Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Amor.
Hi Robert, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I decided that I wanted to be an architect in the tenth grade. I graduated from high school in 1951 but didn’t get my architectural degree from University of Michigan until 1963 because of time in military, getting married and working my way through architecture school. I opened my office in 1968 and have had my office for 56 years and still have projects. See my website. You will see that I have worked on all kinds of projects including churches of over 20 different denominations.
I started to work when I .was ten as a paper boy for five years. Because I am still working at 93 I have been working for 83 years and still not retired.
I have my architectural office in my home, the Cliff House. The Cliff house is in a gated community mobile home park. I am located just 30 feet from the cliff over looking Natural Bridges State Park and the Monterey Bay.
My wife of 69 years of marriage passed away 2 years ago. We have 4 children, 9 grandchildren and now 13 great grandchildren.
I have several hobbies: painting watercolors, building ship models, gardening, construction, hiking ( last week I did a 2 1/2 mile hike in Wilder Ranch State Park).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
11 years between high school graduation and college graduation, dedication to being an architect.
Moving from Michigan to California we had to sell the 3600 sf house we built on the shore of Lake Michigan. Afterwe were in
California we had to sell it at a substantial loss.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In my architectural practice I worked on all kinds of projects: hospitals, schools, high rise for the elderly, enclosed mall shopping centers, residential and churches.
I have been a one man office most of my career. I do it all including architectural, structural, plumbing, electrical and civil.
I am most proud of the churches I have designed. Some churches have a special Sunday where they recognize other churches. When I sit there in church on a Sunday like that I think of all the churches I have designed: the pastors, the congregants. I think how the church I designed for them have worship services, marriages, funerals, baptisms, bible study, social time, etc.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
An architectural graduate is required to have four years as an apprentice in an established architectural office. That is quite effective leading to a mentor. I have participated as a speaker in shows. Mostly by work off mouth for new projects.
Pricing:
- On full church services like a new church I work on a percentage of construction costs.
- On some projects that are hard to define the extent of the work I work on an cost plus.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amor-architect.com and www.amor-church-architect.com
