Patty Morgan Norberg, AIA
Principal, CSHQA
Women in architecture are a dynamic and influential force. Idaho women architects have been breaking barriers and making significant contributions to the field for decades.
In recent years, some have risen to leading positions in their firms, managing successful practices and designing major projects that shape our state’s built environment.
In this edition of Idaho Architecture, we are celebrating women architects, their work, leadership, and the pathways to equity they are building for the next generation. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Patty Morgan Norberg and learn more about the challenges that women architects face in their personal and professional lives. We hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as we did.
Please tell us about yourself.
It is my pleasure to say I am an Idaho native from southern Idaho, went to school in Boise, and then transferred to the University of Idaho where I found my people and passion for architecture. I have been licensed for about 30 years, have been a part of the same company, and have helped it grow to the multi-state, work-from-anywhere culture we have today. I was the first female stockholder in a firm that is over a century old. It was an honor to be elected to be an officer for AIA Central Idaho and represent Idaho at two Grassroots conferences in Washington, D.C. as well as our regional conference in Tokyo, Japan. It was great timing as I was present to receive a Design Award, in person, for our Idaho State Capital renovation and represent the team in our firm who have worked on our capital for many years.
What led you to architecture?
In my early years, I grew up in a rural community and then moved to the big city of Boise in my early teens. In all my years, wherever I was, my mother was a craftsman and she involved her children in all her crafts. She built miniature houses, not just for play but for show. A couple of them had outstanding exterior finishes, fantastic interiors, amazing furniture, and electric lighting. Our kitchen table was a building bench and always had projects on it. In school, I was always really good at math and art and loved both. When I was looking for what I wanted to major in, it wasn’t until I took a Pre-Architecture class that I found my people, and then my path and passion were set.
What are your architectural specialties?
My specialty is teaming with our design teams (both architectural and engineering), along with general contractors and the owner, for trusted partnerships. We call it “integrated project delivery” where we ALL work together to create a great project. I am in the retail and grocery market sector and, as a complicated and intricate building type, it has been rewarding to work with a number of fantastic teams to deliver some great projects where we all feel proud of our efforts.
What challenges have you faced in the field?
It is interesting as I have worked all over the country with national accounts and had some great mentors and support from my leadership. I ran into one challenge in a state, that will remain unnamed, where the jurisdiction would not talk to me, as a woman. Oh well, I was able to get what I needed from a great supervisor who stepped in and helped me get the information I needed to obtain a permit. That was an amazing run. However, it has been interesting to navigate different leadership, and it has been challenging to learn how to communicate in a different way, to be heard. Nothing against leadership, it was just an interesting observation to have to learn that skill set in my later years.
What is the greatest accomplishment of your professional career? Favorite project?
Wow, there have been a few so here goes. As stated before, I was the first female stockholder and became a Director at the firm. At the same time, I was elected as an Officer during a difficult downturn in our economy and was able to help keep our sector alive by some creative, low-cost programs. I headed up the AIA Golf committee for a number of years and had some great volunteer partners to keep that going and help it grow to the major fundraiser it is today that
offers scholarships to students. I started to include AIA associates to help volunteer for duties and pay their dues for their service.
As I have worked all over the country, one of my favorite projects was Albertsons in Eagle, where the design approval at the time was by committee. The city wasn’t sure what they wanted for a design as design standards were not written then. It was fun to gather contextual building examples in Eagle and other turn-of-the-century examples, to create, what we call today, a visual positioning board to help show the vision, to create a design from that, and to pass a committee and the city approval with no changes. It was a “one-ballooner” for me — I would add a balloon with the child in the entourage, who would be holding a balloon with their family, from the beginning.
Another favorite was working with the client, Wild Oats, to participate in the LEED Pilot program for grocery stores as they are energy hogs. This was a store in Boulder that accomplished LEED Silver, which is quite the feat. Again, we had great partners in accomplishing that project and moving the LEED program further.
Another proud moment was the IPD project with the Whole Foods team, developer, and construction team, where we accomplished the great feat of designing a sustainable project (another passion) way under budget and delivering it two months early. We received a handwritten thank you note from the CEO of Whole Foods.
Photos courtesy of CSHQA
Have you had important mentors during your career so far? Who were they, and what was the most important lesson you learned from them?
I have both great mentors and sponsors in my career and there have been a few. To name a couple, both my superiors in my early years, Herb Winters and Kent Hanway who became partners with me in my later years, were very influential in how to learn, both in the technical skills and people skills that accentuated my authentic self.
What three recommendations would you have for someone starting off in the industry?
- Be eager to learn as much as you can.
- Volunteer for organizations where your passions are and start gathering your network of people in your generation. Find your partner/advocate in your field where you both can interpolate and SPEAK your truth as it can be challenging for others who don’t listen or don’t understand our language. It is important as a woman to gather your advocates in your field and not just in your office.
- Be your authentic self; be kind yet firm.
Do you have any last words that summarize your thoughts for anyone reading your article?
It has been, and will continue to be, a fun and exciting ride in our field. There are so many opportunities to innovate, be flexible and contribute to our industry and the build environment.
Thank you as this was a great moment to reflect on and appreciate my journey.
Photos courtesy of CSHQA
