This year RINKA celebrates 15 years of designing inspiring experiences. We’re grateful to our team, our partners, and our clients who together, shape the future of design. We sat down with RINKA leadership to discuss what the firm’s past 15 years meant to the industry, and what the future of RINKA looks like.

What has been the most rewarding part about working at RINKA?

CHAD GRISWOLD, Partner: It’s exciting to see the multitude of communities, neighborhoods, organizations, and businesses we have been fortunate to influence in the last 15 years. More than architecture, we have built many long-lasting and collaborative partnerships.

DAN KABARA, VP, Senior Project Architect: The most rewarding aspect of working at RINKA is being able to work with visionary clients on projects which have a positive and long-lasting impact on our community. Creating places where people are inspired to live, work, and play is the essential reason why I became an architect. I’m especially proud of our team for its passion to meet challenges head-on and its drive to go the extra mile to provide excellent design for projects both big and small.

AUDRY GRILL, VP, Senior Project Manager: There are many aspects of working at RINKA that have been rewarding in different ways. I’ve experienced a huge amount of personal growth as a designer and a leader. I’ve learned so much from the amazing team I work with every day, both in terms of great design and also in terms of how to support a team so that individuals can thrive and ultimately so that the entire firm culture thrives. Because I’ve had many great opportunities to contribute, not only to project teams but also to the shaping of RINKA’s firm strategy, I’ve witnessed the growth of my own confidence in what I can achieve individually and also what can be achieved when working together with great partners.

Another incredibly rewarding aspect of working at RINKA has been the ability to develop meaningful relationships beyond the firm – with visionary clients, staff members at various municipalities, consultants and contractors, as well as so many members of the community. It has been an amazing experience to work together with these various partners to realize projects such as the Milwaukee Bucks Deer District, and to witness the positive impacts of these projects on the communities in which they are located.

In your time at RINKA, what project has been the most impactful to you and why?

JESSICA TIMMER, VP, Senior Architect, Project Manager: Milwaukee Bucks Entertainment District! To participate in such a catalytic project for our city is extremely rewarding. We spent years designing, planning, and working and to see it complete, and experienced by the community in many different ways such as games, festivals, and events was incredible.

ELLIOT YOUNG, VP, Senior Architect, Project Manager: The most impactful project I have been involved in has to be the Oak Creek Lake Vista Park, the modern park shelters and pavilion overlooking Lake Michigan. It was a previously contaminated industrial site transformed into a beautiful public park for all southeastern Wisconsin residents to enjoy.

BRADLEY HOFFMANN, SVP, Technical Director: The Moderne held the most impact for me. It was one of the only significant projects under construction during the recession and provided a large impact to the Westtown neighborhood. The Moderne was one of the first buildings to spur redevelopment of this key district in our city.

What made you decide to start a career in architecture? / What would you tell others who are thinking of joining the architecture field?

KATIE MONACHOS, VP, Senior Architect, Project Manager: Architecture is the perfect hybrid of art and science. I’m never bored, and learn something new every day. To anyone considering a career in architecture – be prepared to work hard, but expect extreme satisfaction at the end of the day.

RYAN PLISKA, SVP, Director of Project Delivery: I remember watching This Old House on TV and enjoying the segments on construction when they brought the architect in to explain the process. This was my first exploration into the field and opened my mind to what thoughtful design can accomplish. For those who are thinking about joining the architectural field – don't limit yourself. Expose yourself to challenging situations. Insert yourself in areas that are unfamiliar. It’s easy to be compartmentalized in architecture – allow yourself a more holistic approach to your career.

TIMMER: When I started college, I was studying pre-pharmacy, with an intent to go into the medical field. After a year of coursework, I wasn’t happy or excelling and someone recommended Architecture as it bridged both science and art. I enrolled in an architecture course and never looked back.

What has been your biggest accomplishment since you started working at RINKA?

STEVE MORALES, Partner: Joining the firm’s leadership as a partner comes in at a close second, but my biggest accomplishment has been helping shape an environment that allows some of the most creative people in our industry to collaborate and create impactful projects for our community locally and beyond.

PLISKA: Building meaningful relationships with not only our clients, but also with other partners in our industry. We may have the technical expertise, but it’s the relationships that drive our business forward.

HOFFMANN: I joined RINKA as its first employee and have had 1st hand experience helping the company to grow throughout the years. The most rewarding part was not only being a part of the growth, but nurturing and building long-term relationships with clients and community partners.

GRISWOLD: It has been rewarding to help grow an organization that, from the beginning, has been focused on opportunity and development of every colleague. We have grown into a 40+ person company comprised of the top professionals in our area, and look forward to continuing that trajectory in the future as we expand the firm leadership.

How has architecture evolved since you started at RINKA?

TIMMER: The profession in recent years has had a significant boost in support and development of BIPOC and women architects. I am grateful to be working with a team at RINKA that is constantly questioning what we can do better and working to improve equity within the profession.

YOUNG: Architecture is always evolving. We have seen a shift towards creating walkable community centers outside of existing urban centers. Places that attract people from all walks of life and an increase in the desire for highly amenitized living and working spaces are things that have come to the forefront of our work.

MORALES: In a great way, architectural design at large has refocused on experiences, something RINKA has been doing from its inception. We’re intentional that our design process puts focus on a visitor’s experience and the community impact at large. It’s high on the priority list in designing and delivering a highly curated vision with our client partners.

What does the future of RINKA look like to you?

YOUNG: I am a proponent for us to take our talents further outside of the state and outside of the country. Our work is unique for this market and I think unique for other markets as well.

MONACHOS: The future of RINKA looks exciting! We all know how fun the early “teen years” can be! I expect to learn, grow, and build a stronger connection with my colleagues, while continuing to be a little rebellious.

MORALES: The future is exciting, but also uncomfortable and organic. RINKA is a company that does amazing work when responding to uncomfortable questions in some of the most creative ways. The future means bringing together some of world’s most creative talents in the pursuit of those design solutions, with an amazing company culture at its core.

Celebrating 15 Years of Designing Inspiring Experiences