Employee Spotlight: Intern Isaac Buxton

Isaac joined MKSD in 2015 as one of our summer interns.  He was just 15 years old and already a devotee of the field of architecture!  He spent a lot of time prior to starting with us teaching himself Revit so he could hit the ground running when he was old enough to get a job!  He has been a recurring fixture in our office each summer since then and now joins us while on breaks from Thomas Jefferson University where he is studying, what else, architecture!  He works on many diverse projects in the office and assists in many of our 3D modeling and rendering.  We cannot wait to see what the future holds for this bright young talent, but we are excited that he’s joined our team.

What does a typical day look like?

Well of course, one element that is consistent is a cup of coffee every day.  After, it can range from working in the office, to surveys, to meetings with clients.  Nothing is the same which is always one of the best parts.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The office experiences! There is nothing better than working in a creative environment and hearing the voices of the team, clicks of the computer mice or the footsteps on the hardwood.  And of course, the MKSD “annual” golf events!

What was your first job and what did you learn from it that influences the way you work today?

Well believe it or not, this was my first job. I started in 2015 and the biggest influence that I learned would be time management and simply being a people person. Nothing is better than creating friendships in the office as if we we’re all family!

What are three things you cannot live without in your workspace?

Coffee, sketchbook, and the best black Techliner pen!

What is one unique thing that others may not know about you?

I love to golf, but another hobby of mine is customizing longboards.  From sanding, painting, coloring, to spray painting, it is another hobby of mine that uses my creativity as a passion.

What inspired you to pursue this career?

There are a handful of inspirations, but I think the biggest influence, as strange as this sounds, would be visiting the Outer Banks and observing all the beach houses as a kid. The feeling and emotion that architecture brought to me while experiencing those houses is something that I strive for today: designing architecture that inspires.

Where is your favorite place to eat/visit/hang out in the Lehigh Valley?

My favorite place to eat is BJ Brewhouse and is a great place to hang out too.

What are some of your career goals?

I think that it is inevitable that every aspiring architect wants to design their own home! But, one of my largest goals is to live in Seattle and work with one of my biggest architect inspirations, Tom Kundig.

What piece of advice do you have for anyone interested in your career path?

This is advice is for any creatives in general: never turn your ideas down.  Keep following what you believe and always create more.

“People who build their own home tend to be very courageous. These people are curious about life. They’re thinking about what it means to live in a house, rather than just buying a commodity and making it work.”    -Tom Kundig