Bryan Hinckley
senior pm – studio lead
Bryan@SantulanArch.com
Bryan creates high quality and artful environments while being mindful of his client’s needs and the project’s context. He brings 22 years of experience as an Architect, specializing in residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings. His organizational skills, field experience and attention to detail are essential to successfully guiding projects from design through construction. Bryan earned his Master of Architecture degree in Urban Design at the University of Colorado at Denver, and his Bachelor of Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, spending a year studying abroad with Denmark’s International Study Program.
Aside from Project Management on select projects, Bryan also plays the role of Studio Lead. Bryan manages our weekly staff meetings, monitors workload and staffing needs, provides mentorship to junior staff, and interfaces with firm leadership to ensure that our BIM, QA, & CA systems are well integrated.
Get to know bryan
Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school? Who is in your family?
I grew up in southern California and went to school at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona for my Batchelor of Architecture degree. I studied for one of those years in Copenhagen, Denmark as an exchange student and got the opportunity to study with the professors from the Danish Royal Academy of Architecture and students from all around the world. After graduation I continued my education at the University of Colorado at Denver, earning a Master of Architecture degree specializing in Urban Design.
I met my beautiful wife, Cynthia in the bell choir at St Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Denver. We have two boys, Brendan who is studying pre-med at Baylor University and Chandler who is finishing high school and planning to become an actor.
What are your hobbies?
I have enjoyed raising my kids and supporting their activities and experience playing basketball and theater performances, and now watching them grow to be intelligent and responsible young men. I enjoy home improvement, and my wife and I recently remodeled our house from a 1950s ranch to a contemporary home with open floor plan and indoor-outdoor living spaces. I enjoy music and theater and want to learn to play the piano. My wife and I like to cook, dance and travel.
What sparked your interest in Architecture? Who inspired you to pursue architecture as a career?
As a kid, my Mom and I would visit model homes and walk through houses under construction to get ideas for decorating our home. I enjoyed seeing how buildings were put together and evaluating how the floor plans would support the lifestyle of the family that would eventually live there. In high school I fell in love with architectural drafting class and was encouraged by my Sunday School teacher and Architect, Mr. Sham to study at Cal Poly Pomona because their program teaches design excellence as well as construction methods.
Who is your Favorite architect?
My favorite architect is Alvar Aalto. He worked during the Modernist Movement at the beginning of the 20th Century. While other architects were creating buildings that celebrated innovative technologies and functionalism, Aalto brought the Modern ideals and language to Finland and adapted them to the lifestyle and environment of Scandinavia. His building forms were inspired by the landscape and used wood and brick that were central to the local economy and helped to give his modern buildings a warm and inviting feel. In response to the cold Nordic weather, Aalto provided details like wrapping the metal door handles, columns and stair railings with leather so they would be warm to the touch. I am inspired by his attention to the site and his humanist approach to design. Architecture is not about replicating a style but creating a place that supports the needs of the user and utilizes modern construction methods and materials in a beautiful way.
What is the craziest thing you have ever done or seen before?
I was picked up by the Soviet police in Tallin, Estonia. It was only months since Estonia was granted its independence from Moscow during the era of Perestroika and relations between the Soviet Union and the Baltic Republics were still tenuous. A friend and I had the opportunity on a study tour to meet students at the Architecture and Design school and were driving with one of them to meet at their friend’s apartment one evening after school. We were pulled over by a big black van with four men who only spoke in Russian, dressed in black holding military rifles. When the student told them we were Americans, they told him to tell us to get out of the car and get into their van. We were scared for our lives and afraid we’d be sent to Siberia and be never seen again, just like in the movies! When the van door slid open, we were back at our hotel and were told to stay there. Later, the student came for us and said he was pulled over because his license plate was expired. During the Cold War, Americans were told that the Soviets were our enemies, but I saw that they are just people like us. They go to school to prepare for their future, they work to make a living and create a better world for their friends and families, and they also sometimes forget to renew their car registration.
Why did you interview/accept job offer at Santulan? Why do you continue to work at Santulan?
I came to Santulan because I wanted to get back to designing homes for people. I was impressed by their thoughtful work and their dedication to loyal clients who they had worked with for many years. Santulan recognizes that it takes more than an architect to make a building. A successful project relies on the unique skills and perspectives of architects, designers, engineers, developers, city officials, contractors, and residents. Santulan is able to bring together all these various interests and meld them together to create beautiful thriving communities.