Taking Commercial Architecture Design to New Heights: Meet Ethan Frazier
Ethan Frazier has always been impressed by architectural and engineering marvels, particularly the world-record-setting Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, towering at 2,717 feet tall. His fascination with the intricate fusion of design and engineering in such projects led him to pursue a career working at commercial architecture firms.
While he has not yet worked on skyscrapers himself, he hopes to someday. In the meantime, he works diligently to take each commercial architecture design at Keiser Design Group to the next level.
Let’s get to know Ethan a little better.
What originally drew you to the field of architecture?
I was originally drawn to commercial architecture designs by the Burj Khalifa. I was first introduced to the Burj Khalifa as a young boy who loved to draw. My passion for drawing eventually led me to draw architectural structures. I began researching some of the world’s biggest buildings, and this is where I found the Burj Khalifa.
The first thing I immediately noticed was the facade. Not only is the curtain wall system on the building extravagant but the facade is also meticulously engineered specifically for the complex wind challenges that a 2,717-foot-tall building faces. I was inspired by the number of engineering and architecture challenges that were solved in the project in order to construct the tallest building in the world.
What experience did you bring with you to KDG?
Before KDG, I attended the Architecture & Engineering Design program through C-TEC of Licking County. This is where I gained my initial technical knowledge of CAD programs, designing both architectural projects and mechanical engineering projects. From there, I went to Ohio State, originally to pursue civil engineering, but I eventually switched to a major in architecture. During my time in architecture school at The Ohio State University, I designed a variety of large-scale commercial projects from libraries to towers, gymnasiums to schools. I started interning at KDG during my second year in the architecture major.
What was the most influential thing you learned while studying at The Ohio State University?
One of the most influential things I learned at OSU was that design never stops, but at a certain point, must stop. We can design and design to constantly make something better, and continually improve it, but we must at some point arrive at a stopping point.
What do you think is the most important attribute of an architect?
The most important attribute of an architect is being detail-oriented. In all areas of architecture, from design to construction, the details are of the utmost importance.
What is something you wish people knew about KDG?
I wish people knew that we take projects of all different types. For example, we do documentation of fire restorations and repairs to damaged structures. This is something that some people might not expect by just glancing at our website. We are not just limited to simple renovations and new builds. We are very diverse when it comes to project scopes.
What type of architecture is your favorite?
Commercial projects are my favorite. When I started at KDG, I mainly did residential projects but eventually moved to the commercial team. So, I’ve had experience with both sides. I think what specifically makes me appreciate commercial architecture design is its complexity. As opposed to residential, there are much more stringent code requirements and projects can start to get messy quick. I really like to be challenged, and commercial projects create interesting challenges for me to tackle.
A project I’m most proud of is probably Shawnee Station Taproom. This project particularly was very collaborative, and I worked on this with Jason. Additionally, there were lots of consultants involved with it, resulting in lots of movement throughout the process. So, when the project culminated, it was very rewarding.
Who is your architecture guru?
I think one that stands out as my favorite is Daniel Burnham. While he is not as popular as some of the others, I think he was quite influential. He has some great books on architecture and was a pioneer in the late 1800s / early 1900s, helping shape the Chicago skyline.
What is a random fact most people don’t know about you?
I can read and write in Greek at an intermediate level. I am not yet conversationally fluent. When I was in school, I loved learning about Ancient Greek architecture and history in general, which eventually led me to want to learn the language. So, I have taught myself the language and continue to learn it in my free time.
