Member Spotlight: Jennifer R. Arbuckle, AIA, Partner, e4h ENVIRONMENTS FOR HEALTH ARCHITECTURE

Welcome to our "Member Spotlight" where we will feature AIAVT members and ask them 5 random questions. We hope this will be a fun way to get to know colleagues in the Vermont architectural community!

What's the most inspiring part of your job?

I know it sounds corny, but creating buildings that make a difference in people’s lives is what inspires me. Designing healthcare spaces is about creating a really extraordinary environment for some of the happiest and also the most challenging events in people’s lives – when I think back 10 or 20 years to what hospitals used to look like, and what they look like today, it’s a pretty significant change. Being part of creating that change in the industry is inspiring to me and keeps me coming back to work every day.  

Favorite place in the world and why?

Hmmm. Before or after COVID? I love to travel, so perhaps my favorite place is one I haven’t been to yet. I loved time spent in Italy when I was in college, and will always have a soft spot in my heart for Florence, Italy for that reason – for me, I feel like it was the turning point in my really beginning to understand the power of architecture and the influence it can exert on humankind. But – I have also loved Sintra in Portugal and Long Island, Maine, and Arran, Scotland and….the list goes on. Put me in a place with any kind of beauty all around me, some friends, and some good food and beverages, and I’ll be happy…so the other answer is my porch.

What is something new you discovered during this pandemic?

As it turns out, I don’t like working from home as much as I would’ve thought I would. I really missed the power of conversation – and although I’ve got the ability to communicate on half a dozen virtual platforms, it’s just not the same as being in the same room as people. My technical communication skills have improved but I’m not sure that any of our conversational skills will recover from this pandemic.

What’s your favorite thing to do on weekends?

Totally depends on the time of year – but getting outdoors is important to me in all seasons and I’m an avid knitter, so I’m able to hunker down with the best of them. I’m a gardener, reader, walker, love to cook, and I’m a DIY maker type…so I’ve always got a project or two to do.

Favorite thing about living in Vermont?  

Beauty all around you, all the time. Seasons. Food. Beverages. Reasonable people. The answer to the 2^nd question is really that Vermont is my favorite place in the world…

AIAVT will spotlight a member in each of our quarterly newsletters. Want to be next? Email AIAVT's Executive Director to sign up.