Featured Clients

This month we are featuring Rodney Jefferson, an architect based out of our Southwest Orlando location. We talked with Rodney about some of his favorite projects and what he enjoys most about running his own business.

Tell us about your company. What services do you provide?

I provide architectural design services for commercial and residential projects, and have been in business since 2000.

What kind of projects do you specialize in?

I have done all types of projects from home renovations/additions to custom homes, from tenant spaces to offices, retail to daycares and restaurants. I have worked on churches and schools.

What was your favorite project to date?

My favorite project would be the Garden Building in Downtown Winter Garden. It was a new 3-story office building with a greenhouse/fishery on the roof. It was challenging to tie in the restooms and the emergency exits with the Garden Theatre next door, along with capturing and storing the rainwater in an underground tank under the building. During the course of the project, the location of the fish tanks could not be decided, so we had to design the structure and the roof system to hold 3 feet of water.

What made you decide to start your own business?

From before I started on this quest in college, I had always wanted to hang out my own “shingle” with my own company name.

What drew you to the business of architecture—why does it resonate with you?

I really find that I enjoy the ability to help solve a problem by comping up with a design solution that ends up being built.

When did you know you wanted to be an architect?

When I was in the 8th grade and had my first drafting class, I thought it was very interesting to draw. So I took drafting in high school. During my sophomore year, my friend’s father asked my buddy and I to draft up a metal pole barn for him to build. I found I was able to draft for a number of hours and actually kind of liked it. So, my first paying job from drafting started then.

What do you like best about running your own business?

The opportunity to meet new people and to work on a great variety of projects.

What is your greatest challenge in running your own business?

Working through the constant changes in technology and the building codes.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to enjoy my free time with my family and friends.

How do you manage to maintain a balance between work and free time?

I try not to take my work home with me, but that is sometimes very difficult to do.

What would surprise people most about you?

That I enjoy the Marvel Comics movies!!

What quote or saying do you live by?

Be fair and honest with your fellow man (or woman) and happy in what you do.