Hello and thank you for your interest in Ingram Architects. I started Ingram Architects initially as a single family residential design studio on Nantucket island in 1999. The initial intent of the studio was to focus on design build projects, i.e. draw by night and swing hammers by day. However, my best laid plans were derailed when I was hit by a truck on my bike (my September 11, 1999) and needed two reconstructive surgeries on my right elbow (my hammer swinging arm). As a result, the ‘build’ side of design-build took a back seat while and I retooled, hung my shingle and learned to write and draw with my left hand. Slowly, my practice gained momentum and grew from a sole proprietor to 7 full time staff with an office in South Boston and one on Nantucket.

Following the bike accident, the rehab road was long with regular physical therapy appointments over two years. Initially, it wasn’t clear how usable my right elbow would be once fully recovered, what kind of range of motion and enduring pain I would have long term. This road forced me to focus on my recovery and well-being, stay diligent and trust the process. Eventually, things returned to somewhat normal and through the ‘rehab’ process I had trained my body to do an Ironman Triathlon.

The entire experience was a major pivotable point in my life and career. It taught me many things about inner strength, resilience (I had little), trauma, justice, fear, to name a few. Most of all, it taught me that sometimes the worst of imaginable things can be the best thing that ever happened. From this experience, fitness became a major component of my life, sometimes overshadowing everything else. I began to think a lot about how our spaces can support activity, strength, flexibility and range of motion. That thesis is below (Fitspace) . I’ve designed several Fitspace projects for active people, and have incorporated Fitspace principles into many more projects impacting the wellness of dozens of athletes.  

FITSPACE

Adventuring too, continues to be a major motivation almost on a daily basis. I’m typically thinking about next adventures or the strategies needed to get there. I think of my body as a tool in terms of adventuring; the need to keep healthy and strong. Sometimes, when things in life are going off script or derailing, I think ‘well this is quite an adventure; I’m adventuring right now.’ Stepping out of comfort zones, as we often do in life, for me is a queue to make an attitude adjustment or tweak frames of reference.  

ADVENTURING

For the last decade, my architectural focus has been predominantly multifamily housing. After relocating from Boston to Portland in 2014, I took positions in two Portland area firms (Leeb + Holst) and worked on over a dozen projects between them. This period was a great experience and expanded my single family knowledge to mid-rise and high-rise podium multifamily projects. I’ve particularly enjoyed client interaction and collaboration with consultants and builders to ensure high quality outcomes.  

It is our belief at Ingram Architects that the best OAC (Owner, Architect, Contractor) teams emerge from a sense of shared values and that the best design solutions stem from the hardest design problems. We value rebuilding/rebranding, curiosity, discipline, patience and resilience. Our more than 30 years of experience are standing ready for your toughest design challenge. Lets do it.

-Rex Ingram