Rick Petersen is a principal and partner at OZ Architecture, a renowned firm with international reach based in Denver. During his illustrious career spanning over 35 years, Rick has made significant contributions to various high-profile projects, including the redesign of McMurdo Station in Antarctica and several U.S. national parks projects. His expertise lies in sustainable design and master planning, making a mark in sectors such as resort and hospitality, multifamily housing, and cold climate architecture.

As they delve into OZ's diverse portfolio, Rick touches on the firm's growth from 30 to 125 employees, driven by projects like national parks and resort master planning. Rick emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, leveraging technology like virtual reality for client communication, and maintaining independence in a merger-heavy industry. With strategic leadership development, OZ ensures a strong future pipeline of talent to continue innovating in its field.

Key Takeaways:

• Antarctic Architecture: OZ Architecture was chosen to redesign McMurdo Station by bringing a fresh perspective, despite having no prior cold climate experience, highlighting the firm's innovative and adaptive approach.
• Diverse Expertise: With a comprehensive portfolio, OZ Architecture excels in areas such as resort and hospitality development, multifamily housing, national parks, and international projects like those in Rwanda.
• Organizational Growth: From a team of 30 in 1990 to 125 today, OZ's strategic focus on mentorship and leadership development has been pivotal for its sustained growth and ability to remain independent.
• Balancing Design and Productivity: The firm thrives on marrying creative design with efficiency, ensuring that projects are well-coordinated, meeting client expectations without compromising on quality.
• Technological Advancements: Investing in a VR theater illustrates OZ’s commitment to enhance client engagement and decision-making processes, reflecting their forward-thinking adoption of new technologies.

Notable Quotes:

• "We were hired not for what we know, but what we don't know." – Rick Peterson
• "The continent is the coldest, windiest, driest place on Earth." – Rick Peterson
• "We're always trying to do something today that is a little better and different than we did last week." – Rick Peterson
• "Everyone's looking for a place in the office in their career where it's meaningful and that they're valued and that they make a difference." – Rick Peterson
• "If you want them to stay and grow, otherwise they’re going to go somewhere else." – Rick Peterson

Resources:

• OZ Architecture Website

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.
Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!
Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!
Design Development Podcast!
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTube
Find out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/