29 Q1 2022 BUILD The Shape Of Paradise ACI Wright Architects strives to service its clients with a sense of design flair, delivered through sound management and accounting practices and employing the latest in technology and people skills. We speak to Founder, Paul Wright, about how Covid has affected the industry and how the firm adapted to stay ahead. Here we take a closer look as it wins Most Outstanding Architecture Practise Specialising in Diverse Projects 2022 – Ontario. CI Wright Architects Inc (ACI Wright) is an international award-winning architectural practice based in Toronto, Canada. Established by Paul Wright in 1992 after experience at various architectural firms, the practise enjoys a variety of project types in and around Toronto but has also expanded overseas with the design for a World Trade Centre in Oman and innovative assisted housing for the less fortunate in South Africa. “Since our inception we have managed to build a diverse portfolio,” Paul elaborates. ACI Wright Architects has therefore been able to deliver a wide range of projects from commercial (offices, retail and restaurants etc), industrial, institutional, hospitality, residential (custom homes and multi units), recreational and restoration works. Clients range from large corporations, and organisations such as Churches and school boards, to individual private clients. “We are lucky that we do not have to approach new clients as they always approach us, though this comes with hard work. The majority of our new clients come from referrals, and a lot of new works comes from repeat clients. We also have a great reputation in the hospitality sector so even the hotel brands, such as Hilton, Best Western, and Choice International, refer us to prospective hoteliers.” In fact, the firm’s clients have taken it beyond its local area expanding across Canada, into the US, Africa, Middle East and the Caribbean. “We have always aimed to deliver a good service for a fair price, typically we will over service clients, we are committed to our projects. These values have not changed leading to repeat work, our longest client has been with me whilst I moved through previous firms. We are always willing to take on challenges or go further afield should a client request,” Paul adds. As well as its loyal clients, the staff at ACI Wright is critical as the projects involve teamwork, so each team member actively contributes to the success of the firm. As the company is not large, staff need to be able to multi-task and be part of an internal family, with the key emphasis being on working well together rather than as individuals. During the past 24 months, Covid-19 has had a huge impact on practically every single industry, not least the hospitality sector, but for ACI Wright it had a surprisingly positive outcome. “We became busier during Covid which was an initial surprise, A Dec21481 though in reality that was because we were diverse,” Paul explains. “Thankfully, we are always busy but didn’t expect a huge increase with Covid as that was new territory. We are well set up with technology and have always worked remotely given we have projects in other countries. The move for all staff to work remotely was quick, however the challenge with Covid was the lockdowns and having to make site visits, though typically sites were shut down which just meant delayed site visits.” In fact, ACI Wright and its team did so well during the global pandemic that it was recently bestowed with the prestigious accolade of Most Outstanding Architecture Practise Specialising in Diverse Projects 2022 – Ontario by BUILD Magazine for its diversity and commitment to continuing to offer the same great levels of service in the face of adversity. “Becoming more diverse was a conscious decision, made earlier as I have seen architectural firms that solely specialised get hit hard through previous recessions,” Paul says. “Architects can have a tough time becoming diverse when they only do one type of project, worse when doing only residential. Thankfully, we have been exposed to many different types of projects, some even with same client.” Regarding the future, Paul predicts that Covid will still very much affect business, however he feels very optimistic that there is hope on the horizon and brighter days ahead. “We have a lot of good projects still moving forward this year including a luxury resort and spa in the Caribbean which should start construction this year. The hospitality sector is starting to move again which means travel is not far on the horizon for us all, we just have to go through some more rough times first - hopefully we are right.” Contact: Paul Wright Company: ACI Wright Architects Inc Web Address: www.aciw.ca
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