Brian Oster Email & Phone Number

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Provided practice management consultation to a small and growing practice focused on building and serving intergenerational communities through an architecture that advances learning, knowledge creation, and collaboration in spaces reimagined for everyday life. Activities include business development, operational and practice management and project management for higher education clients.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

As regional director, responsibilities included managing operational and strategic aspects of the business in Baltimore including communicating firm wide goals and directives to inform local principals for their own strategic business development pursuits and to staff to contribute to their belonging in the larger firm. Operational responsibilities included aligning project revenue with staffing allocations across all active projects (+/- 80 at a time) while focusing individually on each project to provide resources and tools to principals and project managers to enable them to achieve design excellence and profitability. Strategic focus was business development in the higher education practice where I contributed to win projects with clients.Elected a member of the QE board of directors in 2018, participating in the governance of a 200+ person firm and contributing guidance to achieve leadership in strategic goals such as sustainability, business development, practice area management, diversity equity and inclusion and staff development and well-being.Supported a mentorship program focused on the professional development of staff, which included one-on-one internal meetings and encouragement and nominations for members of our staff to participate in external opportunities as well at all levels. Endorsed and nominated two QE principals toward their participation in the GBC Leadership program, and supported and nominated an annual member of the staff to participate in the AIA Civic Lab program to foster development of younger professionals.

Led the transition of Cho Benn Holback and Associates through its acquisition by and to Quinn Evans and subsequently took the role of Regional Director. Responsibilities included staff hiring and firing, staff evaluations and development and salaries and bonuses.

As Principal, responsibilities included developing business and winning projects to support staff as well as managing a number of concurrent on-going projects from design through construction and the project teams.Acted as lead resource for project staffing, coordinating staff needs for 40+ active projects and 27 architects and designers to ensure quality service and timely project delivery to clients on a monthly basis.Coordinated with and directed an outside IT consultant toward the management of the firm's information technology including the security of the system, purchasing hardware and software and general maintenance.

Designer and architect. Responsible for design and technical detailing to satisfy documentation for construction on projects. Contributed to and led in the creation of construction documents including drawings and specifications and in the field as construction administrator for most of those same projects. Involved in programming efforts for Maryland State Higher Education clients. Worked with direct client engagement collaborating toward achieving project and institutional goals. Developed a deep understanding of those aspects of teaching and learning that can be enhanced through the design of quality spaces.Played an instrumental role in transitioning the CWB practice from Microstation to Autodesk’s AutoCAD (and eventually with Cho Benn Holback and Associates (CBHA) to Revit.) Efforts included change management for a staff of almost twenty users, training and on-boarding to the new software as well as the articulation and adoption of a set of CAD standards for the firm. Became Associate in 1997 and Senior Associate in 2000 while leading associate committees in project standards and production and project management.

New York, New York, Us

March, Architecture

Post-Graduate Level Study, Architecture

Ba Liberal Arts, Architecture