We are speaking with the Philadelphia Region’s premier creative talent, to find out their views regarding the assets of the region, the challenges of owning a business and how the industry has grown in past years. Below is an interview Alex Davis-Booth, an architect at RMJM Hillier.
Alex’s work experiences started off working in London, then a small town in central Virginia for a year, then Northern VA/ Washington DC for a year, following that he worked in New Haven, CT for 5-6 years. He has some experience of other places to compare the Philadelphia Region. While looking for a job in CT, Alex also spent some time looking in NYC, and researched what living and working there would be like.
How do you think the architecture industry sector competes in the Philadelphia Region compared to other cities/regions?
Philadelphia has large, world class firms competing with firms from other major metropolitan cities, as well as a great selection of smaller, boutique firms that cater to a more local clientele, and also everything in-between. The high caliber of universities in the area means that smart well educated people are already in the area to work in these firms. I feel the city has a lot to offer people who want to work on a variety of projects with architectural significance.
Like NYC or London (or any other major metropolis), there are some great offices doing fantastic work. Working in New York and London it is highly competitive, cost of living is high, but salaries don’t necessarily reflect that. Salaries in Philadelphia seem to be similar to somewhere like NYC, but the cost of living is much lower. Philadelphia firms seem to be more accessible both to clients and people who want to work in them.
What are the assets of the architecture industry sector in Philadelphia?
It is a big city with great road to the local areas access and public transportation to the rest of the world; including an extremely convenient international airport. [There are] good universities, therefore good people to work in it. [There are] well established and good consultants all around the area. [With] great opportunities for local development and projects in the region, [Philadelphia has] an up-and-coming feel to the place that attracts young people to the area. I feel like this brings talent to the city as young people can finally afford to live here, own a home, at the same time they can work on good projects. Like-minded developers building cool buildings to help the city grow.
How would you market Philadelphia’s architecture industry to young professionals outside the region?
I would sell Philadelphia as somewhere that has the same feel and type of work opportunities as any other great metropolis. You can work for the same kind of offices, design the same kind of buildings, live a similar urban life. But you can live more comfortably than in many other cities. It is so much more affordable than NYC, London, Boston, DC. Here young people can still afford to buy a home. It is possible to use public transportation to get to work and get around.
From my own research, there were a lot of offices, and many opportunities in all kinds of work. Cost of living to salary ratio - this it is an easy city to live in. Big city, great people, better living.
Innovation Philadelphia is committed to supporting technology-driven economic growth in the Philadelphia region through growing the region’s for-profit creative industries, attracting and retaining young professionals vital to economic growth, and fostering entrepreneurism and new ideas.