Matt Arabasz Named Principal

The leadership team at RB+B Architects is proud to announce that Matt Arabasz, AIA, ALEP, LEED APBD+C, has been named the newest Principal at the firm.

Matt joined RB+B in 1998 and has been instrumental in the success of many of the firm’s projects, including: Emerald Elementary School (Broomfield), Trailside Academy P-8 School (Mapleton), Fossil Ridge High School (Fort Collins), Kinard Middle School (Fort Collins), Summit Elementary School (Casper, WY), and Kelly Walsh High School (Casper, WY). He is currently leading several School Districts throughout Northern Colorado in developing district-wide roadmaps for the future of their facilities, as well as leading the new Poudre School District Middle/High School projects in Fort Collins.

While Matt’s commitment to the profession of architecture presented itself early in his career through committee volunteering with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), more recently this commitment has been focused on, as Matt articulates, “shaping our work from the inside out, as we refine our internal processes to elevate the quality of our work.” Notable initiatives with which he has led or been involved include setting up the firm’s standards in AutoCAD and, more recently, REVIT standards; managing office technology for a number of years; working collaboratively with the firm’s GREEN Team; pursuing work to enhance marketing initiatives; planning office-wide and leadership retreats; and helping to clarify the firm’s design process and messaging. He has a passion for improving building envelope design and serves as one of three professionals in the office who maintain the integrity of our projects in a Quality Control Review role.

Matt’s list of accomplishments is lengthy, though his proudest work lies in the realm of educational planning and his Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP) credential. Matt received this accreditation several years ago through the Association 4 Learning Environments, an international organization focused on the design of educational spaces. Matt notes that, “obtaining this credential was part of a deliberate effort to improve my ability to help lay the groundwork for successful educational projects and to build a skill within our firm that would lead us towards continued success. In my experience, our clients are increasingly reliant upon their architect to provide leadership in this realm on educational projects of all scales.”

Corky Bradley, current President of the firm notes, “Over the past 21 years, I have seen Matt grow into not only an outstanding Architect, but a true leader and mentor. Matt exemplifies the design philosophy and culture of RB+B, and always puts the client first. His diligence in guiding our firm into the years ahead, as well as providing outstanding client service, shows he is unflinching in his commitment to high performance building design, our community, and to our profession. It is my honor and privilege to welcome Matt as a new Principal at RB+B Architects.”

Matt shares that, “Over the last five years, I have been deliberately shifting my focus from being the full-time “go-to person” for one or two projects to being a part-time steward of several projects, supporting other up and coming Project Managers in our firm. This shift affords me the opportunity for direct interaction with more of our clients and with more of our staff while creating advancement opportunities for our younger staff to grow into.
 
“Looking forward to the next five years, my goals are two-fold: first, to continue to refine and advance my skills as an Educational Facility Planner, and, second, to empower and encourage our staff to refine and advance their own skills. Perhaps my most important role as a Principal is to ensure the longevity of our firm and of our profession by supporting each member of our staff in reaching their full potential as the administrative professionals, marketing professionals, interior designers, and architects they wish to be. As a wise colleague once advised, the search for my replacement begins today.”

Matt joins current Principals Corky Bradley, Rebecca Spears, and David Kress in this leadership role. His personality, work style, and professional interests round out a leadership team that provides a diverse set of strengths from which both our clients and our staff benefit. He shares that our family-style office culture is what makes RB+B an exceptional place to work and an exceptional partner for our clients. “As a Management Team, we give ourselves the flexibility to manage each member of our staff as a unique individual, and we promote individuals with complementary skills into positions of leadership. This approach illustrates that, as a team, we strive for something greater than simply serving as a collection of strong individuals.”

RB+B Architects is a 22-person architecture, planning and interior design firm located in downtown Fort Collins. With an emphasis on high performance design, RB+B designs spaces that are vibrant, sustainable, and comfortable for those who inhabit them. Our collaborative design process engages each client personally, centers on the discovery of creative solutions that respond to each client’s unique needs, and results in Design Confidence.