Leafs from an Architect’s Journal
I love programming. Not computer programming but architectural programming. This is something that most people, even most architects, don’t really understand, and unless they have been through the process they don’t realize what a powerful tool it is.
The textbook definition of programming is, “the thorough and systematic evaluation of the interrelated values goals facts and needs of a client’s organization, facility and the surrounding community,” (Robert Hershberger). What that doesn’t tell you is that programming is key to truly understanding how a company works. It tells you how to design spaces that perfectly fit their needs. It’s also really fun.
I’ve had the opportunity to look behind the curtain at many amazing businesses to learn how they tick. From Quicksilver to KCRW Radio to Macquarie Bank in Australia, it’s always exciting to discover which path a company will take you on. One of my most surprising journeys was with a mysterious tech startup called Magic Leap.
I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived in Florida for our first set of meetings with Magic Leap. We had just started work as Programming Consultants for a brilliant team of architects, Barbara Bestor and Glavovic Studios, and I didn’t have much background on the super-secretive company in Ft. Lauderdale. I knew they had been backed by Google for their innovative product but details were scarce. Open, I was ready to walk into just about anything.
What followed was a month-long ride into augmented reality, aka the future of how we will interact with computers. My job was to immerse myself in the rapid growth of a cutting-edge tech developer, to figure out what this unique company culture needed to move forward. On the surface it was a typical week of programming meetings, interviewing key leaders, touring departments, and learning about the tools they used. In practice it was an amazing glimpse into the future: engineers, computer programmers, product designers and even rocket scientists, all working together to revolutionize the way we absorb and share information. Unfortunately I can’t go into detail about all the amazing things I saw, but I encourage you to watch the announcement video about Magic Leap. The video is like a clip from science fiction, but I have experienced it first hand and can assure you that it’s very real and very, very cool.