Our Voices blog series shines a spotlight on the team behind Quinn Evans, introducing their work, inspirations, and how their diverse perspectives contribute to building a collaborative and innovative architecture firm.  

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Quinn Evans Architect Maureen Vosmek, Fitwel Amb., has always enjoyed art and design, working professionally as a graphic designer and art gallery manager before beginning her career in architecture. She was inspired to pursue a career in preservation and architecture when she took an Introduction to Historic Preservation course while working at the University of Washington.

“It seemed like a great combination of my interests in history, design and placemaking,” she says.

Now, her passion lies in the intersection of historical preservation and new design.

“Since change is inevitable, it is exciting to work on projects where good design can ensure that change happens in the right way to maintain, enhance, and create a physically, socially, and culturally rich environment to pass on to future generations,” explains Vosmek.

While at Quinn Evans, she has enjoyed working on projects that bring together great design with best practices in preservation, whether it involves the incorporation of new systems or entirely new uses.

“Through my design work, I aim to balance practical needs, creative solutions, and the stewardship of historic buildings,” she says.

Vosmek is especially fond of her work on renovating the National Air and Space Museum, a project that  involved weaving new design elements into historic fabric while respecting the character and integrity of the existing building. 

The approach for this project was to think about architectural elements as opportunities to add educational content.  

“One of the things we were looking at is down the length of the concourse, doing an inlaid design that showed the Wright Brothers’ first flight paths,” she says. “We thought about whether we could find something in the pattern or some way to put meaning into everything.”

Inspired by early American female architects like Julia Morgan and Mary Colter who were influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement, Vosmek tells young architects to develop their passions.

“Find what excites you about architecture and design and look for opportunities to focus on those aspects,” she says. “This profession is so vast and diverse in its practice that there are many opportunities to hone a particular skill set.”

She also highlights collaboration and learning from others as an integral part of her Quinn Evans experience.

“I am always  learning something new from my colleagues on every project,” says Vosmek. “I can honestly say I am never bored at my job and I really enjoy the opportunity for continued learning and growth as an architect.”