5 Questions with Brent Bumbaca

As a recent hire at D+B, Brent brings some ‘power tools’ with him: he is a good communicator and listener, he is thorough and efficient, and he is good-natured and has a great sense of humor. Brent is actively seeking opportunities to grow and learn more about the practice of architecture, while simultaneously learning and sharing his wisdom with others. In his short time with the firm, Brent has very quickly become a trusted teammate. We asked him five questions to better understand his background and gain some insight.

What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?

I’m a bit of a fitness nut. I’m part of a running club, called the Land Sharks, and run around 10-20 miles with them every week. I love participating in events like Spartan, which is an obstacle trail run anywhere from 3-13 miles. I also train at CrossFit and am planning on participating competitively in the CrossFit Games, which is an annual competition where athletes compete in a series of CrossFit workouts. I love doing this because there is a very strong, supportive, and inspiring community associated with it and it’s a great way to improve and challenge myself.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the Architecture field?

I chose architecture for a few reasons. As a career, it appealed to me because you can learn so many things. Some are obvious – like building codes, construction, design, and building systems. But architecture goes beyond that though, we also need to learn about the client, their business operations, and how they work. I think as a profession this gives architects a unique perspective of the world and an opportunity to make an appreciated and impactful mark in their communities that can last for generations. There are not many other professions that top that for me.

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I’m pretty sure when I was five, I wanted to be Spiderman. However, my sister killed that dream for me after she said I’d need to get bit by a spider in order to get superpowers. I was pretty disappointed.

What’s your ideal way to spend your weekends?

Generally, I like to spend time with friends by going on hikes, bike rides, or sport events.

Sometimes I also just chill with my cat.

What are some buildings or architects that inspire you and your work?

Renzo Piano is one of my favorite Architects. The Pompidou Centre is a project of his that especially intrigued me when I began Architecture School. The building form is actually pretty simple, but displaying building systems as a facade shows how complex buildings really are. Later I realized this is probably not the best solution from a building performance/energy perspective, but I continue to think it looks cool, nonetheless.