Today we’d like to introduce you to Garrett DeLano and Bryson White.
Garrett and Bryson, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Bryson and I met and went to college together at the University of Houston College of Architecture. After sharing classes together and traveling on a study abroad program in Italy, we became very good friends. After graduation, we worked at separate commercial architecture firms until there was an opportunity for me (Garrett) to join Bryson at his firm, led by Marc Boucher. Working together at that firm, we both were responsible for a lot of aspects of the firm like marketing, design, and project management; and that’s where we both honed our professional skills. We are thankful for the opportunities Marc afforded us; we would not be the architects we are today without his mentorship and friendship.
However, after five years at that firm and sensing the time was right, we decided to jump out and start our own firm together in July of 2018. That was not an easy decision, not with both of our wives being pregnant at the time. But, it was a leap of faith we were willing to take, and it has turned out to be the best decision we have ever made. Our company name “Arc Three Studio,” alludes to the three over arcing principles of our company philosophy – quality people, quality design, and quality development. Those three guiding ideals is what fuel our decision-making process, hiring, and vision for the company.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, it seems like we are navigating something for the first time every month. We both had a passion for residential architecture, so getting into that market has been tough. Compared to all the other high-end firms in town, we are the new kids on the block, and earning the reputation we want has not been easy. Meanwhile, we are still trying to prove that we belong in the commercial market at the same time.
Just because we came from a commercial firm doesn’t mean we get a free pass, we still have to earn the respect of the industry. Starting a new company always comes with sacrifices – time away from family, financial setbacks, and the sacrifice of security all have come with the territory. We have two employees right now, and hiring them took a long time. We have sat through dozens of interviews and read countless resumes in order to find the perfect person. It has taken a lot of effort to realize exactly what we are looking for in an employee, something we have not had to do in our careers until now.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Arc Three Studio – what should we know?
We are a full-service architecture firm focusing on single family residential designs and mixed-use commercial architecture. We also have some religious facilities we have worked on as well. As a company, we are most proud that we put our best foot forward on design no matter how grand or how menial a task is. We do our best not to assume what the client is looking for in a solution and strive to find the best design possible with the information we have. One day we hope to be developing our own commercial properties, which would set us apart from other similar architecture firms. To be able to see the potential in a piece of property, and bring it to life without having to be commissioned to do so would be a dream come true.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I would say that our success is due to the relationships we have been willing to cultivate. There’s an old saying that goes, “companies don’t hire companies, people hire people,” and I feel that is especially true in our situation. Without taking the time to invest in our relationships, we would not be where we are today. Quality people is the first core value of our company, and without that we will not continue to succeed.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4660 Beechnut St. Suite 221
Houston, TX 77096 - Website: https://www.arcthreestudio.com/
- Phone: 832-831-3441
- Email: info@arcthreestudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcthreestudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arcthreestudio/
Image Credit:
John Dial and Haylei Smith
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