LARA BLANKENBURG BRINGS STRENGTH AND DEPTH TO THE HIGHER ED TEAM
Lara Blankenburg, Senior Architect and Senior Associate, jokes that 90% of the reason she considered a job offer from MSKTD & ASSOCIATES is because of the popcorn machine at the Indianapolis office. Lara’s real motivation for joining the MSKTD team stems from a more significant reason—primarily the firm’s strong design reputation in the higher education market.
FINDING JOB FULFILLMENT
For Lara, joining MSKTD was a decision that has paid off in multiple ways, including job fulfillment, challenging projects, and professional advancement opportunities. In fact, in her two-plus years with the firm, Lara says she has discovered exactly what she was looking for in the next step in her career: a place of leadership on a strong team where everyone works well together.
“Our Higher Ed team has a lot of years of combined experience,” she said, “with people to lean on and learn from. I know that coming here was the right choice. The thought leaders here are so involved in helping everyone on the team succeed.”
BRINGING STRENGTH AND DEPTH TO THE TEAM
In her long and varied career, Lara has worked at several firms, engaging on projects ranging from K-12 schools and sporting facilities to healthcare and religious buildings—and everything in between. She even spent several years flying across the country doing construction administration and project management for clients such as Walmart and Bridgestone Tires.
That kind of variety is something Lara was looking for from architecture in the first place. “Architecture is so varied,” she said. “I wanted to dive into quite a few different experiences.”
Project Team
Owner: Purdue University
Design: MSKTD & ASSOCIATES and Workshop Architects
Mechanical Engineering and Plumbing: MSKTD & ASSOCIATES
Structural Engineering: Fink Roberts & Petrie, Inc.
Construction: Kettelhut Construction
LEVERAGING PAST EXPERIENCE
Lara’s breadth and depth in the field have played into her largest project with MSKTD: a major renovation to University Hall at Purdue University. The last of the original six buildings remaining on campus, the iconic building hadn’t been renovated since the 1960s. Today, Lara is working daily to return this building to its original glory—while helping Purdue reimagine it as a more usable and efficient space for students and scholars at the same time.
LEADING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Lara is the first to admit that complicated projects such as this one requires extensive collaboration. “My role is to keep everyone running in the same direction,” she said. “We want people at all levels to be in agreement, and we take time to listen to all of their dreams and ideas.”
ENCOURAGING EMERGING TALENT
Lara’s extensive experience, combined with her attention to detail and demonstrated leadership, have made her an ideal choice for a senior associate position within the firm, a decision that leadership has championed. “We are excited to see Lara’s experience rewarded with this advance position at MSKTD,” said Gary Voirol, president. “She continues to show leadership qualities which benefit our clients and our Higher Education team.”
As a senior associate, Lara’s goal is to help MSKTD’s Higher Education team maintain its reputation for excellence, while mentoring others and passing on her experience in project management. “I know this is a place where I can continue to build my career and stay for a long time.”
