early life was intertwined in their efforts to create a vibrant, mixed-use and walkable community in the heart of downtown. Being surrounded by artists and architects who were focused on creating urban, walkable, creative hubs heavily influenced who I am today.
I worked in AMR’s office on and off growing up, but after high school wanted to venture away, and selected Lake Forest College north of Chicago to study studio art, psychology and history. When senior year came around, my parents presented me with the opportunity to return to Little Rock to work for the firm with the sales pitch that, while Chicago was amazing, I would be a small fish in a big pond. In Little Rock, however, I would have a seat at the table, the ability to really help build a city and to use my background in the arts to support a career as a designer. They said, “Little Rock isn’t the same place it was when you grew up; the River Market district is growing and we are even building a high rise!” So, I graduated on Saturday, drove home Sunday and started work at AMR on Monday. I learned the ropes while commuting to UCA to fulfill my interior design hours so I could test for NCIDQ certification.
I fell in love with almost every aspect of architecture and design- specifically, how they affect placemaking when they connect people. When my father passed away in 2012, his partner Frank Barksdale and I took over leadership of the firm. Now I have three incredible new partners, Jonathan Opitz, Adam Day and James Sullivan. We have created a collaborative and inclusive environment at AMR, and I try to offset the “seriousness” nature of architects tend towards and infuse humor in the whole operation.
My projects are heavily focused on higher education projects across the state. Campuses are like little walkable cities, which I love. I also work on a lot of multifamily projects, mixed-use developments, commercial interiors and hospitality projects. Currently we are renovating a retro motel in Fayetteville. So really, a little bit of everything.
I now live with my husband, an architect, and my 8-year-old son in a downtown condo, where we are an elevator ride away from my mom, who also lives in the building.
AMP: How has your training in the fine arts complemented your work with architecture and design?
East: Fine arts and interior design are so completely intertwined. We spent so much time in school attempting to perfect scale, proportion, layering color and texture within our paintings and mixed media pieces. This is really very similar to what interior designers do, but on a larger three dimensional scale. My arts education also focused on graphic design, a skill which I have heavily relied upon in not only my efforts running marketing for our firm, but also in designing environmental graphics and signage for our buildings and even our logo.
AMP: What are some challenges you face in design?
East: A topic that we discuss continuously as a challenge is one that people across many industries are examining: The housing shortage. We are incredibly interested in figuring out how we can use our skills as designers to create affordable housing solutions. This usually expands to a discussion of city code, addressing how to densify the amount of units we can build in traditionally single family zones. We want to make an impactful contribution to what is called the “missing middle.” These are structures that are more in scale with large single-family homes, but house multiple units — fourplexes, duplexes, medium multiplexes and live/work buildings. The finances often don’t pencil out on these as well as a large apartment complex, which is why they aren’t very enticing to developers. Zoning also prohibits these in many areas where we would like to build them to densify and add housing.
We also struggle as a profession with informing the public about what we actually do as designers and why we are valuable. From code research to space planning, running budgets and pro formas, overseeing contractors’ work, specifications, construction drawings and client meetings, the job is so much more than “color picking.”
AMP: What, in your opinion, are the most important qualities for working in design?
East: The design world has a lot of paths that require different skill sets. For client-facing designers, working in the commercial world, you must be able to balance a good sense of design with strong presentation and communication skills. In our world, you are constantly selling yourself in interviews. My short time singing and dancing in community theater is honestly one of my most valued strengths. I have found that if you can get over the nervousness of singing in front of a group of people, then speaking is so much easier by comparison. You absolutely must have the ability to follow through. Get yourself organized, even if it isn’t in your nature, and see tasks through to the very end. Come to the table with solutions, not just the problems.
If you are thinking about becoming a designer I think it is valuable to start becoming very analytical about spaces you encounter. If you find yourself in a space you love, or hate, sketch the floor plan, note the materials and lighting. Try to analyze what specifically about the space draws you in or repels you. You cannot always tell that from looking at images on Pinterest. Also, travel, travel, travel! Travel as much as you can to cities. Explore as many of the great cities of the world, large and small, that you possibly can. I realize this is a privilege, and I am very lucky to have traveled to many countries, but I encourage everyone to take any opportunity you have to get outside of your comfort zone and your bubble.
AMP: Reflecting back on your career, do you have any thoughts about how far you’ve come?
East: I work very hard, but I had a heck of a lot of help, and I want to acknowledge that. My father included me in meetings and conversations that designers right out of school rarely get to be involved in. This access and opportunity was invaluable. After his passing, I had partners and clients that went above and beyond to support my transition into ownership. They trusted AMR with their projects and were vital in our success. Allowing others access and transparency to what happens at the top of a business and supporting others that are transitioning in business is very important to me because of how others helped me at this time.
My current partners are incredible, as is my team at AMR. Surrounding yourself with talented people really is the way to success.