schools that dot Idaho’s landscape, we have always been at the heart of communities. This legacy gives us a strong knowledge of Idaho’s culture, people and traditions. The legacy also reminds us that these buildings become part of Idaho’s built environment and need to be built to last. We are so proud of our history but also recognize the importance of progressive thinking and keeping up with constant change. Hummel’s team is very talented and culturally diverse, with a wide range of experiences. Our strength comes from our ability to listen to their voices and ideas while also providing the bedrock of a longstanding history in Idaho. What challenges and opportunities do you foresee for architects working in Idaho in the coming years? With Idaho’s population surpassing two million people and growing, and with over 40% living in the greater Boise metro area, the challenges and opportunities are intertwined. Growth means work, but it also means increased competition from startups, satellite offices and firms from other states. To stay relative and in business, we believe you need to match, if not exceed, what other firms offer. We do believe growth fosters better design as sophisticated clients seek quality architecture to enable their missions, strategies and programs. We see opportunity and fun in meeting those needs. How do you think Idaho’s architectural landscape will evolve, and what role do you see Hummel Architects playing in that transformation? It is going to be interesting. As everyone can see, Idaho is trending conservative with no change in sight that it might move more centric. Decision makers will continue to be fiscally conservative translating to potentially less work and certainly tighter project budgets. As a profession, we will need to transform to maintain our niches by being nimble, intuitive and efficient. Additionally, year after year, Idaho is getting warmer. Supporting science research is real and indisputable. We see sustainability as being ever more necessary along with fire-wise architecture and construction systems. How our work evolves to meet the current and coming environmental circumstances remains to be seen, but we will embrace the challenges and opportunities inherent in the transformation. 15
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