During Kirksey's recent promotions announcement, the firm announced Brady Jobe's new role as Director, Collegiate Practice.
Brady is a skilled architect and a leader in Kirksey's Dallas office. His advancement to Director, Collegiate Practice reflects the dedication and growth he has brought to Kirksey's higher education portfolio in North Texas.
Brady's interest in architecture began in the second grade. "My father was involved in all kinds of house projects; our home was filled with housing plan magazines, and I was particularly captivated by the floor plans - the intricate designs and the way spaces were organized sparked my imagination," Brady remarked. "This childhood interest laid the foundation for my career in the architecture industry, driving me to pursue my dreams and shape spaces creatively and thoughtfully."
Throughout his career, Brady worked on a diverse portfolio of collegiate projects, which influenced his decades of knowledge and experience. One project that began his journey into collegiate architecture was a 700-unit residence hall for a large university. "It was my first residence hall, and I was given the opportunity to lead the design," Brady recalled, "The student housing project stands out, not because of its scale, but because of how effectively it addressed the client's vision, making it a project that I am particularly proud of and where I began to shape my ability to connect the vision to every aspect of the design."
Brady's easy rapport with clients is one of his strengths and a skill he has honed since his career began. Relationship building is foundational to his work ethic and leadership style. It's a guidepost that has served him well throughout the years and his primary response when asked for career path advice. "I always stress the importance of connecting with people in your career and building relationships with people at every level because you never know where you will end up or who you will work with on a project," Brady noted.
Connecting with people is how he ended up in his current role. In 2022, at the AIA Conference in Chicago, Brady met Todd Howard, a Partner at Kirksey and the firm's Director-North Texas, on a shuttle and struck up a conversation. Brady made an impression, and ultimately, Todd reached out about working for Kirksey. When asked what drew him to Kirksey, Brady noted the firm's reputation and his familiarity with its projects, "The personal connection with Todd and my professional admiration for the firm made joining Kirksey an exciting and natural progression in my career."
His new role as Director, Collegiate Practice is another milestone in his career path. "This title is significant to me," Brady explained, "It signifies a culmination of my career efforts but also a new chapter of growth and leadership in a field that I deeply care about; it also allows me to leverage my extensive knowledge and experience to help build and expand our collegiate studio in North Texas.”
Todd Howard believes it is a perfect role for Brady and an acknowledgment of all he does for the firm. "Brady is a natural leader with an affinity for communication," Todd said, "He connects well with his coworkers, his project team, and clients and is well versed in public speaking, a skill that allows his expertise to shine in meetings, at business development events, and leading presentations at conferences."
According to Brady, Kirksey's growth and continued evolution are among the firm's biggest draws. He said he is excited about the direction the firm is growing in and Kirksey's dedication to innovative design and the company culture. "It's incredibly inspiring to see how they prioritize innovative and sustainable design while fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment - this combination drives creativity and excellence in every project and makes Kirkey a dynamic and motivating workplace," said Brady. "I am thrilled to be part of a firm committed to pushing the boundaries of architecture and design while cultivating a positive and engaging culture."
Brady joins Steve Durham, Kirksey's Managing Director, Collegiate Practice in shaping the firm's campus design portfolio. Brady's deep knowledge and breadth of experience complement Kirksey's longstanding higher education practice and diverse portfolio of 150+ projects on over 45 college campuses nationwide.